The 12th annual Super Kids Camp is in full swing at the Historic Wheatley Elementary School in Poplar Bluff.
According to organizer, Kathern Harris this year’s turnout for the camp was great.
“We’ve got 37 enrolled, which was really close to our target of 40. We’ve got a lot of young children this year, 12 are in the kindergarten class,” she said.
The hot summer days for these local kids have been filled with the opportunity to socialize and enjoy new learning experiences.
“We’ve done some exciting things,” said Harris.
“We went to the magic show at the library and saw Marty the Magician, Dr. Kevin Harris of Nashville’s Stillman College taught a class on robotics and demonstrated a drone, then we went out with Murry Hammond from the park department on a little hike at Hendrickson Park and we had a picnic at the park and we’ve had other presenters on what it means to make a promise,” Harris said.
She explained students got a chance to tell what they promised to always do as a positive in their life.
“That was really interesting. They would write their name and say what they promised to do so the kids were excited to do that,” she said.
Harris said the camp is meant to be a fun experience, but a learning experience nonetheless so students begin the day with reading and math.
“Those first two periods. We set aside for the academics,” said Harris.
Jo Nell Seifert, a retired Poplar Bluff High School theatre instructor, also took time to work with students during the camp.
“I chose a children’s book called ‘A Bad Case Of Stripes,’ and I typed it up into reader’s theater format,” said Seifert. “It’s a cute story of an insecure girl named Camilla Cream who learns to be happy with herself and she loves lima beans and it’s got a happy ending.”
“A big one for me was when the first responder teams of firemen and police department came out for our grand opening on the 8th. That was pretty exciting,” said Harris. “The kids really had good questions for the police officers as well as for the firemen. They were really engaged in it.
“I was surprised one of the police officers said that one of the best parts of his job is coming out, talking to groups like that and letting them know what first responders really do.”
This Friday, Harris said, students will have a movie morning and play board games in the afternoon. Next week, students will get to enjoy some outdoor water fun with a bounce house and water slide.
Harris said the camp program has been a great success this summer.
“We had some transportation concerns in the beginning, but parents and families, everyone has pulled together and it has been great,” she said.