Looking for something fun to occupy your kids this summer? Below we’ve rounded up a few highlights.
Grab your calendars! Ready. Set. Go.
For the “Write”-Brained
Simmons Middle School teacher Debbie Sims moonlights as Director of the Youth Writing Program for the Red Mountain Writing Project. The program is affiliated with UAB, and counts former Hoover teacher (and former Alabama Teacher of the Year) Dr. Tonya Perry among its advocates (Perry is the current director of the Red Mountain Writing Project).
This summer, rising 5th graders through 12 graders are invited to enroll in one of two Youth Writing Camps sponsored by Red Mountain Writing Project.
The first is geared for rising 5th through 8th graders. There are three one week increments (students may enroll in as few as one or as many as all four weeks). Classes meet each day on the UAB campus from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration fees vary from $150 per week to $175 per week.
Course details are as follows:
• Week 2 (the first week took place in May, and was not included in this print issue) – Hometown History. Students will tour several historical sites in Birmingham, including the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Museum, even the Peanut Depot, as part of their research on Birmingham history. Writing projects will correspond to their findings and class discussion.
• Week 3 – Wild About Animals. Students will conduct research on animals. The course will include a field trip to the Birmingham Zoo. Students will actually develop new signage for some of the exhibits. They also will work on a kid-friendly visitor’s guide.
“A lot of their signage is dry; it’s written for adults,” said Simms. “We want the kids to do it and make it more interesting. We also want to incorporate a few inspirational quotes along the pathways throughout the zoo.”
• Week 4 – All About Art. Students will write based on inspiration from pieces of music, dance, paintings and sculpture.
High school students (rising 9th through 12th graders) are invited to enroll in the academically-focused writing camps, respectively scheduled for June 3 – 7 and June 10-14. The first camp will help students learn to write effectively for the ACT. The second camp will give students exposure to writing persuasive college essays.
The camps are in their fifth year, and routinely draw students from not only Hoover, but all over Birmingham and Shelby County.
“These camps are enriching on their own, but they also help students perfect their writing craft,” said Simms. “Whatever we teach, it’s something they can take on with them to the next school year.”
For more information or to register, visit http://www.uab.edu/redmountainwritingproject/.
Imaginative Types Unite!
The folks at Aldridge Gardens say it best: Whatever your kids like to do, we have a camp for that.
And if they are in the range of kindergarten up to age 14, the summer camp offerings at Aldridge Gardens merit your attention:
Here’s the deal:
• Super Heroes (explore the superheroes of nature and discovering their powers!)
• World of Make Believe Wizards and Fairies (create fairy houses and wizard dwellings while mixing up scientific potions and magical snacks!)
• American Girls in Aldridge Gardens (journey through the grounds with some of the American Girls!)
• Mission Control: Space Week (engage in moon-rock hunts and dressing up like aliens and astronauts!)
• Awesome Art and Creative Crafts (find inspiration in nature, along with the crafts to go with it)
• Aldridge Agents (capture insects and search for meat-eating plants!)
• Theater in the Gardens (learn how to be a performer and a thespian!
Athletics, Anyone?
Hoover High Coaches are offering a plethora of sports-related camps this summer. To name just a few…
Lady Bucs Coach Tiffany Frederick will lead her Building Champions camp June 24-26 from 8 a.m. to noon each day. The program is designed to teach the fundamentals of basketball to beginning level players. It is important that each camper knows the importance of hard work, dedication, and teamwork, which applies in our everyday adult lives. Girls and boys, 3rd grades and up, are encouraged to participate in this three day camp. This camp focuses on the fundamentals of basketball through station work and competition. Campers are divided by skill level to ensure the best experiences for each camper. Fee is $135. To register, call 439-1378 or email tfrederick@hoover.k12.al.us.
Coach Josh Niblett’s Football Camp is a three-day camp that will teach the basics of the skill positions to young players (rising Kindergarten through 6th grade) as well as refine experienced player’s skills (rising 7th and 8th graders). Camp costs $100 if you register by June 3, $115 if you register by July 8, or $125 thereafter. The Camp fee per student includes all instruction and a camp T-shirt. Extra T-shirts will be available for sale. We’ll provide plenty of water throughout the Camp. Campers may bring a snack. Camp will be held at the Hoover High School Athletic Fields. For more information, email karonniblett@att.net.
Coach Rick Davis will lead the 2013 Young Guns Baseball Camp, to take place at Shades Mountain Park. He has been a head high school baseball coach for 23 years. Having served as head coach at Huffman, Fairhope, and at Hoover High for the last 18 years, Coach Davis has amassed over 600 career wins and has seen 79 of his players move on to play college baseball. His teams have made the state playoffs in 18 of his 23 years as coach, advancing to the final eight in twelve of those seasons and winning a State Championship in 2008. 40% of Coach Davis’ seniors receive scholarship offers. Bat, glove, cap, cleats and sneakers are required. Wear your practice pants or shorts. Sliding practice will be the last day of camp, so bring a towel that day. Camp fee is $115 per student or $75 per student (multi-family discount). The fee includes a T-shirt for each student. For more information or to register, call 296-8962 or email rdavis@hoover.k12.al.us.
