Summer camps have stood the test of time. Dating back to 1861 in Washington and Connecticut, youth have spent time boating, fishing, and swimming after hiking to a forest destination and setting up camp. One of the first organized American camps documented is The Gunnery Camp.
Annually, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) offers a variety of summer camps and programs for youth ages 17 and younger. The camps’ provided focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), college and career, sports, health, and fitness.
A new camp addition to our summer experience is offering to provide invaluable skills in the area of recreational sports activities such as tennis, swimming, running, and bowling. ‘Camp on the Hill’ welcomes campers between the ages of 6-14 to participate in team building and sports-related activities and to foster teamwork, cooperation, and good sports participation.
With the increased usage of video games and new studies concluding cell phone usage have addictive properties similar to slot machines, ‘Camp on the Hill’ offer alternatives to the brain-altering addictive properties researchers say cell phones have. Tony Daniels, Director of Intramurals & Recreational Sports and camp director, exclaims, “Exercising the body, exercises the mind.” Daniels also shares that the participants learn about major muscle groups in the human body and how to properly stretch and warm-up prior to activity sessions. Additionally, “It’s important that children this age learn to describe the actual name of areas on the body that may become sore or injured.”
Participants arrive early to a light breakfast and then dive into intense cardiovascular activities. Jump rope and teambuilding is a great way to introduce the students to other camp-goers in their age group. By the end of one day, the campers have taken part in soccer, kickball, wall climbing, badminton, swimming, track, basketball, and bowling. Included in their festivities are lunch and movie time.
Danielle Hairston-Green, Faculty and staff member in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, states her granddaughter traveled the furthest (Pennsylvania) to attend the camp and sees the benefit two-fold. “As a staff, it gives us an opportunity to expose our young tots to our work environment and college life, while introducing her to a variety of recreational sports that she’s never tried, like rock climbing and track & field.”
Most ‘Camp on the Hill’ campers are family and friends of the university’s faculty and staff, but the impact of the camp expands beyond the university’s walls, as local community residents take part in what’s offered. Similar to many campers in America, lifelong friendships are cultivated during these bond experiences. “She’s [Madison] meeting new friends with unique backgrounds and it’s reintroducing our kids to the magic of outdoor play.”
Summer Camp has evolved over the years, but one fact remains summer camps provide activities to youth during the month’s school isn’t in session to keep them mentally engaged, as well as provide safe place parents can feel comfortable leaving their children while at work.
Witten by: Maurice Perkins