CCU camp combines education and fun
By Lindsey Hanks and Temperance Russell
Typically, when a child thinks of a superhero, he or she imagines strong, colorful characters like Superman or Batman. But children at Superhero Academy, just one of the weekly camps offered at Coastal Carolina Kids Camps at Coastal Carolina University’s Myrtle Beach Education Center, are learning about all different kinds of heroes. One little girl dubbed herself a ‘Superhero of Love,’ brandishing a “love sword” with the power to spread love all over the world. At Superhero Academy and other kids camp classes, children ages 6 to 10 years old are being taught valuable skills they can apply in and out of the classroom when they return to school in the fall.
CCU has offered some form of children’s summer day camps for the past 15 years, but this is the fifth year Coastal Carolina Kids Camp, which is hosted by the Office of Executive Development and Continuing Education (EDCE), has been in session. Camp has been in session from June 6 and will continue through Aug. 12.
Other popular camp courses include Guts, Goop, Globs and Gas; Sugary Chef; Incredible Edible Art; Math Mania; and Can’t Stop the Hip Hop. According to Ellen Jampole of EDCE at CCU, the varieties of subjects and the hands-on activities help create an entertaining yet educational environment.
“This is a place where kids can learn and retain information, but they can also have a good time here,” said Jampole. “They can make new friends and see old friends. They can learn new things about a variety of subjects.”
According to Kelli Barker, director of operations for EDCE, that’s the beauty of camp.
“They’re having so much fun they don’t even realize they’re learning,” said Barker, who organizes the camp. “Take superhero camp: The kids talk about comic book superheroes, but they also learn about local superheroes in our midst every day, like police officers or firefighters. They also just learn about being loyal and using your head in everyday situations.”
Science-based camps like Guts, Goop, Globs and Gas encourage campers to draw and recreate the human circulatory system. In Sugary Chef, kids bake delicious snacks but also learn about proper nutrition and how to read food labels. Many campers give presentations or perform on Fridays as well.
“The parents come in on Fridays and see the progress their children make throughout the week and all the amazing things they made themselves, and they’re always so surprised,” said Jampole. “One child’s parent came in and said ‘Wow, you made all this?’ and the little boy said, ‘No, we all made all of this.’”
“For camps like Sugary Chef, each of the kids had his/her own task and worked together. At the end of the week, the parents are just so proud of what their children learned,” Barker said.
The camp is staffed by teachers from Horry County and Georgetown County schools who take on as many as seven students minimum to a maximum of 20 students per camp.
“When we get ready to look for teachers, we don’t have to look too far and wide,” said Barker. “Most of the teachers who work for us love it and come back, and I think that speaks volumes.”
Children can participate in half-day camps, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m., for $75 per week, or they can choose two different half-day camps for the full day for $150 per week. Full schedule and course offerings are located at coastal.edu/outreach/youth/index.html. To register, contact the Myrtle Beach Education Center at 843-349-2767.
