A wide array of activities will be available
by Aimee Robinette
The Bolivar Bullet
Ah, summer. It’s the time of year everyone waits in anticipation to arrive. In Bolivar County, there is never a dull moment as there are many offerings to keep children – and parents – busy.
One such program is the Janice Wyatt Mississippi Summer Arts Institute. Named for a former first lady of Delta State University, whose vision became a reality, PLUS Camp and CORE Arts Camp give students an opportunity to perform on the mainstage at the Bologna Performing Arts Center on campus.
Plus camp is a week-long, performance-oriented day camp where campers will learn a choreographed medley of songs. Campers in every age group will attend classes in Musical Song and Dance, plus Visual Arts and Crafts classes. Campers will be organized into three age groups: 5-6, 7-8, and 9-11, with class sizes no larger than 10 children.
CORE Arts Camp is a week-long camp for ages 12-18. Campers will receive wide-ranging and intensive instruction from experienced teaching artists in a variety of art forms including dance, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. Campers customize their schedule by choosing their own course of study in a five-period-per-day format.
“I just started as the Arts Education Director at BPAC at the beginning of January, so this will be my first year of camp. This will also be the first year back, in-person after having to cancel CORE Arts and pivot to an online format last year for PLUS Camp due to COVID-19. I have big shoes to fill, Cade Holder, the previous arts ed and camp director, was much loved and delivered extremely high quality, great camps, for many years,” said Holly E. Senter, director of arts education.
“The program has certainly grown over the years but this year, in particular, some changes had to be made to the camp format: camps will not be operating at full capacity, just out of an abundance of caution. CORE Arts is typically a two-week, residential program on Delta State’s campus and – for this year only it will be a non-residential, day-camp,” she added. “CORE arts will also be in July this year to accommodate the longer academic year in local public schools. The same classes will be offered, with the same level of expert instruction that has come to be expected of MSAI but we felt it might be a bit safer format this year, given all that has been happening.”
For more information about the Janice Wyatt Summer Arts Institute, call 662-846-4624 or log on to www.bolognapac.com.
Kid’s College, a program held by Continuing Education at Delta State University, will be held July 12 –15.
“Students that have completed K5-2nd Grade will attend camp from 8:00 a.m. to noon for $125, while those that have completed 3rd-6th grades will attend from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for $225. Once students have completed registration, they will be able to choose the classes that they wish to attend. Those classes include cooking, astronomy, science, pottery, technology and more,” said Elizabeth Joel, coordinator.
This is the 18th year of Kid’s College at Delta State University.
“We have found success in allowing the students to ‘act’ as college students and choose the classes they want to attend during the one week camp. They walk our campus and spend time in the classrooms and labs just as our college students do. The children enjoy their time on the campus and feeling like upperclassmen for a week of camp and interactive learning,” Joel added. “The students have enjoyed the different types of classes offered each year. We have a group of staple classes that everyone enjoys such as cooking and health, but then we have classes that change year. Many children come each summer to take different classes or attend the same ones they enjoyed in the past.”
It is not just the students who enjoy Kid’s College, but also the professors and other staff.
“The DSU departments that assist with Kid’s College work well with Continuing Education to develop a changing curriculum for each year. Having the college departments join in the camp allows students a better knowledge of a certain degree area and may influence them towards a career in the future. We also enjoy the ability to allow teachers from our community to take part as an instructor at Kid’s College and teach in a subject area that they are most knowledgeable in,” Joel explained.
Also, from Continuing Education is the LEGO Robotics Camp. This camp will be offered June 28 – July 1. Participants entering 2nd-4th grades will attend Junior Robotics from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day for $150. Participants that have completed 5th-8th grades will attend Advanced Robotics from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The camp cost is $150 which includes all building kits and the coding/programming computer files.
“LEGO Robotics uses STEM principles in every aspect of the camp. From using engineering and math skills in building the robots to computer programs and coding with technology, students enrich their minds and learn new skills through each build,” said Joel. “My department partners with an organization that supplies all materials and instructors for the LEGO Robotics Camp. The organization works with other schools and universities across the states to offer their STEM related building camp for all age groups. This program has been successful for our community and Continuing Education for seven years and we are glad to continue this partnership. Through growing technology we have been able to transform this camp from simple LEGO engineering builds to a more advanced option of Robotics and Coding.
To register for Kid’s College or LEGO Robotics please visit www.deltastate.edu/conedsummercamps and complete an online registration form. For questions, please contact Joel by email ejoel@deltastate.edu or phone 662-846-4871.
The Martin and Sue King Railroad Heritage Museum is also joining in on the summer fun with a 10:30 a.m. story time on Wednesdays along with its regular business hours of 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Friday is also a special day at the museum with popcorn at 2:30 p.m.
Blaze Elite Tumble and Cheer is offering skill specific classes for the month of June and July. Classes offered range from front rolls and cartwheels to layouts and back tucks with everything in-between. There is something for everyone for ages four and up. Tumbling classes will be held at the Boyle gym as well as the Indianola gym starting the week of June 7. Email ttbramlett@yahoo.com with any questions. You can register for classes at www.blazeelitetumbleandcheer.com
Also, check on local church’s Facebook pages for information on upcoming Vacation Bible Schools.
Anyone with a summer activity they would like to have added to our calender on our daily e-newsletter, please contact pam@coopwood.net.