DATE: May 06, 2009

CONTACT: Michelle Martin, 864-656-3879
mmichel@clemson.edu

WRITER: Jessica Lance, 864-656-2061
jrlance@clemson.edu

Clemson to host Camp Read-a-Rama for children

CLEMSON — The Clemson University English department and the Eugene T. Moore School of Education will hold Camp Read-a-Rama May 11-29 at the Clemson Outdoor Lab.

Three one-week sessions will be held from Monday to Friday each week. The camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with optional care offered before and after the camp from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m.

During the camp, children will read a variety of books that will serve as a springboard for hands-on, creative, fun and sometimes very messy activities based on the theme of the week.

The first week (May 11-15) has the theme “Into the Wild” and campers will explore different animal habitats and take a field trip to a local farm. During the second week (May 18-22), “Arts Around the World,” campers will make homemade paper and put on a play. The theme of the third week (May 25-29) is “Splashdown” and involves all things wet. Other activities include creek hiking, arts and crafts, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) and swimming.

Michelle Martin, associate dean and professor of English, started the Read-a-Rama program in 2001, but this is its first season as a camp-length program. Previous Read-a-Rama programs have brought Clemson University English and education majors together with groups of children a few times per semester to read with them, discuss books and do hands-on activities. At the end of every Read-a-Rama program, including the last day of camp, children choose a free book to take home.

“It’s great to see how excited children get about books and fun activities related to the books. I wanted to expand the Read-a-Rama concept into a camp, hoping it has the same effect with more children,” said Martin.

Registration is $150 per week plus a one-time $20 registration fee. To register or for more information, visit http://people.clemson.edu/~gbarnet/Read-a-Rama/.