By Azalee McCormick
Throughout Vision Educational Center (VEC) Summer Enrichment Camp, “Achieving Community Enhancement” (ACE) program, the students participated in many exciting weeks. The program began June 6, 2011 and lasted until July 29, 2011.
The first week, students learned the 23rd Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer as a part of their weekly devotion. We also studied stories of the bible beginning with the story of the Creation and combined it with experimenting with our own creation of a summer garden. With the help of Mr. Travis Wynn from VEC, Mrs. Nana Bradley from DHEC and the Master Gardener, Mr. Grady from the Clemson Extension VEC students were able to plant, nurture and harvest squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, okras, and watermelons.
The second week, VEC students enjoyed the Florence YMCA Splash Camp in Quinby, SC. Students were educated from well-trained YMCA swimming coaches on personal growth values, personal safety tips, swimming skills, and rescue techniques. The YMCA focused their community water safety program for children ages (5 to 12). In week three, VEC visited the Dillon Wellness Center to hear from motivational speaker Mr. Archie Talley. Mr. Talley brought amazement to the spectator’s eye as he demonstrated tricks and techniques as he once did while playing with the Harlem Globetrotter in 1976. He also encouraged the students to strive for success and to focus on their education. Mr. Archie signed personalized autographs for each student.
Basketball and Cheer Camp was the highlight of week four. VEC male youth not only went through vigorous basketball drills but they learned the value of team work, communication and dedication, coached by Mr. Tyquan Turner. VEC little ladies cheered their hearts out at each practice as they learned the importance of motivation among the crowd and each other. They were coached by Mikeya Murphy.
Robots in space fascinated students as we viewed the assimilated skies at the Robson County Planetarium. Later that week, VEC visited the Riverbank Zoo in Columbia; SC. Students were able to identify all the animals that they did research on earlier in the week. To complete week five’s trip, the children had a blast at Frankie’s Fun Park in Columbia, SC. Frankie’s Fun Parks is a chain of small Go-Kart and Mini-Golf fun parks with locations in North and South Carolina. They also offer other attractions such as rock climbing wall, bumper boats, laser tag, arcade, drop zone, and other exciting rides.
Week six, VEC took a tour of the historic campus of University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is a one of 17 schools that comprise the University of North Carolina system. We also had the opportunity to visit UNCP Native American Museum. By the end the week the students took a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, and had fun in the sun at Wild Water and Wheels water park. It is a 16-acre park filled with exciting rides and slides such as speed slides, mat slides, tube slides and kiddie water attractions, but the most popular attraction was the wave pool.
The final and most spectacular week of all was a two day, one night trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC. This lovely venue has exclusive indoor water parks, interactive games, and cabin-inspired suites. The children expressions and excitement were unforgettable. Our students felt this was the best trip of the summer.
To conclude the summer enrichment camp, on August 3, 2011, VEC hosted a basketball tournament at JV Martin Junior High School located in Dillon, SC. The basketball camp consisted of Pee Dee area sites, which included Cheraw, Darlington, Dillon, and Lake View. The winner of the tournament was VEC Cheraw, but both students from Cheraw and Dillon received trophies for excelling to the top two teams. To celebrate a wonderful summer camp, all 120 participants of the VEC summer program had a pizza party after the game. Overall, Vision Educational Center has had a sensational Summer Enrichment Camp 2011, and we look forward to continuing to “Achieve Community Enhancement.”