On a summer day with temperatures in the high 80s, kids at EdGE summer camps were not letting the heat ruin their fun. At Harrington Elementary School, campers spent the afternoon moving from the basketball court and playground to classroom craft stations. In Addison at D.W. Merritt Elementary School, students went from creating a game in the sun to Snap Circuits inside. And in Machias at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School, a group of students listened to a story read by a staff member from the Ark Animal Shelter (with a special furry guest) under the pavilion and then moved indoors to create a unicorn craft.
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The EdGE Youth Development Coordinators who run each camp work with staffers to create activities for each group of campers, tailoring activities to different age ranges, interests, and sometimes, weather. In addition to creating schedules for up to five weeks of activities, they also have a deep connection with the campers, many of whom attend EdGE after school.
At Harrington, Youth Development Coordinator Don Parker jokes with a student about her kitten shirt as she gets a drink of water. At Rose M. Gaffney, students pepper Youth Development Coordinator Katie Mahoney with questions about an upcoming pirate-themed scavenger hunt. In Addison, Youth Development Coordinator Karen Bailey, slips between classrooms chatting with kids and staff, offering students a break from the heat outside.
The Mission’s EdGE program runs three camps each summer in Washington County for students in grades K-8. Each camp is slightly different, but they all offer similar experiences for students: crafts, STEM activities, and time outdoors to play and explore, as well as field trips and excursions. This year, the Maine Discovery Museum taught campers about space, Healthy Acadia ran cooking classes at two camps, and the MDI Biological Laboratory brought microscopes so students could learn more about science. Campers also explore their own communities. During camps they go on hikes, kayak, and hit the new challenge course on the Mission’s Downeast Campus. A Maine Coast Heritage Trust steward took campers on hikes to a local preserve and other students attended the Monteux Children’s Concert in Hancock.
“Each time I visited camps this summer, I enjoyed hearing the excitement and laughter from the children as they enjoyed their camp day,” says EdGE Primary Program Director Isaac Marnik. “The Mission has a great team of staff that lets the children have a wonderful summer camp experience.”
These summer camps continue to provide children with the same support the EdGE program offers throughout the year. Students challenge themselves, engage with their communities, explore the outdoors, and gain social and leadership skills. For working parents, the summer camps give them a local option for their kids to spend the day. The Mission also offers all campers the option to have a free breakfast and lunch through the Maine Department of Education as well as snacks during the day and with scholarships available to families, the camps are open to any student, regardless of their financial status.
In addition to these summer camps, EdGE offers afterschool programs at seven elementary schools in Washington County as well as in-school programming including the Marion Kane Leadership program.