Sign up now for USF ‘Kidz camps’ to prevent summer boredom
Kids won’t have to spend the summer in front of the television; “Kidz camps” at the University of St. Francis can keep them busy until school starts up again. Parents can choose from nine different educational and motivational camps for their children to express their creativity and teamwork that may put them a step ahead when they go back to school.
The camps, offered through Solutions: A Resource Center for Business and Community Partnerships at the University of St. Francis, have both morning and afternoon sessions and supplies will be included in the pricing. Parents may sign their kids up now by calling (815) 740-3600.
USF Solutions’ first camp will be June 18-22 and will offer Libby Lee’s Fine Arts Workshop for grades kindergarten through eighth from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students will learn through an in-depth, hands-on approach about music, theater and visual arts. Two afternoon camps also will be offered that week: From noon to 2:30 p.m. students in kindergarten through sixth grades will be able to participate in the “Kid Biz Team” experience. Kids Biz Team students are grouped in teams to learn about promoting and participating in healthy competition between different businesses. Students aged 7 to 12 will participate in the “Teen Biz” experience to learn leadership and management skills while getting exposure to the components of setting up a business.
From June 25-29, students can tap into their creative sides by participating in the annual “Art Workshops”, run by USF’s Visual Art’s Department professors and students. Children will learn the concepts of drawing, painting, ceramics and crafts. They will get an introduction of how these media began and why they are what they are today. The morning session for kindergartners through eighth graders will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; an afternoon session for high school students will run from noon to 2:30 p.m. A second session of the same camp will be offered from July 16-20.
Also running the week of July 16-20 will be the “Kid Biz Entrepreneur” experience. Here students will learn the steps of product concept, obtaining a loan, marketing and selling their goods or services.
“Kid Biz Entrepreneur” will inspire our future leaders and CEOs to dream big and turn their dreams into reality,” said Bonnie Covelli, Solutions director. These young students will have fun while learning basic business practices, along with math and computer skills, according to Covelli. They will get a chance to be the company president, design a product and make a commercial. “We’ll help them discover an idea, create posters and set up shop with their friends!” added Covelli.
Students will get the chance to learn about criminology in “Investigations in Forensic Science” camp, July 23-27. USF chemistry professor Salim Diab, who works with local law enforcement in the field of forensic science, will focus on the basic principles and concepts of this field and how it applies to society. A morning session for students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be offered from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and an afternoon session for students in grades seven through 12 will be offered from noon to 2:30 p.m.
USF Solutions will conclude their summer camp programs by offering the “Teaching Acceptance & Respect Gels Everyone Together (T.A.R.G.E.T)” camp, at which students will learn the basic principles of working together in a productive manner, learning for fun, and the creation and development of new insights in a practical environment.
Each summer camp is $65 per person, supplies and t-shirts will be included. Parents can register their children at www.stfrancis.edu/solutions, or call toll-free (866) 849.5839. Registration is also available at the Solutions Resource Center at 815.740.3600. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Athletic camps are also available; for more information, call (815) 740-3464.