Georgia College summer camps are in full swing

  • Walk & Chalk – where kids write and have fun drawing! CONTRIBUTED
    Walk & Chalk – where kids write and have fun drawing! CONTRIBUTED
  • Everyday, campers play recreation games. In this photo, they are learning ultimate frisbee. CONTRIBUTED
    Everyday, campers play recreation games. In this photo, they are learning ultimate frisbee. CONTRIBUTED
  • Dr. Collier, a World Languages & Culture professor, speaking about France to kindergarten and first graders. CONTRIBUTED
    Dr. Collier, a World Languages & Culture professor, speaking about France to kindergarten and first graders. CONTRIBUTED
  • Fourth graders learn dances around the world in Spanish during “Explore the World” week. CONTRIBUTED
    Fourth graders learn dances around the world in Spanish during “Explore the World” week. CONTRIBUTED

    Georgia College summer camps are in full swing for 2022! These fun camps are hosted by Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) and include Kids’ University, Creature Camp, and Athletic Camps.

    Kids’ University

    Kids’ University, or Kids’ U, is a day camp for kids ranging from rising 1st through rising 6th grade. Each week follows a theme, and students enjoy the pool, outdoor activities, and fun, engaging, educational curriculum that follows the theme. It runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday from May 31 to July 29. Cost varies and ranges from $115-125.

    "We start our mornings with songs, jokes, skits, and games with everyone in the camp. It’s a lot of fun for the kids and the counselors!” Said Teresha Page, Public Health major and 2nd grade camp counselor. “The kids come in each morning with a smile on their face, so we know they are excited!”

    Campers enjoy a structured day in different age groups involving:

    • Educational, hands-on curriculum related to the weekly theme

    • Recreation time with games and physical activity

    • Pool or water play

    • Creation of a craft

    • Game time

    • Outdoor hiking or nature exploration

    At the end of each week, campers showcase their creations and either perform or share their work with the entire camp!

    During the first week of camp, the theme was Explore the World, and students met international students from Mexico, Taiwan, and Japan, as well as a faculty member from France. “I want to go to France for my birthday!” said one 1st grader. “I can count to ten in Spanish now!” said a 3rd grader. Every week changes, and the week of June 13th is the Talent Show, where campers will make their own video and audio recordings. Other exciting themes include: “Animals, Pets, and Bugs, Oh My!” where students will meet real scientists, and the “History’s No Mystery” week where kids get to learn about Milledgeville’s history and dress up like they lived in another time.

    Camp counselors are hired from Georgia College and Georgia Military College as well as other surrounding places and are often nearing the end of their undergraduate careers. Some of the areas of study represented by our talented team include psychology, biology, early childhood education, special education, middle grades education, world languages, nursing, criminal justice, exercise science, sociology, and history.

    All camp counselors for Kids’ University are CPR/First Aid certified through the American Red Cross.

    Creature Camp

    This year’s theme for Creature Camp is “All Creatures Colorful and Camouflage.” It’s a science camp focused on animals and color. Ruth Eilers, the Director of Georgia College Academic Outreach who is in the 20th year of leadership will be overseeing this camp. Eilers is also the creator of Creature Camp and has been its lead since it began. Counselors with backgrounds in education, psychology, environmental science and health promotion will be leading. “The Academic Outreach crew loves experiential learning and is excited to teach campers all about ways that animals of all kinds use color to ensure survival!” said Eilers.

    This camp will run July 11-15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $155.

    Athletic Camps

    Athletic camps include baseball, basketball, tennis and soccer for kids ranging from pee wee to high school ages. Dates and prices vary. To learn more about each camp, please visit summercamps.gcsu.edu or call Georgia College Continuing & Professional Education at 478-445-5277.

    -Contributed