BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
Meagan Daniel, Union County 4-H extension agent, has been wearing her thinking cap this past winter and has devised a number of summer day camps that promise to be both fun and educational for all in attendance. Just announced a few weeks ago, the camps are already filling up and, by press time, some may already be at capacity.
The June camps offer seven different themes and experiences to broaden the horizons of the young ones participating.
On June 6, the camp focus will be “Bring on the Butterflies,” for ages 5 and up. Attendees will learn about the life cycle of these interesting insects then travel to Gainesville to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Rainforest for a visit and to see the great diversity in the butterflies of the world. The fee for this camp is $20.
In the Focusing on Photography Day Camp, on June 7, participants will learn basic camera skills then travel around the county to several locations to practice these skills. Ages for the camp are 8 and up and the camp is free, funded by part of a Round-Up grant from Clay Electric.
On June 13 the topic will be All About Animals and will feature special guests, including animal handlers from the Santa Fe Zoo to teach about a variety of animals. Ages are 5 and up and the fee for the camp is $20.
June 14 is the date for the All About Agriculture Camp, for ages 8 and up, in which the participants will visit Union County farms to learn and understand local agriculture. Items collected at the farms will be used for various creative projects. The fee is $20.
Creative Clovers will be the offering for June 20, with the day focused on arts and crafts. There will be a guided painting and small craft projects. This camp is for ages 5 and up, with a $20 fee.
Camp attendees will learn about American and Union County History and then will create a historic display using local artifacts. This camp if for ages 11 and up and is a free camp.
June offerings will conclude with a three-day event, the Entrepreneurship/Shark Tank Camp. Beginning on June 27, and running through June 29, day one will have participants exploring entrepreneur activities — making soaps, jams, T-shirts and other items. Day 2 will be comprised of visits to several local businesses, with the third and final day letting the youngsters create a business plan and presenting in “Shark Tank” style. This camp is for ages 11 and up and the fee is $50.
Five camps will be held in July, beginning with the Basics of Baking Camp on July 11. Youngsters will learn cake and cookie baking skills and will decorate their own goodies to take home with them. This camp is designed for ages 5 and up with a $20 fee.
The cooking will continue July 12 with Camp Chopped, where attendees will learn about food safety, then be divided into teams to create a dish working from a set recipe using cooking utensils and equipment. This camp is for ages 8 and up, with a fee of $20.
July 18-19 will be the days for the Ready for Robotics Camp where participants will learn teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking and engineering and design skills. This camp is for ages 8 and up, with a fee of $40.
July 25 will feature the Splash Bash Camp, where participants will engage in water related STEM activities. There will be some time for more fun at the end of the day on a water slide. This camp is for ages 5 and up with a fee of $20.
The July Day Camps will conclude on July 26 with a Paddle the River Camp. Youngsters will get a chance to explore the state’s natural resources as they paddle on the Santa Fe River. This camp is for ages 11 and up, with a fee of $20.
Daniel is committed to helping young people learn while having fun doing it, and the proposed slate of summer activities seem designed to do just that. Camps are filling up quickly, so interested parents should call the Union County IFAS Extension Office as soon as possible at 386-496-4241 to get them signed up.
