News

Monday, May 17, 2021

MCC offers summer camps for youths

 

Written by Lexie White

Calling all animal lovers! Join MCC Biology Instructor Michelle Gibson this summer for an agriculture camp about the ways humans utilize animal hair and other natural fibers. This camp is designed for kindergarteners through fifth-graders, but all are welcome.

Gibson has been teaching agriculture camps for several years, and while brainstorming what the camp theme would be for 2021, she realized she has often focused on food production, but not the other ways plants and animals are used. That was when the idea of a “Fiber Frenzy” camp occurred to her.

“Campers will interact with alpacas, sheep, goats and rabbits,” Gibson said. “They will see demonstrations of spinning and carding animal hair, make soap on a rope, learn about how animal/plant fibers are used in other parts of the world, and so much more.”

They will also have time in the afternoon to swim in MCC’s pool.

Fiber Frenzy camp is Friday, July 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on MCC’s Sidney campus. The cost is $25 per child; $40 for two children from the same family; $50 for three children from the same family. Parents/guardians may attend with their children at the same rates.

Other summer camps for youths include:

STEM Exploration Camp – 1st and 2nd Grades

This weeklong camp will engage children in all aspects of STEM learning. Participants will build Lego race cars and machines, learn how to do basic coding, repair and fly drones and more. This camp will be at MCC’s Greenville campus Monday, June 14, through Thursday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $115.

 

Health Careers Camp

Campers entering eighth through twelfth grades will experience first-hand challenges, opportunities, and rewards of health professions. Hands-on activities are facilitated by health profession students, instructors, and health care professionals. Diversity awareness and first-aid training will also be a part of the camp experience. Join camp director Danielle Anderson on

Wednesday, June 16, and Thursday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on MCC’s Sidney campus. The cost is $60.

 

Cyber Security & Digital Citizenship

Youths entering fifth through sixth grades will join camp director David Kohn as he teaches about the basics of cyber security and ethical hacking. Campers will also try out their own “hacking skills” on some common household networking devices and take part in digital citizenship activities that will help them develop healthy and positive online skills. The camp is Monday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on MCC’s Greenville campus. The cost is $25.

 

Once Upon a Time

Children entering first through second grades will enjoy a magical art experience based on fairy tales. Join camp director Sue Moss for this creative adventure where fairies, unicorns and dragons come to play. The camp is Wednesday, June 30, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on MCC’s Greenville campus. The cost is $25.

 

The Art Connection

Children entering third through fifth grades will learn all the ways that art connects us by building, creating and exploring painting, drawing, and sculpture with some engineering thrown in. The camp is Wednesday, July 7, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on MCC’s Greenville campus. Sue Moss is the camp director, and the cost is $25.

 

The Brick Show (Lego Camp)

Youths entering fourth through eighth grades will use Lego bricks in creating and producing their own stop motion animation video. Camp directors Tore Skogseth and Seth Sutton will talk about brick building principles, script and story board development, building characters and movie sets using bricks, and shooting and creating their own stop motion movie. Participants need to bring a cell phone with the app Stop Motion Pro installed (available for purchase in the iOS Store or Google Play). The camp is at MCC’s Sidney campus on Monday, July 12, and Tuesday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $25.

 

Art Around the Corner

Youths entering sixth through eighth grades are invited to look at art in a different way. Join camp director Sue Moss on MCC’s Greenville campus to look at how colors combine and patterns develop. Put this new knowledge to the test by creating a kaleidoscope and discover how mirrors’ reflective powers can be used in the building of a periscope. The camp is Wednesday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $30.

 

Montcalm County Youth Law Enforcement Camp

Youths entering sixth through eighth grades will learn about the field of criminal justice with camp director and Michigan State Police Officer Steven Schutter. They will be given hands-on activities related to law enforcement and will also learn about other components of the criminal justice field, including corrections and the court system. This class will combine classroom instruction with hands-on activities Students should dress appropriately for physical activity. This camp will be held on MCC’s Sideny campus Monday, July 19, through Thursday, July 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $20.

 

STEM Exploration Camp – 3rd through 5th Grades

This weeklong camp will engage children in all aspects of STEM learning. Participants will learn to design, build, and code with Legos. Campers will also work on trouble shooting problems, ask scientific questions, develop models, analyze results and more. This camp will be at MCC’s Greenville campus Monday, July 19, through Thursday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $115.

 

STEM Exploration Camp – 6th through 8th Grades

This weeklong camp will engage youths in all aspects of STEM learning. During the first two days, campers will work as physicists and engineers, carrying out experiments to investigate phenomena, principles and concepts involved in physical science and technology using LEGO® MINDSTORMS®EV3. During the final three days, campers will work as scientists and engineers using LEGO® MINDSTORMS®EV3 to immerse themselves in motivating STEM activities that prompt creative problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. This camp will be at MCC’s Greenville campus Monday, July 26, through Thursday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. The cost is $115.

 

Financial Literacy

This week-long financial literacy camp for high school students (grades 9-12) is a financial education program that teaches students how to make wise financial decisions to promote financial well-being over their lifetime. Using instructor-led interactive lessons, guest speakers, and simulations, complex financial concepts will be translated to terms that help students develop actionable strategies for managing their finances. This camp will be held online Monday, Aug. 2, through Thursday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The camp director is Kristen Diehl, and the cost is $39.

 

For more information about MCC’s summer camps and a link to register, visit montcalm.edu/camps, call MCC’s Greenville campus at 616-754-7706, Ext. 7, or email community@montcalm.edu.