DATE: 3/17/05

CONTACT/WRITER: Pamela Bryant, (803) 553-7705

EDITOR: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

Clemson summer camps offer fun, adventure and learning for SC youth

PICKENS – With the last blast of winter fading and spring just around the corner, only eight weeks are left on most school calendars in South Carolina and parents are beginning to plan for summer. The Clemson University’s Youth Learning Institute (YLI) offers summer camps options for parents looking for quality experiences to keep their children active and engaged.

YLI announces a line-up of five innovative and exciting summer camps for youth aged eight to 16. The summer camp programs cover a broad range of interests including technology, marine science, shooting sports and wildlife, and 4-H traditional camp. This year, YLI will launch a new camp, called The EDGE, that focuses on building academic, physical and emotional stamina and teaching young people how to tap into and maintain peak performance at school, at home and at play.

Camps are located at four locations across the state: the YLI Headquarters and Education Center in Pickens, with a breath-taking view of Table Rock Mountain; the Clinton House hunting lodge in Clinton, with access to over 1,000 acres of woodlands, fields and ponds; the R.M. Cooper 4-H Leadership Center on a 110-acre peninsula of beautiful Lake Marion; and, the Sewee Coastal Retreat Center near Mt. Pleasant with easy access to the state’s barrier islands. YLI summer camps are operated by well-trained and experienced staff, and all facilities include modern amenities, climate-controlled dining and lodging, and state-of-the-art adventure courses.

Jorge Calzadilla, YLI executive director, says the goal of the organization’s camp programs is to offer young people a high quality learning experience, while giving them the chance to have fun. “We believe summer camp is one of the most valuable experiences a child can ever have because they learn independence, responsibility, cooperation, teamwork, meet life-long friends and create lasting memories. Just as important, they have fun!”

The 2005 YLI camp line-up includes:

The EDGE

A unique adventure for youth aged 10-14, featuring interactive tools that test campers' performance potential through intellectual, physical and group-based challenges. This is made possible through a partnership with the Institute of HeartMath, Boulder Creek, CA.

CampVoyager

Campers aged 10-14 accomplish challenging missions using Global Positioning Systems, Personal Digital Assistants, digital cameras and computers at this camp of the future.

Camp Sewee

Campers aged 8-16 explore the wonders of marine science and the South Carolina coast. Highlights of the week include island ecology studies, crabbing, kayaking, and nature hikes.

CampWildlife

Campers aged 8-16 experience the thrill of shooting sports like clay shooting and paintball, and complete a course for safe operation of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), while learning the highest standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. This is made possible through a partnership with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

4-H Summer Camp

An outstanding opportunity for outdoor learning and fun, 4-H Summer Camp offers fishing, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts and more. Campers aged 8-14 enhance self-esteem and self-reliance in a traditional camping environment.

Registration for 2005 summer camps opened Jan. 5. Anyone interested in camp can get information and register online at www.ylicamps.com. The website provides details about each camp, including programs and activities, dates of summer sessions and prices. For camp brochures or to speak with a camp representative, the public can call the YLI Headquarters at (803) 878-1041.

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