Summer camp in full swing at Lincoln! 

Summer camp at Lincoln Extension is in full swing! As I write this article, we have begun our third week of a six-week fun-filled, activity packed camp! 

Summer camp has many benefits. The students range from kindergarten to fifth grade. Each day they participate in learning sessions, activities, arts, and STEM activities. They conclude each week with a field trip to match the theme of the week. 

The first week of summer camp focused on citizenship. We talked with the students about being good citizens in our towns, in our classrooms, and at home. Fire Chief Charlie Jones came out and talked to the students about fire safety, being aware of not leaving a person, or pet in a hot car, and how to dial 9-1-1 for help. They learned the importance of saying “thank you” to those who help keep us safe, and to help others. Chief Jones invited the students to the fire station for a visit and they enjoyed a tour of the entire place complete with gifts and a poster to take back to the center. The students said “thank you” with a banner they had made and each put their handprint and name underneath so it could be hung inside the fire station as a reminder of their visit. 

The students enjoyed a field trip to New Madrid to learn table etiquette at Rebecca Sharp’s. Mrs. Patt Sharp attended to teach the students about proper table behavior and they folded their own cloth napkins and set their own table space. They enjoyed a wonderful meal topped off with chocolate cake with ice cream and we said “thank you” to Mrs. Rebecca and Mrs. Patt Sharp with a cheer and a loud “thank you” that could probably be heard for miles. 

The second week focused on health and wellness. Students learned about the importance of hand washing, teeth-brushing and personal hygiene. They painted canvases of different fruits that are good for them and made “meditation” bottles with glue and glitter. They did a fun exercise of a scavenger hunt finding different foods and matching them to their proper food group. The students enjoyed outdoor activities to encourage exercise and movement for healthy living. We finished the week with a field trip to the movie in Cape Girardeau to see ‘Bad Guys.” It was a great adventure and we all enjoyed the movie and especially the popcorn! 

On Monday and Wednesday of each week throughout camp we take the students to the recreation center. The students alternate swimming or basketball and are enjoying the fun as well as getting exercise and movement. On Tuesday, the students enjoy “Story and Activity” time at the Caruthersville Public Library. The theme this year is “Oceans.” There are a great many other kids at the library so they are able to have social time with them during the activities and make new friends. 

We have just begun our third week and it is focusing on STEM. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). We will end the week with a trip to Discovery Park in Tennessee. I will look forward to sharing the next few weeks of Summer Camp in my next article. The camp concludes on July 7. The time is going so quickly. We are enjoying the students so much and I am excited to be part of this team!