CrossRoadsNews, March 13, 2010 - Section B

Summer Camp Expo – March 20, 2010 March 13, 2010

Section B

www.crossroadsnews.com

Gear Up For Summer

Information, Performances, Fashion Show, Prizes Don’t miss the fun at the Mall at Stonecrest Lower Level, Noon to 5 p.m.

Summer Camp by the Numbers

10

90

37

$230

84

percent growth rate of US day camps in the last 20 years

percent of camps in operation since before the 1960s

average camp counselors weekly salary

percent of U.S. camps that offer financial support

2,400

$75-$300

284

7

50

camps accredited

by American Camping Association

range of average weekly cost for day camps

number of special needs camps in the U.S.

average age of kids at sleep over camps

percent of kids who return to the same camp annually

million, children who attend camp each year

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Summer Camp Expo

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“Our goal is to get children interested in science early so that later on they are not intimidated by it.”

Camp showcase offers options for long, hot summer break

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

When school lets out on May 21, parents don’t want to be caught unprepared for that long summer break.

Instead, savvy parents will be headed to the March 20 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest to check out the camp offerings. During the noon-to-5 p.m. expo on the mall’s Lower Level, they can talk with operators of specialty and all-around camps who are offering great options for their children close to home.

The expo, which is in its seventh year at the Lithonia mall, will include more than 20 operators of academic, science, performing arts, dance, wellness, YMCA and church camps.

Parents will have their pick of camps that start their day with devotionals and Scriptures to those that will challenge their kids academically, artistically and physically. There are also camps to seduce the couch potatoes and activity-packed camps that will help kids burn calories and become more healthy.

The specialty camp offerings include Big Thinkers Science Exploration, C.R.A.M. Academy, Dance on the Move, Destined for Success, Hope Schools of Excellence and Mother’s Choice Wellness Camp.

Noreen Raines, owner of Big Thinkers Science Exploration, said their eight-week camp that runs June 1 to July 23 offers elementary school students hands-on experience.

“They will build rockets and put together robots,” she said. “Our goal is to get children interested in science early so that later on they are not intimidated by it.”

For kids who are fighting inactivity,

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Kids get busy with the Hope Schools of Excellence display at last year’s Summer Camp Expo.

Camp operators are offering camps in science, the arts, wellness and academics.

Mother’s Choice Wellness Camp will keep them active and teach them to eat and pick healthy foods.

Nicole Richardson, the camp’s director and a licensed practical nurse, says the wellness camp, which is in its second year, is not just for overweight kids.

She said that all kids benefit from being active and that thin kids who are inactive will become lethargic and tire easily.

“Many kids are not active enough,” she

said. “We are going to get them up off the couch and get them moving.”

The May 31-to-Aug. 2 camp will include nutritional classes to teach children to make healthy food choices and opportunities to play basketball, volleyball, soccer and double dutch and run relay.

At C.R.A.M. and Destined for Success, kids can hone their math, science and reading skills. Destined for Success also is offering CRCT preparation and etiquette

and character education.

At the YMCA Academies of South DeKalb, kids can live, laugh and grow from May 31 to July 30 with swimming, reading, math, writing enrichment and character development.

At the South DeKalb Family YMCA, the annual traditional camp takes place May 26 to Aug. 7 and features indoor and outdoor activities that include swimming, sports, games, arts and crafts, and field trips.

For eight weeks between June 1 and July 23, kids can explore their entrepreneurial side at the Kingdom Business Youth Camp hosted by Canton Jones and the Hope Schools of Excellence.

Campers will get instruction about the music business in morning sessions and spend the afternoons exploring Summer Bridge, science, technology, engineering and math. The camp will culminate with a live concert planned and performed by the campers.

All the camps have field trips planned that will broaden kids’ horizons and take them to interesting venues across metro Atlanta. Many offer discounts for siblings.

Because many of these camps have a limited number of spaces, smart parents know they must make their decision early to get their kids into the camp of their choice.

At the 2010 Summer Camp Expo, operators will be showcasing their programs, offering discounts for early registration.

Parents and their children will get to talk directly to the camp directors and decision makers, and some will get to sample the offerings.

The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-284-1888.

