From Lego LandTM to a land of fairies and princesses, from sports to science and animals to art, Penn State Wilkes-Barre offered 23 academic enrichment and six sports camps this summer that were sure to appeal to every young mind.
Two of the most popular camps were the art camp and the veterinary camp.
During Art Masterpieces, 24 young artists explored the work of artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso and learned how to use colors and shapes to make their own creations in the artists' styles. Campers' creations were hung in an Art Masterpieces gallery in the campus Athletic and Recreation Building for all visitors to the campus to admire. Art Masterpieces instructor Carolyn Oravitz has been teaching the art camps for four years and said she enjoys the "relaxed atmosphere and challenging projects for the kids to work on." "They have the chance to spend more time on art than they do during their classes at school, so we really get into our art projects during the three hour sessions," Oravitz said. Oravitz also said she is excited to see the many students who return each year, as well as the new campers, and how quickly the new students make friends. "The art camps provide an opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of art and artists? while they [students] help each other and work and play together." The campers also got a chance to walk around the campus and observed some of Penn State Wilkes-Barre's natural beauty, capturing it in their own works of art.
Campers also favored the Animal Hospital/Veterinary Assistant Camps, a hands-on experience that teaches animal lovers proper care for their pets and other animals that included a trip to a local animal hospital and a horse farm. With these programs, campers got a first-hand look at the lives of animals and the people that care for them while enriching their own love of animals. Sally Sprankle, instructor of these camps, has been with the Summer Youth Program for 19 years and loves returning each year because she said it gives her a way to explore new avenues of teaching. A first grade teacher at Wyoming Seminary Lower School, Sprankle said she believes in using many activities to "engage multiple intelligences. We sing, draw, play pretend, anything that gets the children to really understand the animals." Sprankle has spent many hours with the children in the veterinary camps and said her most rewarding experiences are when she hears the students say "I'm having so much fun! I love this camp!"
The camps are designed to engage young children and teens of all grade levels to become physically active and creative. "It's a great way to experience art, nature, and science. Plus, if you're looking for high-quality sports camps, our expert Penn State coaching staff will guide your child through the fundamentals of basketball, volleyball, soccer, and golf. Most of all, kids are having fun and making new friends," said Ellen Gregorio, Summer Youth Program Coordinator at the Wilkes-Barre campus.
For more information about the Summer Youth Programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, please contact Ellen Gregorio at [email protected] or 570-675-9220.
