Summer camps ensure learning happens year- round
The school year stops in June. The learning doesn’t. Summer camps see to that.
Butler County offers a number of camps for children over the summer months. The camps emphasize creativity, education and, of course, entertainment.
Butler County Community College will host its 26th Kids on Campus program this summer. It runs from June 9 through July 24 and is broken down into 42 total hands-on camps divided into three age groups: first grade, second through fourth grade, and fifth through eighth grade.
“The most rewarding thing is that the kids really want to be here,” said Kids on Campus director Jamia Richardson. “They get dropped off, and they literally run in here. The programs are enjoyable and stimulating to them.”
Richardson is an English teacher at Butler Area High School and is in her second year as director of BC3’s Kids on Campus. She said working with younger children has been stimulating to her as well.
“Teaching the older kids … it’s hard for them to admit they like you,” she said, laughing. “The younger kids show a lot of affection toward you, they want to be close to you and it’s easy to see they’re having a good time.”
Kids on Campus has drawn an average of 225 children each summer since 2021. Programs include elements of science and technology, arts and crafts, engineering, and culinary arts.
First-graders learn what life is like in other countries around the world. Second- through fourth-graders learn how to create things out of cardboard boxes. Fifth- through eighth-graders build volcanoes, make slime and look at gases in the college’s Science and Technology building.
These are just a few subjects the camp explores.
“The first-graders learn about all things living,” Richardson said. “Nature, plants, animals — everything. All of the grades, everyone is super excited to be there. It’s a weekly program, but many of the kids sign up for all six weeks.”
The camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. More information or registration for Kids on Campus can be found at bc3.edu/KOC.
Butler Catholic School offers a two-week camp in July that involves some time on school grounds and some at Moraine State Park. School principal John Hazur said the camp averages 25 youths per week and is offered to Butler Catholic students first.
“We do open it up to the public as well, depending on availability,” Hazur said.
One of the highlights of the camp is teaching kids how to grow and prepare food.
“We have a garden right on school property where the kids plant the food, grow the food and eventually cook the food,” Hazur said. “They learn all aspects of it. We also do hiking and nature walks, get the kids outside and encourage exercise.”
Butler Catholic’s camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exact dates have not been finalized.
“It’s an educational camp with fun mixed in,” Hazur said. “Learning can and should be fun.”
The Butler Family YMCA offers youth camps throughout the summer, beginning June 2 to 6 and ending Aug. 26 to 29. The camp includes field trips to Armco Park in Slippery Rock, horseback riding, film parties, interaction with critters and a carnival.
“We hit a lot of different areas,” said Mitch Hammer of the YMCA’s early childhood education department. “Week 6 is about science, for example, while Week 8 is about super heroes.”
Interested families do not have to be YMCA members to join the summer camp program. Fee is $215 per week and financial assistance is offered.
“There are so many learning aspects to what we do, and there’s a different theme every week,” Hammer said of the camp.
The Jennings Environmental Education Center offers a six-session camp this summer, including two weeks each in June, July and August. Cost is minimal and it has a limit of 15 youths per session.
Each session runs from 10 a.m. until noon.
“They’re popular and they tend to fill up quickly,” said Casey Layman, a camp instructor.
The camp emphasizes the different seasons and includes crafts and “a lot of hands-on interaction,” Layman said.
Walking and exploring nature are a big part of the camp experience. Layman said a number of youths participate in more than one session.
“The kids learn in an outdoor setting, outside of the classroom,” Layman said. “That appeal makes these camps so popular.”
