Benjamin Logan Elementary students boosted their reading, writing and vocabulary skills during the last two weeks, while also exploring their adventurous side by scaling a rock wall, canoeing and participating in other summer fun activities at the school’s second annual Literacy Camp.
The 40 campers in grades one through four and school staff members participated in the sessions at Camp Willson, 2732 County Road 11, Bellefontaine.
The camp was offered this year with the help of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 2 funds, provided by Governor Mike DeWine’s Office in relation to catching students up who may have fallen behind due to COVID-19.
To beginning each camp session, the students start with a community-building activity, which for most groups was singing a song to introduce each other.
During morning sessions in cabins on the grounds, students focused on improving their literacy skills through working on reading, writing, vocabulary and phonics.
While teaching students entering fourth-grade, district literacy coach Tara King instructed the campers on new vocabulary words and asked them to connect them to occurrences in their everyday lives. One student connected the word “buckle” to the game BopIt.
For the afternoon sessions, Camp Willson staff members led the campers in activities to enrich their outdoor skills, such as the giant swing, archery, rock wall climbing and water activities on the lake.
The main goal of the camp is to “increase the students’ confidence in both their reading and writing abilities before they enter the next grade level,” school officials said.
During August, the district will host a another Literacy Camp for a separate group of 40 students before classes begin for the 2021-22 school year.