“Ea rl Tu y Bir i S tion d” if fu pec l l Ma y p ial a y 31

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, 2 by 01 0

21st Annual Summer Academy for Young Musicians and Dancers

June 14-25, 2010 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (early drop-off at 7:30 a.m. and pick up as late as 6:00 p.m.)

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced level instruction for students age 8 to 18 (college students are also welcomed) Music Repertoire: Classical, Jazz, Negro Spirituals, Gospel, Reggae, Calypso, Country, Ragtime, Motion Picture Themes, Top-40: Rock, R & B, Hip-Hop, Classic Oldies, Etc. Instruments: • Strings: violin, viola, cello and double bass • Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone • Brass: trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone horn, euphonium, and tuba • Percussion: snare, bass, mallets, auxiliary, trap set, timpani, African, etc.

Dance: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, African, And Hip-Hop

Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia • P.O. Box 42732 • Atlanta, Georgia 30311-0732

(404) 328-0840

stillwaters690@yahoo.com • www.stillwatersyouthsinfo-nia.org

“Join Sinfo-Nia in an exciting and historical summer academy as we celebrate our 20th Year Founder's Day!”

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2009 Summer Camp Expo Program Highlights March 20, 2010 - Noon to 5 p.m.

Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest

“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

The 2009 Summer Camp Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.

Noon

Kickoff with Fitness Motivator Rae Rae Clark

12:15

Dem Shelton Boyz

3:30 p.m.

Sportacus

2:30 p.m. Jacob Latimore

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker

12:30 Sportacus

Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporter Jennifer Ffrench Parker

4 p.m.

1 p.m. Macy’s Kids Fashion Show

© 2010 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Dance on the Move

4:30 p.m. Sportacus

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the publisher.

130 p.m. Dueces Circulation Audit by

3:00 p.m. Nia Imani, Singer 2:00 p.m Sportacus 5 p.m. Grand Prize Drawing.

Expo Ends!

Audit Report available by request. For information, call 404-284-1888.

Visit at least 14 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest and enter to win a $500 Camp Scholarship from CrossRoadsNews to one of the Summer Camps participating in the 2010 Summer Camp Expo, or other prizes.

5 Atlanta CARES 5 BaSix Knowledge Academy 5 Beulah Baptist Church 5 Big Thinkers Science Exploration 5 Chick-fil-A Inside the Mall at Stonecrest 5 Children for Christ Academy 5 C.R.A.M. Academy

5 CrossRoadsNews 5 Dance on the Move 5 Destined for Success 5 Destiny Academy of Excellence Charter School 5 Georgia Families 5 Hope School of Excellence 5 Kilombo Pan Afrikan Institute

5 Learning Care Group 5 Mother’s Choice Learning Center, Inc 5 New Birth Christian Academy 5 The Magic of Mr. Me 5 YMCA Academies of South DeKalb 5 West Wood College/Atlanta Northlake Campus

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ City ______________________ ZIP code _______________ Email Address ________________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone __________________________________________ Cell phone _____________________________________ *Exhibitors must put their validation code on your card to be eligible. Name, address and telephone number(s) required in order to win.

Your entry also entitles you to receive regular news updates and other information from CrossRoadsNews. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are excluded from winning. Grand prize winner will receive a check made payable to the eligible exhibitor. Must be present to win.

March 13, 2010

CrossRoadsNews

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Javon Ty’ree Henderson, aka “J-jigga,” and friend Deandre “D.T.V.” Victor perform as the rap duo Dueces.

They will appear at the Summer Camp Expo on March 20.

March 13, 2010

“His father and uncles performed as the Latimore Brothers.

He grew up seeing them perform and just wanted to do it.”

Sportacus will get kids moving in thr Nick Jr. television superhero Sportacus will be promoting a healthy lifestyle for kids during the 2010 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on March 20.

Sportacus, who stars in the hit show “LazyTown,” seen daily on Nick Jr., is fit, agile, acrobatic and lightning fast – real-life embodiment of the action figure every kid dreams of becoming.

The Summer Camp Expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. He will appear live from the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s Lower Level at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m.

