Summer in St. Vrain

As the countdown to summer winds down, students and teachers across the district are gearing up for camp season and it’s not too late to sign up.  Performing arts, financial literacy and STEM camps are among the district’s summer programs that still have openings.    The camps are open to the public and kick off in June.  As part of Up With People Junior, children ages 8 to 11 will learn leadership, equality and cultural awareness, said Lindsay Adams, Community Schools Manager at Centennial Elementary in Firestone where the camp is held. The two-week camp runs June 19 through 30 and culminates with a high energy, musical production performed by students. “It’s my hope that students will finish the experience with a great sense of accomplishment in having put on a musical performance, a confidence in knowing they had impact on others through the message of the music, and a willingness and an obligation to not only understand others different from themselves, but to serve them as well,” Adams said. Third and fourth graders will learn the importance of saving money, practice running for local government and clock in for fake jobs at the Junior Money Matters camp, also kicking off June 19. Financial literacy is the goal at the Young Ameritowne Camp as well, beginning June 26, where fifth and sixth graders will learn to balance a checkbook and even open their own checking account The camps focus on important life skills, said Susan Zimmerman, District Coordinator for Community Schools.  “It’s never too early to teach about financial literacy,” she said.  Robotics, electronics and aviation are just a few of the topics covered by this summer’s Super STEM programs beginning June 19.  More than two dozen camps for students age 8 to 14 cover everything from roller coaster design to magic and cyber defense.   Spots remain for the five-day-per-week Community Schools Programs, which kick off May 31 and run through Aug. 3, at Hygiene Elementary, Thunder Valley K-8, Alpine Elementary and Spark! Discovery Preschool.  For more information and summer camp openings visit svvsd.org/schools/summer-school-camps-enrichment.