Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus and the Ozark Area Youth Organization (OAYO) are joining forces to host the second annual Kids Campus, a program that combines fun and learning for children entering kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grades.
As a result of last year’s Kids Campus, Ozark Schools officials said several camp attendees were identified as needing more one-on-one assistance throughout the school year. However, end-of-the-year testing showed that those kindergarteners improved their literacy scores by 28 percent.
Laura Rudolph, director of Community Outreach at Arkansas Tech-Ozark, said the goal of Kids Campus is “to inspire our children’s lives by engaging and focusing on their intellectual and physical health through a summer camp program dedicated to literacy and learning in a college environment.”
To do so, Arkansas Tech-Ozark and OAYO provide a unique opportunity for children to learn with a shared, fun, rewarding and safe summer camp experience through diverse activities and programs.
“We believe camp provides an opportunity for personal growth, increased self-esteem and friendship building,” she said.
Kids Campus will be held in the Student Services Conference Center at Arkansas Tech-Ozark. It is broken into the following three age groups and times:
- Pre-kindergarten – Monday, July 23, through Wednesday, July 25, from 8 a.m. until noon;
- First and second graders – Monday, July 23, through Wednesday, July 25, 1-4 p.m.;
- Third, fourth and fifth graders – Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 27, from 8 a.m. until noon.
Kids Campus, which costs $35, is facilitated entirely by volunteers from the public schools, Arkansas Tech-Ozark and OAYO representatives. Topics will include art, iPad lab, literacy, music, robotics, electrical safety and much more.
Each camper receives a T-shirt and will have a backpack waiting for him in the classroom during Ozark Schools’ open house. Kindergarten students’ backpack will be completely furnished with the appropriate supplies as prescribed by the school.
For more information, call Rudolph at (479) 508-3315 or Penny Peppas Burns at (479) 209-4747.
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