The action hero, who lives in an airship, owns a magical crystal that glows when the LazyTown kids get into trouble. He is always moving, flipping through the air, and always lands on his feet and lures kids off the sofa to dance, leap and sing.

Magnus Scheving, creator of “LazyTown” and Sportacus, developed the show and character after noticing that “there was no superhero to motivate kids to be healthy in life.” The entrepreneur, who is a former “Athlete of the Year” in Iceland, the country of his birth, uses the show to convince kids that it’s cool to be healthy.

Talented teen sets tweens’ hearts afl

Rap duo, dancers keep it young Anetta Smith knew her son Javon Ty'ree Henderson was headed for the stage at an early age.

“He just loved to perform,” she said.

“He would pick up a spoon and mimic what he saw on the television.”

By age 3, he was acting and modeling.

Now 8 years old, Javon is part of the rap duo Dueces, which launched in December and has been competing and performing around metro Atlanta. They did their first gig for Dj Frienheit.

Javon, whose stage name is “J-jigga,” said that he and his 12-year-old friend Deandre “D.T.V.” Victor make two, which led to the group’s name. They have been friends for five years and like the same type of music.

Javon says he is especially partial to everything Ludacris. “I want to be like Ludracris,” he said Tuesday. “I like his rapping and how he performs.”

Dueces will be performing at the

CrossRoadsNews March 20 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The duo, which is backed by three girl dancers – Alex Shoemake, 12, from Coan Middle School; Schaquanda Cade, 10, from Indian Creek Elementary; and Skylar Bass, 9, from Seaborn Lee Elementary – will hit the stage at 1:30 p.m.

Dueces already have written original material and will perform “Blazes” at the Summer Camp Expo. “It’s about a type of tennis shoes,” Javon said. “We talk about all the colors and styles.”

Javon is a second-grader at the International Community Charter School in Decatur, and Deandre is in the seventh grade at Woodland Middle School in Atlanta.

Smith said the group’s music is clean and kid-friendly and that they appeal to children 8 to 13 years old.

For more information, visit Myspace .com/javon_henderson or call Anetta Smith at 770-882-6655.

Mother’s Choice Wellness Camp Keeping Our Children Healthy for the Summer

• Basketball • Volleyball • Double Dutch • Field Soccer • Art/Drawing • Relay Racing • Wellness Education • Experienced & Certified CPR Staff Call 404-806-0872 or email motherschoice@comcast.net for Registration Dates & Time P.O. Box 390551, Snellville, GA 30039 Camp Location: 917 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn, GA 30047

Jacob Latimore loves to sing and dance and it shows.

Born into a family of performers, the College Park 13-year-old has been onstage performing since he was 9.

Onstage he delights audience with moves reminiscent of kid prodigies Michael Jackson and Usher.

His mother and manager, Latitia Taylor, said singing and dancing come naturally for Jacob.

“His father and uncles performed as the Latimore Brothers,” she said. “They are all singers. He grew up seeing them perform and just wanted to do it.”

In fact, Jacob Sr. is a distant cousin of R&B crooner Kenny Lattimore, and he and his three brothers make up the soul quartet the Latimore Brothers, who were once signed to MCA Records as the group Jersey Ave. A soulful R&B crooner, the younger Jacob fell in love with the Temptations when he was just 5 years old. His mother said that once he discovered the movie “The Temptations,” he watched it every day, perfecting every dance move he saw.

These days, the teen sets the hearts of tween and teens aflutter onstage and on YouTube, where he has several uploads singing and dancing.

Lovesick girls pour their hearts out to him on YouTube.

On March 20, Jacob will entertain in person at the CrossRoadsNews 2010 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. He will perform at 2:30 p.m. from the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s Lower Level.

As a performer, Jacob loves to get the audience involved and get everyone clapping and moving to the beat.

"I love performing," he says. "I am not scared to perform in front of a crowd. I love when the crowd goes crazy. It's the best feeling ever."

Jacob has had a lot of practice performing. He began at age 3, singing and imitating his father's performances for family and friends. By the first grade, Jacob had developed a serious discipline for the art of dance. He taught himself different moves by studying videos of B2K and Michael Jackson.

