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S E R V I N G M I D VA L L E Y & U P PE R L AC K AWA N N A VA L L E Y THEVALLEYADVANTAGE.COM | AUGUST 9, 2019
A second annual pasta dinner fundraiser benefitted the Olyphant Police | PAGE 8
The borough of Blakely held its third annual lawn mower race | PAGE 13
Keeping brains engaged
Week-long sessions hope to spur summer learning BY CHRISTOPHER CORNELL ADVANTAGE EDITOR
“I have created a program to help young students combat the ‘summer slide’ pheWith school approaching, it might be time nomenonm” she said. for kids to warm up that brain a bit. One Weckel founded the program and designed the curriculum. Other high school way to accomplish that is coming up next week at the Carbondale Public Library, 5 N. and college students have volunteered to work the program with her, including AJ Main St. It’s called Summer Enrichment Camp, Papp, Madison Cost, Abby Bowen, Will and it will be held Monday through Friday, Mchale, Shayla Salvatori and Bryan SekelAug. 12-16, for kids in grades three to six. sky. There will be two sessions each day. In “Stephanie Spaid from the Carbondale STEM Camp (10 a.m. to noon Monday library has been so helpful,” Weckel added. through Wednesday, 12:30-2 p.m. Thursday “This program would be impossible without and 1-2:30 p.m. Friday), campers will her mentorship.” embark on a make-believe space mission, Weckel’s program is an outgrowth of a exploring the hidden galaxies of science, free tutoring program she set up at the technology, engineering and mathematics. library. “The students I work with are overcoming In order to get back to planet Earth, they reading anxiety, test-taking phobias and must conduct experiments. In Foreign Language and Culture Camp attention deficit hyperactive disorder,” she (12:30-2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday said. “Others are learning how to engage and 2:30- 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday), themselves in their teacher’s lessons, how to campers will journey on a make-believe ask for help, how to catch up when they’ve tour around the world. They will be intromissed classes and how to motivate themduced to the basics of Spanish, French and selves.” Weckel believes these kids can learn and German. They might even travel back in excel, “but we can’t do that if the students time to learn about the ancient Greeks and don’t want to listen. If they don’t believe Romans. On day one, they receive mock they are smart, they will have no desire to passports that they can fill up with stamps learn. My programs transform these selfeach day. The Summer Enrichment Camp is destructive thinking patterns into ‘I can!’ offered free of charge. attitudes.” It is the brain child of Kyla Weckel, a high More than improving grades, Weckel school student who lives in Carbondale. said, the students are gaining confidence in their intellectual ability. “Changing the way these students think about themselves turns them into engaged and excited learners,” she said. “After realizing their potential, their achievements will TS_CNG/ADVANTAGE/PAGES [A01] | 08/08/19
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Summer enrichmnent camp will be offered free at the Carbondale Public Library. continue to grow.” Beginning this fall, Weckel will open more locations for tutoring. “Because the space is free and the system is so kind to us, I am planning on keeping all locations in the Lackawanna Public Library System,” she noted. According to Weckel, the camp classroom setting is very leisurely. The goal is to enrich young minds with subjects and concepts that they have not yet had the chance to study. “I believe that by stimulating their natu-
ral curiosities, they will gain an intellectual vitality about them and become lifelong learners,” she said. “Dr. Joseph Marzzacco of the Carbondale City Council is sponsoring the camp financially, but, we are still looking for more sponsors, as well.” Students enrolled in both sessions should bring a lunch. Students will have a 30-minute break Monday through Thursday, but no refreshments or snacks will be provided. For registration and inquiries, call 570561-3736 or email kyla.weckel@gmail.com.