Social Studies: Summer camps offer something for everyone
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School may be out for the summer, but summer camps -- fun learning sessions -- are keeping students busy and engaged in the Altoona Area School District.
The free elementary camps were created to help bridge the learning gap caused by the pandemic, said Paula Foreman, district spokeswoman.
The program began last year using federal COVID-19 ESSER funds, she said, and the district was able to continue the camps this summer.
With a variety of themes, including crafts, painting, exploring the sea and space, the camps offer something for everyone.
Not only do the camps provide learning opportunities, but they also help children make new friends, Foreman said. Lunch and transportation are provided, which adds to the benefits.
Teacher Lauri Mohler spent last week with students who signed up for the Squishmallow Camp. For those unfamiliar with the Squishmallow fad, these are plush characters in a variety of shapes and sizes made with marshmallow-soft material. There are cows, geese, cats and unicorns, but Slushies, mushrooms and avocados, too.
Mohler's group had fun decorating Squish carrying bags and designing journals and boxes. They also designed and painted a Squish board game and painted Squish pet rocks.
The camps bring kids together "to share what they like and what they have in common," she said.
Each camp has lesson-based activities related to the theme, such as the Under the Sea camp where students explore the ocean and marine life.
Robert Smith, who was in charge of the camp at Ebner Elementary, said programs like these are important to kids, especially after the pandemic.
"It gets them used to having more interaction with other kids," he said.
Teacher Sarah Musselman, in charge at a second Squishmallow camp, said her aim was to help kids have fun and make memories.
Camps are being held at the district's elementary schools, but students aren't limited to going to the school they regularly attend. That gives them a chance to see other schools and other kids their own age they might not know.
"It is nice to see kids from the different elementary schools together because they don't get to see each other often," Musselman said.
Smith said giving kids a chance to meet other kids from all schools is important because it will allow them to know more people when they move up to junior high.
But more importantly, for the students at least, the camps allow them to be kids.
For Silas Mielnik, taking part in the camp and creating a camouflage design for his Squishmallow's home "is a chance to relax."
The 9-year-old said he was loving the camp, noting his favorite things to do were coloring, drawing and playing.
Huey Harader was looking forward to the journaling portion of the camp.
"It is just fun," he said of the camp.
Isabella McGregor was excited to make a journal, and said her favorite activities were anything involving art.
"We get to make things we might not get to make at home," she said.
Ava Granville liked the camp because it gave her a chance to be creative.
"I like that you can create whatever you want," she said.
In the watercolor camp Tuesday, students painted animals using new tools.
Teacher Sarah Barr said she was showing the kids how to use goth glue, a mixture of glue and black paint to create outlines for their paintings.
"The kids are sampling different watercolor techniques, and they're learning about colors and how to mix them," she said.
Darren Focht, 10, created a painting of Altoona Curve baseball mascot Loco.
"For the body I will make it orange, and for the jersey he is wearing ... it will be red and white," he said.
In the same camp, Sophie Houk, 10, created an outline of a wolf as part of her painting project.
"I enjoy being able to do this and explore different types of art," she said.
In Lost in Space, taught by Gloria Colurso, students learned the wonders of space and about the solar system.
"They are learning about the different phases of the moon, different colors in space, the location of planets in our solar system in relation to the sun and they learn about Earth and where we are in space," Colurso said.
In addition to exploring the sea and space, students could sign up for a camp focused on exploring other countries.
On Tuesday at Logan Elementary, students learned about Mexico, including that the country has a population of
12.6 million, camper Jillian Howard said.
The 8-year-old has a connection to the country, where the currency is called Pesos, she said.
"My friend's mom was born there so they go to Mexico every summer to visit family," Howard said.
At Ebner Elementary on Thursday, Katie Preusser said the camp gave her more time to spend with friends. And, she got to make ice cream when the Under the Sea and Taking a Trip camps came together for a group activity.
"It's fun to make ice cream with my friends -- I was able to add whatever I wanted to the ice cream, like sprinkles and pop rocks," Preusser said.
The camps will continue through the end of July, but registration is now closed. Foreman said about 100 students across all the schools are participating this year. It is hoped the district will be able to offer the programs again next summer.
Mirror Staff Writer Cati Keith is at 814-946-7535.