Opportunities for summer education, fun, survival

Though school’s out for the summer, it doesn’t necessarily mean students have to take a break from learning, and they can have quite a bit of fun doing it.

Hot Springs County Library’s Summer Reading program kicked off on Friday, May 31. This summer’s theme will be A Universe of Stories — Space, with a game day scheduled for June 7, a craft day June 14 and a field trip June 21.

The program is for students who will be in grades 1-5 in the fall, and during the kickoff each student will be given a calendar to record their reading. Each week, they can bring in their calendars and their progress will be recorded. Their names will also be entered into the drawing scheduled for June 28, the final day of the program. Prizes include a telescope, a hoverboard and gift cards.

The Hot Springs County Lights On program will be hosting two sessions for their Unplug and Recharge this summer — one from June 10-27 and the second from July 8-25. Morning sessions, also known as the Jump Start, will be 8:30 a.m. until noon. The afternoon session, Adventure Camp, goes from noon until 5:30 p.m.

The main education on outdoor education this summer. Students will be focusing on learning inside and outside of the classroom through outdoor appreciation and awareness.

Free breakfast, lunch and snack will be available. The elementary program is open for incoming kindergarteners through fourth/fifth graders, and the middle school session is for older students from fifth graders through those going into ninth grade.

Middle school programs will be held at the high school, while elementary programs will be at Ralph Witter Elementary. The cost for the program is $30 per student, and each student will receive an Adventure Pack containing a sling backpack, water bottle, t-shirt and bracelet.

Please note that the classroom sessions are three days each week, Monday-Wednesday, with field trips Thursdays.

Middle school Adventure Camp programs are as follows:

June 10-13, Survivor: Lights On! Students will learn survival skills such as how to start a fire, basic first aid and shelter building.

June 17-20, We Will Rock . . . Climb! Student will learn rock climbing basics instructed by trained climbing guides, then apply those skills to the rock wall.

June 24-27, Chop It Like It’s Hot . . . Cooking! Students will learn proper use and care of camping utensils through science and math, research local edible foods and learn to prepare a delicious camp meal.

July 8-11, Summer of Color, Think and Ink! Students will learn do-it-yourself outdoor projects, beautification of our community, and preservation and protection of nature.

July 15-18, Knot Your Ordinary Field Day! Students will leanr how to tie and use knots, play outdoor sports, and build and compete in obstacle courses.

July 22-25, Welcome to the Jungle! Students will learn preparing and packing for camping, and implement the skills learned through the summer in a tended camping trip.

Elementary sessions are:

June 10-13, Go Wild: Let’s learn all things wild about the wildlife, birds and creepy crawlies around us!

June 17-20, A Little Dirt Never Hurt: Let’s go where the wild things grow! What grows around us and why? What can we eat?

June 24-27, Dig In, Rock On: We are digging in and climbing up this week to new heights this week!

July 8-11, Gold Rush: What in tarnation is that? Where are we? We need a plan? Let’s go mining in Atlantic City!

July 15-18, Stars Among Us: One, two, three shooting star. Have you ever seen such a sight? Do you know what you’re looking at in the dark skies?

July 22-25, Get You S’Mores On: Let’s pull what we have learned all together and head for the hills. We’re going camping!