Children can pick from summer enrichment camps at BC3
Children attending Butler County Community College’s 2023 summer enrichment program can pick from weekly camps with themes ranging from outer space to plant life; or with Creative and Curious, they can “experience a little bit of everything we have to offer,” a BC3 coordinator said.
BC3’s 24th annual Kids on Campus will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from June 12 to July 27.
Weekly half-day camps for first-graders are scheduled from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. and cost $86.
Weekly full-day camps for second- through fourth-graders, and for fifth- through eighth-graders, are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $172.
Camp selections and registration information are available at bc3.edu/koc.
Forty-eight camps are available in 2023, said Eva Lowerre, who is entering her 17th summer as BC3’s Kids on Campus coordinator.
“Seeing the smiling faces of children arriving and leaving never gets old,” Lowerre said. “I began doing this to give parents a place where their child was well cared for and would have an amazing summer using their hands and imagination.
“Since I continue to meet new families and welcome back returning families, I know we are offering incredible child programming.”
First-graders attending Lost in Space can explore planets, the moon and outer space phenomena, as well as build rockets and launch water rockets.
Second- through fourth-graders attending Outdoor Adventures can learn to plant a garden, examine insects and create responsive volcanoes.
Fifth- through eighth-graders attending Creative Writing can learn different techniques and create a journal with entries such as an autobiography, poetry and collaborative screen writing.
Creative and Curious will be available to second- through eighth-graders “who do not want to focus on a specialized area,” Lowerre said. The camp features cooking, outdoor games, robotics, crafts, STEM challenges, Legos and nature adventures.
“We offered this a few years back (for) one week and a student said, ‘I wish every week was like this week,’” Lowerre said. “Every day is different.”
Twelve camps are available for first-graders, and 18 for second- through fourth-graders and fifth- through eighth-graders.
Joining Creative Writing as a new camp are Tower Design, Sink or Float, Storm Chasers, Shorinji Kempo and Board Game Design.
Survivor, Game On and Mixed Media Art Studio are among returning favorites, Lowerre said, because “what we find from most children is that four days is never enough, so when they find something they love, they want to do it again and again.
“Whether we offer something new or bring back a returning favorite, all of our camps are new because we change the activities, and new staff members bring in a fresh spin on lesson plans,” Lowerre said.
Morning care is offered from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and afternoon care is available from 4 to 5 p.m. Morning care costs $30 per week and afternoon care $20 per week.
Morning and afternoon snacks are provided, but children may also take their own snacks. First-graders who attend morning and afternoon camps and second- through eighth-graders should pack a lunch.
Bill Foley is coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.
