DATE: 8/2/07

WRITER/CONTACT: Pam Bryant, (803) 553-7705; pbryant@clemson.edu

Viva Summer Camp!

Clemson’s rich tradition of camping gives Italian students a taste of America

SUMMERTON – This week Clemson’s Camp Bob Cooper is host to 11 students and their chaperone from Carpi, Italy. Their aim is to use a traditional camp experience to learn about American culture, brush up on their English and just have fun.

Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute (YLI) coordinated the group’s visit, which began last weekend upon their arrival in Atlanta, with tours of CNN and Coca-Cola. The next stop for the group of 10-14 year olds was Camp Bob Cooper, where they arrived last Sunday to participate in their first week of 4-H Camp. Weekend activities include canoeing to an overnight camping site, a trip to the S.C. coast and an historic tour of Charleston. Next week, the group wraps up their stay with a final session of 4-H camp before returning home.

Roberta Rinaldi, chaperone for the Italian students, said she was introduced to Clemson nearly five years ago when she met Clemson’s David Reinking, Eugene T. Moore professor of teacher education and coordinator of a trip to Italy for education majors. Through her work with Victoria Language Center, a cultural organization in Carpi, she creates foreign exchange programs that expose young people to diverse cultural and educational experiences. Her goal for this trip was to provide a chance for students to recognize their differences, share experiences, make new friends, and create lifelong memories.

“This is the first time we’ve experienced an American camp and I think it’s great! Already, there is a strong connection between the students at camp,” said Rinaldi. “I wanted them to see how American youth live, observe their habits and share differences in culture. 4-H Camp is just what I was hoping for.”

YLI, a unit of Clemson Public Service Activities, operates 4-H Summer Camp and three other themed residential camp programs across the state. Stephen Lance, YLI chief of staff, said 4-H Summer Camp registrations have increased consistently over the last several years and by more than 25% since last summer. “Hosting students from Italy helps YLI build on Clemson’s track record of over 70 years of quality residential camping experiences for diverse youth populations.”

Lance said last year campers came from across South Carolina, 11 other states and from Barbados. In addition, YLI program staff traveled to the Commonwealth of Dominica to coordinate and conduct summer camp programs for Dominican 4-H campers and other youth residents at Clemson’s Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center located on the island.

“As the number of young people who sign up for 4-H camp continues to climb, we expect greater opportunities to serve youth from all over the world,” said Lance.

For more information about YLI camps, visit online at www.ylicamps.com or call Lori Gugan, camp registrar at (864) 878-1041.

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