In 2005, when he turned 9, Jacob decided to officially pursue a career in music and recorded his first song, "Best Friend."

He is now testing the waters as an actor and recently appeared on “One Tree Hill” on the CW Network. This fall, he has a leading role in the thriller “Vanishing on 7th Street,” which will feature actors Thandie Newton and Hayden Christensen.

Crown World Productions, his management company, is developing “The Jacob and Kracie Show,” a television sitcom starring Jacob and Kracie Lynch.

When he's not recording or making crowds go crazy, Jacob, who is in the eighth grade, is home-schooled.

The Summer Camp Expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia. Jacob’s recordings can be downloaded free of cost at www.welovejacob.com.

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“It was great being in front of that big crowd … and knowing that I had something to do with those smiles.”

ree live shows at the mall The television show grew out of his book, “Go, Go LazyTown!” It mixes puppets and live action and targets children ages 4 to 7. The story starts when Stephanie, a little girl who likes exercise, dancing and living healthily, moves to stay with her uncle, Milford Meanswell, mayor of LazyTown. She meets the lazy junk food-eating town villain Robbie Rotten, whose aim it is to make all residents into lazy junk food addicts, and Sportacus, the athletic superhero who eats fruit and vegetables as his sports candy.

Sportacus, who is patient, kind and always understanding, leads by example.

H e spurns sugary foods, goes to bed on time, and maintains a clean and neat home.

During each of his appearances at the Summer Camp Expo, Sportacus will emphasize healthy eating and daily physical activities for children. With childhood obesity at an all-time high, parents and kids will get lots of ideas to help them embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Each show will feature a meet-and-greet, so parents should bring their kids and camera.

The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia.

For more information, visit www.mallatstonecrest.com or call 678526-9880.

Nia Imani Hunter, who played Young Nala in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “The Lion King,” will perform March 20 at the Summer Camp Expo. Her debut single, “Your Journey Begins,” releases March 18.

Young performer gives back to her peers

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

flutter onstage and online

Jacob Latimore has a leading role in the thriller “Vanishing on 7th Street” this fall. Jacob, who also sings and dances, will perform at the expo.

In her debut single that releases March 18, singer-actress Nia Imani Hunter sings about failure and the road to success – weighty subjects for a 12-year-old.

But the Atlanta seventh-grader says it’s entirely believable.

“I know a lot about failure,” she said Monday. “I have done lots of auditions since I was 8 and most of them I didn’t get.”

In the four-minute song, “Your Journey Begins,” Nia Imani encourages people to “never stay on that dark road, just come along, let your spirit unfold.”

She wrote, arranged, played piano and sang vocals on the single that will be released digitally worldwide by Atlanta-based Exodus Entertainment, the company launched by her parents, Selena and Dwight Hunter, to manage her career. Selena Hunter said the single can be downloaded for 99 cents at www.niaimanirocks.com.

Two days later, she will sing that song for families and exhibitors at the March 20 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.

Nia Imani is no stranger to patrons of CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo. In 2008, she electrified the audience with her rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You” from the movie “Dream Girls.”

The former DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts student also won the North DeKalb Junior Idol contest in 2008 and played Melinda Cratchit in the Alliance Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol.”

Since then, she has played Broadway and portrayed Malia Obama, daughter of President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, in “Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert.”

Between July 2008 and April 2009, Nia Imani played Young Nala, princess of the Pridelands and Young Simba’s best friend, in the Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical “The Lion King.”

When she was picked from thousands nationwide to play the part, she was only to appear in the show at the Minskoff Theatre for six months, but Disney Theatrical Productions kept extending her stint.

Now enrolling for summer & fall S Chervi Children for Christ Academy 6 ildr ng th wee en 2637 Panola Road ru k gr 6t s ad h Lithonia, GA 30058 e

770-981-0039

“First I had to stay two months to train my replacement, then I had to fill in for someone else,” she said.

“They kept calling me back so I guess I must have been good.”

The production attracted 2,000 people a show, and Nia Imani called it “an amazing experience.”

“It was great being in front of that big crowd of smiling people and knowing that I had something to do with those smiles,” she said.

It was the biggest audience she had performed for and it made her nervous at first, but Nia Imani said she got used it quickly.

