Friday, July 18, 2003
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Friday, July 18, 2003 |
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New camp offers reading, other fun stuff By BETH SNIPES
Read for fun, read to learn. That's the motto of the Shoot the Hoop Reading Camp, Fairburn's newest youth summer camp. It's not your ordinary summer vacation program, either. It's a blend of activities for the camper's minds and bodies. Program Director Jesse Hill challenges his kids to improve both their reading and school work while giving them plenty of time for recreation. It's all fun, games and learning. Reading class starts the camper's day. Students may be assigned to write a composition and learn to present it to the class properly. Music class is next on deck. Then it's lunch and out to shoot some hoops. They're not finished yet. There's still a drama class before heading home. What do the kids think of all this work? It must be fun. The campers smile through all of it. Hill has learned by experience just what it takes to get kids fired up about learning. He has been working with kids for most of his adult live. He started the Shoot the Hoop program in Albany while living in the Atlanta area. The camp was a success but the commute was grueling. After two summers there, he wanted to find a spot closer to home to continue his work. He decided that Fairburn was perfect. "There's a need," said Hill. "Fairburn is growing quickly and there's not much in the area for the kids." Pastor Aaron Lackey of The Temple of Prayer offered the church's facilities to help get Hill started. "We're so happy they're here. We hope they come back next year," said Lackey. The church is really hopping, too. Fifty-one kindergarten through fifth-graders are there every camp day. Hill has a second location, too. Palmetto Elementary has 30 campers taking advantage of this unique program. That makes 81 campers in the first year of the program. It's a great start but Hill is aiming much higher. "This is our first year so we have no funds. My goal, though, is 300 kids," he said. "We'd also like to make it a year-round program." Will he stop there? No, he has set even higher goals. He'd like to work with the Hispanic community and start an English for Adults program. To complete the circle, he'd like to teach his campers spanish. How much does a camp like this cost? You would think hundreds. Surprisingly, it costs only $20 for a week of camp. There's a catch, of course. A very important catch to Hill. All parents must attend a mandatory workshop at the end of the camp. This is their chance to learn how to follow through with all their chidren have learned. It's also a chance to learn themselves. The workshop teaches communication skills, how to help their children develop ideas and encourages them to get involved with their kids reading. Parents may find that learning is fun just as their children did during their summer camp. To check for openings or to register call 770-463-3602.
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