UK summer camps to help local children, parents
February 25, 2014
By Yan Wang
Parents gathered Monday in the Student Center Grand Ballroom to learn about where they can send their children during the summer.
The first Summer Camps Fair, sponsored by the Office of Work-life, featured camps hosted by UK that focus on sport, art and religion.
Other camps cater to children with physical disabilities and those who have experienced emotional trauma.
The summer camps fair aims to help parents find opportunities for their children while giving working parents a sense of security during the summer.
“A lot of time when schools are out, parents are like, ‘I don’t know what to do with my child,’” said Erika Chambers, director of Work-life. “That creates a problem.”
Laura Carter, staff member at the Center for English as a Second Language, said the Summer Camps Fair catered to a variety of interests.
“It’s helpful to get a lot of different information in one location,” Carter said. “As a working parent, the summer camps can give (children) a different variety of activities in the summer.”
In the Summer Swim Camps, children are trained by UK swimming coaches to strengthen their techniques.
“It’s a fun environment,” said Margo Greeman, director of operations for UK Summer Swim Camps.
“Kids will learn how to perfect their strokes, starts and turns.”
In addition to sport camps, educational camps are offered.
Toodle Langa Summer Camp aims to raise awareness for protecting the environment.
Christina King, the director of Toodle Langa, said kids will be able to create art through the use of recycled materials.
“Sometimes things you think are garbage, you just throw it away,” King said. “You can actually find creative fun new uses for them.”