“Performing is the one thing I really enjoy,” she said. “It brings out who I am. It is helping me find myself.”

Last October, Nia Imani launched her Every Child’s a Star Foundation as a means to give back to the community.

“I don’t have a lot of money yet,” she said, “but all the things I am doing are going to pay off and it will give me the opportunity to give back.”

Nia Imani says she sees celebrities with shiny clothes and cars and five houses when they can only live in one and she doesn’t want to be like that.

“I want to help children,” she said.

In the five months since, she and other child performers have appeared nearly a dozen times at Boys & Girls Clubs, schools and malls. Fourteen-year-old singer, rapper, songwriter and actor Meak, who attended DeKalb School of the Arts at the same time with her, has joined her at many of those performances.

“We are cheering up children and putting out positive messages about self-esteem and self-discipline,” she said.

Nia Imani, whose names mean Purpose and Faith, left elementary school in the fifth-grade and is now home-schooled through the Georgia Cyber Academy.

The Summer Camp Expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. Nia Imani will perform at 3 p.m. from the Main Stage in front of Sears at the mall’s Lower Level.

The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia.

For more information about Nia Imani, call Selena Hunter at 770-548-7464.

For more information about the Summer Camp Expo, call CrossRoadsNews at 404-284-1888.

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The Sheltons have signed on for Rock Out Childhood Obesity, a nationwide campaign that raises awareness about the epidemic.

Brothers find their groove as scholars, rockers

If This Was Your Ad, Someone Would Be Seeing It Now! Call 404-284-1888 for advertising rates & information.

With their green Mohawks and clean lyrics, Dem Shelton Boyz are rocking audiences with their combination of pop and rock ’n’ roll.

The trio of talented Shelton brothers – Xavier, 11; Xavion, 7; and Xeven, 6 – hails from Powder Springs. They launched their career in the music and film industry in the winter of 2008 and claim inspiration from the legendary band U2 and the Jonas Brothers.

The three will take the stage at 12:15 p.m. at the March 20 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo on the Lower Level of the Mall at Stonecrest.

Because their performance schedule makes it difficult to attend regular school, the brothers, who model, act and dance, are home-schooled in the Georgia Cyber Academy.

Group leader Xavier is a model, actor, dancer and singer. He is a fifthgrader who excels in science and math and boasts a 3.5 GPA. He plays the keyboard and guitar and loves basketball.

Second-grader Xavion boasts a 4.0 GPA and counts science and reading among his favorite subjects. He is learning to play the drums and is naturally light on his feet. He likes playing basketball and skateboarding with his brothers.

Even though he

is just in kindergarten, Xeven thinks school is totally awesome. He is learning to play the bass guitar.

His favorite sport is football and he is learning to play golf.

Xeven also has a passion for ice cream topped with sprinkles.

Dem Shelton Boyz have been performing throughout the city in concerts, local stage plays, fashion shows and musicals and in movies and music videos. The brothers have signed on for Rock Out Childhood Obesity, a nationwide campaign that raises awareness about the epidemic that is sweeping the country.

The group, which is represented by GX Productions, Neoge Music and organized Noize, is signed to 7Records. The brothers have a hilarious kids sitcom in the making.

The March 2010 Summer Camp Expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road in Lithonia.

For more information, visit www.demsheltonboyz.com or call 678-614-1716.

Dem Shelton Boyz – Xeven, 6; Xavion, 7; and Xavier, 11 – are top students as well as performers.

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Decisions about camp should be a joint venture, depending on your child’s maturity.

Traditional or specialty? Tips to help you make the best camp choice A parent discusses summer program with Destined for Success at the Summer Camp Expo.

Parents get to speak directly with camp operators during the noon to 5 p.m. expo.

Before you make a final decision about which camp to send your kids this summer, here are some tips to help you make the best camp choice for your child.

Talk with your child Maybe there’s something – drama, sports, dance, science etc. – that your child has been yearning to try. Camp is a great place to take on new challenges. Most programs combine academic and indoor/ outdoor activities; find one that suits both of you.

