The end of the school year doesn’t have to be the beginning of the summer doldrums. Area organizations have planned a jam-packed calendar of events spanning the gamut of interests, from educational programs to outdoors camps and creative pursuits.
Along with perennial favorites, a few offerings are new to the summer camp scene this year, including ballet lessons at the Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA in downtown Columbus.
Sarah Mutch, 20, is a dance major at the University of Alabama, so when she found herself in Columbus for the summer, she decided to use her spare time to give back to area children and perhaps instill her love for ballet in them, as well.
Mutch plans to teach ballet technique and beginning choreography for children, ages eight to 12, and she said all levels of dancers are welcome. The students will attend classes from June 4-8 for three hours a day.
Mutch, who has studied ballet for 11 years, said she’s excited about the opportunity, especially since she hopes to someday open her own dance studio.
“I always had a passion for ballet,” she said Thursday. “It’s very technical, and yet you get to express yourself. You learn discipline; you learn about strength; it’s the best of both worlds.”
The YMCA also will offer swim lessons again this year, which Health and Fitness Coordinator Dana Morrow said is a good way to introduce children to the water and ease their fears. Swim classes for preschoolers to adults will begin May 30 and the last session will begin July 9.
Fitness activities are being held at Mississippi University for Women, as well. Children, ages nine to 15, can choose strength and conditioning or dance and stretch classes featuring Zumba, yoga and folk dancing.
Children who enjoy the outdoors may like the YMCA’s day camp program at Camp Henry Pratt, a 108-acre camp located on the banks of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Activities include archery, canoeing, ziplining, swimming, rock climbing, arts and crafts and more.
Those familiar with the summer offerings at the Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center in downtown Columbus also will find something new this year — art classes for ages 11 to 18, June 18-21 and June 25-28.
Assistant Executive Director Rebecca Favre said the Arts Council usually only offers summer art classes for ages five to 10, but this year there will be two sessions.
Older students interested in one particular medium will have more time to focus intensely on it, perhaps spending the morning concentrating on painting or drawing, then spending the afternoon working on photography or ceramics.
Younger students may do art projects for part of the morning, then switch to music in the afternoon. Classes for ages five to 10 will be held July 9-13 and July 16-20.
Sessions are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. or all day. There is no limit on the number of students who can enroll.
“We’re trying to get as many as are interested,” Favre said. “Parents can have someplace where their kids can go and learn a talent and hopefully carry it on.”
For those looking for something a little different, MUW will again offer a popular culinary camp for second graders to high school seniors. They will attend lectures, as well as get hands-on experience in the kitchen.
Academic offerings at MUW this summer include Science Enrichment programs for students and teachers, the Summer Discovery program for gifted students and Mississippi Governor’s School, which provides academic, creative and leadership opportunities for high school juniors and seniors.
For more information about these programs, please contact the YMCA at 662-328-7696, Columbus Arts Council at 662-328-2787 or MUW at 662-329-4750.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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