Volunteers sought for KIDS camp
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 9 years, 7 months AGO
<p>Mary Jo Kringas works with camper Abigail Vetromile-Bauer during last year's KIDS Camp. The program, which helps first- and second-graders retain information from the previous school year while making reading fun, begins June 15 and ends Aug. 5. </p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Reading is not just for the classroom.
It's fun in the summer, too.
KIDS (knowledge, independence, direction, success) Camp is a summer literacy program for first- and second- graders from Bryan, Fernan and Winton elementary schools that has been developed to decrease the "summer slide," a loss of learning that occurs in the summer months.
The program debuted last summer and kids showed an increase in several areas - comprehension by 22 percent, the ability to retell a story by 17 percent and vocabulary by 7 percent. This year, program organizers aim to serve more than 45 kids in the Coeur d'Alene School District. The camp will run June 15 through Aug. 5 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Fernan Elementary.
Students will be bussed within the designated transportation zone to and from camp and will be fed breakfast, a snack and lunch through the federal lunch program. Community volunteers are encouraged to participate and read with these students.
The camp is structured in three sessions where a child will read with a mentor for a full 30 minutes on both camp days: Mondays from 9-9:45 a.m., 9:45-10:30 a.m. and 10:45-11:30 a.m.; and Wednesdays from 9-9:30 a.m., 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:15-10:45 a.m.
KIDS Camp is in need of committed individuals to read with students on a regular basis. Not only does the program provide a variety of wonderful activities for kids, it also has the potential to build relationships, trust and confidence for those who read and are read to. Adult, high school and middle school volunteers are welcome. Student volunteers are encouraged to participate the entire day. Breakfast, snack and lunch will also be provided for any high school or middle school student who participates for the entire camp day.
The requirements to volunteer are simple - run a driver's license through the Raptor school visitor system at the district office or at Fernan Elementary and attend a brief required volunteer orientation. Middle school students will only be required to attend a brief orientation (time and date to be determined). Program coordinator Greta Gissel is happy to present this information to companies, organizations or any other groups of individuals interested in participating.
Info: Greta.gissel@gmail.com or 819-8345.