Because the summer break is 11 weeks long, if you can’t find everything you want for your child in one camp, you may consider sending your child to more than one camp. For example, if your children wants to dance and do sports, you might split time between a dance camp and a YMCA camp.

Find out what’s available There are traditional camps that offer a variety of events and there are specialty camps that focus on a single activity or area of interest. Traditional summer camps are a great idea for children who are flexible but love fun. Campers get to explore a variety of events that will broaden their minds.

Specialty camps are a great choice for children who are interested in specific skills and activities, such as dance, music, basketball, golf or mathematics. At specialty camps, children get to focus on a particular activity and learn all they can about it.

Know what fees apply There are usually registration fees and supplemental fees for field trips, camp T-shirts, food and extended services. It’s important to find out what’s included in camp fees so there are no surprises later.

Once you have chosen a camp, make an appointment to meet the camp director and arrange for a tour. If the staff seems hesitant to talk to you, this is often a sign that the camp is not very organized and perhaps you should move on to your next choice. When you meet with the director, have a list of questions you need answered in order to properly evaluate the camp.

Pin down additional costs for field trips or other activities. Will you be expected to provide meals, snacks or supplies?

Find out if they offer any need-based scholarships and what is the refund policy if your child gets sick or has an emergency and is no longer able to attend.

Go to open houses Some camps have open houses to introduce parents and children to their programs. This is a great way for you to meet camp counselors and/or teachers ahead of time and learn about the program and activities in which your children will be involved.

Learn counselor policies Some camps may use teen counselors who may be unaccustomed to dealing with large groups. Make sure the counselor/ child ratio suits your child’s needs. The American Camping Association recommends a 1-to-6 staff to children ratio.

What is the return rate for the counselors and campers? How old are the counselors? What sort of experience and education are required?

What is the process for screening when hiring staff? Do they do background checks to screen out child predators?

Is the staff certified in CPR and first Ask about safety aid?

Make sure the camp you choose has staff trained in safety procedures, supervision, conflict resolution and other issues Overnight camps When kids go away to overnight camps, that may be specific to working with young children. Find out what procedures the it offers the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond their neighborhood or camp follows in case of an emergency.

Find out the camp’s procedures for school and allows parents and children to tracking kids during field trips and how it practice “letting go.”

Decisions about camp should be a joint deals with roadside emergencies when the venture, depending on your child’s matukids go on field trips.

For children with medical issues, such rity. If a child feels his opinions are being as diabetes or asthma, make sure that there respected, the chances of having a positive is trained staff on-site and emergency pro- experience will improve. cedures in place at all times.

In Atlanta, the temperature soars in the Talk about concerns As the first day of camp approaches, summers. If kids are spending a lot of time some children experience uneasiness about outdoors, find out how the camp will keep going to a new or unfamiliar place. Discuss them hydrated and cool.

Talk with the camp staff about your these feelings.

Let your child know that you believe child’s medical needs and what medical facility your child would be transported to in his or her ability to deal with new situations but maintain realistic expectations. should the need arise.

Finally, learn what the discipline pro- Encourage your child to write letters home cedure is and decide if you’re comfortable and be sure you know how to reach them in case of emergencies. with that approach.

Once you have chosen a camp, make an appointment to meet the camp director and arrange for a tour. If the staff seems hesitant to talk to you, this is often a sign that the camp is not very organized and perhaps you should move on to your next choice.

Encourage children to have a reasonable and realistic view of camp.

Camp, like the rest of life, has highs and lows. Every moment is not filled with wonder and excitement.

But remember, if you make the right choice, fond memories of your child’s camp experience can last a lifetime.

Congratulate Your Grad With An Ad! in

Dea Ma dline y1

Send a congratulatory message with photo to your graduate in our Graduation Special Section.

For details, call 404-284-1888 or email graduates@crossroadsnews.com

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March 13, 2010

When a student enjoys the learning process, the brain does a better job of assimilating and retaining the new information.

Right enrichment program can pay long-term dividends for kids

By Bobbi DePorter

A good summer enrichment program gives students the feeling that they’re at camp by incorporating fun right into the learning.

Every year, parents are faced with the same question: how to make the summer both fun and constructive for their kids.

More families are turning to summer enrichment programs as a way of adding value to the summer camp experience.

