AURORA—The first summer camp held at Our Lady of Good Counsel School here was ranked a success, according to Karen Behrns, the principal at the school.
The summer camp was also the only one being held by a parish in the 14-parish Aurora Deanery, said Father Timothy Mulcahey, pastor of OLGC and parochial administrator of the school.
Besides offering fun in an educational setting, the camp was also helpful to working parents, now that school is out for the summer, Father Mulcahey said.
“The parents said they loved that it happened here in the environment their kids are most used to,” Behrns said. “They knew our staff. It was a familiar and safe place for them to be.
“We had puzzles that revolved around math games. We did research up at the computers. They had the opportunity to write every day,” she continued. “It didn’t feel like ‘school,’ but it still had a very strong academic component to it.”
The summer camp is expected to be held again in 2017, with information going out to parents in February.
The 15 children participating — preschoolers through sixth-graders — worked together on many projects. That opportunity gave them a chance to learn how people of different ages can interact, said Julie Quinn, an eighth-grade teacher and summer camp instructor.
“They all worked together. It is good for them to be around older kids, to understand grown-up behavior,” Quinn said.
Every week of the camp had a different theme.
Computer math games were popular with 5- and 6-year-olds. The children also performed science experiments, including “water walking," using colored water and paper towels to track the movement of water.
Pepper and water experiments were undertaken to reveal how germs migrate, Quinn added.
Outside on clear days, the children experimented with soap bubbles and balloons. Soda and Mentos experiments showed reactions in the drinks when they were mixed.
The children also made paper planes for lessons in aerodynamics during “3-D Week.”
And, of course, there is always time for picnics at summer camp.
Last week, camp participants of all age groups learned about the Seven Wonders of the World, including the Colossus at Rhodes, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. There are also Seven Wonders of the Modern World, which were studied, including the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, The Great Wall of China, and Stonehenge in England.
Students worked on all 14 by writing papers, coloring pictures and doing quizzes about the Wonders.
A different theme each week gave students a chance to learn new information that they might not otherwise have a chance to discover during the regular school year or through more mundane summer activities.
But a big benefit is that the Faith can be included in the daily sessions at the camp, Quinn said, so important teachings received throughout the school year can be reiterated. “Vacation Bible Studies” focused on the Gospels, and the children decorated a classroom with posters depicting The Beatitudes.
“We worked on the corporal works of mercy. Those are important values for us,” Quinn said. “They have learned many different things. The little ones have grown up a lot.”
There is also accommodation for extended care each day before the camp starts and afterwards, for children whose parents work different hours. The extended care program, usually held during the school year, is coordinated by Kari Sehie for the summer camp that ended August 12.
“Extended Care is something held throughout the school year. It is pretty necessary,” said Sehie, as she handed out after-camp snacks.
In a survey of parents conducted earlier, many families expressed an interest in having the camp, which was the first ever at the school. The summer camp program is open to any student, not only students at OLGC.
Teachers will be debriefed soon, said Behrns, whose impetus it was to begin the summer camp. She plans to hold sessions soon with parents to analyze what made the two-and-a-half-month program successful and what could be improved for future camps.
If funding can be found, a field trip could be possible. Also, a “Circus Week” theme with the building of a big tent, and possibly cake-making lessons will be discussed for other years.
“The more we can keep our children engaged in a safe environment and a caring environment, and in a Faith-based, virtue-based environment, I just think it is a plus for us all the way around,” Behrns said.
“Overall, I think this will continue to be a nice continuum of our education.”