Play, Learn and Explore
by Erin M. Sarris

It’s approaching the time of year that parents from all walks of life anticipate with both enthusiasm and trepidation — summer break. Time to grapple with the inevitable question of just what to do with the kids for that long, hot, three month vacation.

Avoid the temptation to shoehorn your children’s schedules full of reading lists, tutoring sessions and supplemental textbooks that promise to give them a head start for the new school year. Instead, consider a study published in a recent Pediatrics journal, asserting that playtime is essential for a successful, holistic learning experience. The study found that kids’ brains can study and pay attention for only so long before they require an opportunity to be playful and social. These results would not find themselves among the most surprising ever published, as many parents in the Valley area have seen first hand the benefits of introducing their child to a play-oriented learning experience at local summer camps.

The Columbus Museum offers a number of summer sessions that let young imaginations run wild with engaging art projects. Brena Meadows, youth and family programs coordinator for the museum pointed out that summer camps give children learning and growth opportunities beyond what they get at school. “The summer camp experience here is so important for children because although they get art classes in school, it’s not every single day,” she said. “If you don’t explore these types of things when you are young, you can miss out on that diverse experience.”

Alice Lee-Boulton of Columbus considered the idea of making summertime a continuation of the school experience for her two children, but decided instead to enroll her oldest daughter Vivian in a summer program for children. “There was such a wide variety of fun classes for her, and I was happy because I knew she was being introduced to ideas and experiences that fostered learning.”

In many cases the play-oriented learning in summer camps present more opportunities for hands-on experiences, which are not always a part of traditional classroom activities, but are vital to tactile learners. According to Nicola Sarn, director of programs for education at Port Columbus, School of the Sailor takes a historical approach to summer fun, with activities that range from boat rides on the Chattahoochee River to cutlass (sword) practice to musket drills. “The parents like the hands-on learning aspect along with the unique, history focused experiences,” Sarn said.

One part Tom Sawyer and one part Civil War re-enactment, School of the Sailor draws inspiration from the stories and activities of a century gone by. “We definitely see a lot of history lovers enroll in the camp,” said Sarn, “but it’s mostly just your average children who want a fun, different experience in the summertime.”

Lee-Boulton said that her daughter, who is now 9, filled her summer days with theatre, sewing, fashion and several other classes, “but as a parent I knew she was possibly discovering a new passion or maybe even a career direction.”

The American Camp Association touts that summer camps do much more than entertain children. Campers hone social skills, build character and become more community minded. Lee-Boulton was pleased with the additional personal freedoms that give campers a greater sense of individual responsibility. “The camp was such a great way for Vivian to build self-esteem,” she said.

Campers often encounter situations during camp that they don’t find at school or home, allowing them to expand in terms of leadership, responsibility, resourcefulness, resilience and citizenship in ways they wouldn’t otherwise. “It’s important for kids to get out, away from the TV and broaden their horizons,” explained Meadows.

The Springer Theatre Academy focuses on “teaching life skills through stage skills.” The campers engage in experiential activities, playing with puppets, telling stories, singing, moving and improvising, blissfully unaware that they are simultaneously strengthening their communication, teamwork, discipline and other such skills necessary for success in almost any endeavor.

A child who refuses to leave the couch or one who lives in roller blades or on a skateboard in an urban landscape may benefit from a change of scenery. They may enjoy Little Creek Farm, located 10 minutes north of Columbus in Upatoi, where owner Cathy Buglioli conducts a variety of one-day, two-day and week long equine camps for children of all ages. Students learn about cleaning, grooming, feeding and riding horses in an authentic farm environment.

The Chattahoochee Valley is brimming with opportunity for education and fun, with many camps in the area offering both traditional and specialized summer camp programs for all ages. Seize the chance to lure your child away from the video games and computer and sign them up for a camp today.