But not all summer enrichment camps are created equal. Here are Bobbi DePorter some points to consider when evaluating programs for your son or daughter for this summer.

Does the area of enrichment have practical application to your child’s academic future?

Several camps position themselves as “enrichment programs” when, in reality, they are glorified and expensive vacations for the students who attend.

Do the kids like these camps? You bet.

But before signing up, take a good look at the program’s schedule of activities. Close inspection may reveal that there’s far more downtime and unstructured free time than there is quality enrichment.

There’s nothing wrong with indulging your son or daughter in one of these programs, some of which are held in Europe, on cruise ships and in tropical locations.

Just know that there may be little or no lasting value to the student or the parents in this investment.

What kind of training and expertise does the staff possess?

If a summer program bills itself as providing new skills to participants, then make a point to learn about the background of the staff who will teach these skills.

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The last thing a student needs in the summer is more school. A good summer enrichment program gives students the feeing that they’re at camp, not back at school. While some program try to combine learning and fun by giving the campers adequate free time, the best camps incorporate fun right into the learning.

Are the program leaders teachers themselves or experts in a particular field?

Also, inquire as to the training they receive. Many summer programs scramble at the last minute to hire summer staff and, as a result, the experience and training of some staff members may be lacking.

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6400 Woodrow Road, Lithonia, GA 30058 Cost: $100.00 weekly (Registration Fee $50) For more details contact Kimberly Baker 770-696-5076 / kbaker@nbcanewbirth.org

Is there a balance between learning and fun?

The last thing a student needs in the summer is more school.

A good summer enrichment program gives students the feeling that they’re at camp, not back at school. While some

programs try to combine learning and fun by giving the campers adequate free time, the best camps incorporate fun right into the learning.

When a student enjoys the learning process, the brain does a better job of assimilating and retaining the new information.

In what ways can a program enrich a student’s life?

When most people hear “summer enrichment” they think of academic enrichment.

Clearly, when students are able to acContinued, next page

March 13, 2010

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Camp can help student grow in life From

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quire new skills in such areas as creative writing, reading comprehension, problem solving and critical thinking, they benefit.

But if a camp offers them growth in life skills areas that build their confidence, motivation and self-esteem, as well as their communication and leadership skills, then you’ve found a summer enrichment program that can help a student grow in school and in life.

What’s a good length of time for a summer enrichment camp?

There is no set length that is best.

Students do benefit from some downtime in the summer, so a program that runs three or more weeks may be excessive and expensive. On the other hand, camps that last just a few days will have limited value.

Similarly, day camps don’t have the same impact as residential enrichment camps, where students get to stay on-site for the duration of the program. Teens, in particular, are nocturnal. Some of the best

learning can come in the evening sessions of summer programs.

Look for enrichment camps held on college campuses. Middle school and high school students enjoy the experience of living in college dorms for a week or more. It can even prove to be inspirational as they begin to think about college.

In summary, sending your son or daughter to the right summer enrichment program can pay long-term dividends for the entire family.

Newly acquired academic skills, increased motivation or added confidence can translate into better grades, as well as new academic and personal interests. In turn, this growth can lead to better colleges, college scholarships and rewarding careers.

Bobbi DePorter is a teen motivation and accelerated learning expert and creator of SuperCamp and Quantum Learning school programs. She is the author of more than a dozen books, including “The Seven Biggest Teen Problems and How to Turn Them Into Strengths.” For more information, visit www.SuperCamp.com.

Summer Enrichment Camp The Beulah Community Family Life Center 2010 Summer Enrichment Camp June 1 - July 31, 2010 • 7 a.m. - 6 p.m

$50 Registration Fee $95 WEEKLY TUITION FEE The Beulah Community Family Life Center Is Offering an Enriching & Inspirational Summer Camp For Ages 4 - 12 • Bible Study & Morning Devotion • Reading/Math/Spelling/Computer Learning • Arts & Crafts/ Recreational Sports • Movies/Fun & Games • Field Trips

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Driving Directions: 2706 Bouldercrest Road, Atlanta, GA 30316 (next to Texaco; across from Church of Bouldercrest; down Sugar Creek Lane)

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