DANVILLE — For the past two weeks it’s been about discovering the joy of reading. But on the last day of the session, the prevailing distraction was ice cream.
That was the reward, courtesy of Dairy Queen in Avon and Danville, for a group of children participating in Sycamore Services’ first summer academic camp.
Phyllis Hart, Sycamore’s director of children’s services, talked about expanding the program when she started there a year ago.
“It was time for it to branch out and grow,” she said.
What followed was an afterschool play group for 2- to 4-year-olds in the spring. The summer program is called PATHS (Positive Alternative Thinking Strategies). Though Sycamore Services’ mission is to help those with disabilities enhance their quality of life, PATHS is open to children of all abilities in grades kindergarten through sixth.
“The goal is to promote academic achievement throughout the year for kids with and without developmental disabilities,” Hart said.
Only four weeks into the 10-week camp, and already the reviews are glowing.
“Our kids love it,” said Brian Petree, who has two in the camp. “They want to come to it after school now.”
Don Wilson, who has three children in PATHS, likes how it keeps children academically engaged, even when they’re not in school.
“Thanks to this program, they’re able to keep learning through the summer,” he said.
Tracy Brabec has seen tremendous improvement in her son, who’s getting ready to start kindergarten.
“Before, I couldn’t get him to do anything,” she said.
Brabec signed him up for PATHS as a sort of experiment, to see how he’d do in a day-long structured environment. The results have been better than anything she could’ve dreamed.
“Now he wakes me up at 6:45 every morning ready to go to camp,” Brabec said. “He loves it.”
She credits the program’s format for the positive response.
“They keep them active,” Brabec said. “They encourage exercise, which the children need. But they also foster imagination. Being able to use that is fun for them.”
Hart says Sycamore has received a lot of community support for the camp. Besides Dairy Queen’s donation, Ferguson Hardware contributed the tent. The Avon and Danville school corporations collaborated with Sycamore in helping spread the word for PATHS in the community.
“They were the best help with our recruitment,” Hart said.
Participants can still sign up. Session three, a creative writing program called “Write On!,” starts Monday and goes through July 11. The final two sessions are about science and back-to-school readiness.
Cost is $50 per child per week for a full day or $35 for a half day. Enrollment also is now open for Sycamore’s after-school program, which serves Avon and Danville and starts Aug. 25. The program is open 2-6 p.m. every day after school. Cost is $50 per child per week.
For more information, call Sycamore Services at 745-7503 or visit the website at www.sycamoreservices.com.
wade.coggeshall
Local News
Related Photos
-
Robbie Shurr dances during musical chairs yesterday afternoon at the Sycamore Day Camp. / Photo by Brian Kern
Summer camp emphasizes academics in non-traditional setting
- Local News
-
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
The week prior to Memorial Day serves as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.
-
Howie Mandel to serve as 500 honorary announcer
Howie Mandel, standup comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will serve as honorary announcer for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 27.
-
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
-
BCSC raises $30,000 for Race for the Cure
Basketball season may have ended a few months ago for the Bulldog community, but the school system decided to give the Susan G. Komen Foundation one extra large, record assist as they recently announced raising $30,000 in the Race for the Cure fight against breast cancer.
-
Drive for Damon golf scramble set
A golf scramble to raise money for disabled former Ben Davis High School basketball star Damon Parks is set for 1 p.m. June 3 at Riverside Golf Course in Indianapolis.
-
Brownsburg fights back with Relay for Life
For 24 hours, it will be non-stop community versus cancer in town as the Relay for Life event will takes place. The event will start at 5 p.m. June 1 at the Brownsburg West Middle School track.
-
Dawes, county celebrate retirement
The impact that Dennis Dawes has left on Hendricks Regional Health will not be soon forgotten.
-
Young racing team plants roots and more in Brownsburg
When Belardi Racing decided to uproot its operation and move to Hendricks County, they got the idea that maybe they should put some roots down.
-
500 Festival celebrates with breakfast event
With practices and qualifications going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday was a busy day for everyone involved.
-
Relay returns
With battling cancer and raising awareness in mind, the Wayne Township area hosted its Relay for Life this past weekend at the Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
