Always a popular Parks and Recreation summertime activity, Xtreme Science Camp will return to the Benedum Civic Center with two 2014 sessions.

 

From June 23-27, children will put themselves in the shoes of biologists, builders, artists, archaeologists and paleontologists with a hands-on camp titled “Let’s Get Dirty.”

 

The next session – “Critter Camp” - will be held July 14-18 as campers take a look into the world of creepy crawlers - from ants and spiders to crickets and grasshoppers. Both camps are geared to kids in second through sixth grade.

 

The focus of Xtreme Science Camp is to learn about science in an extreme way –  giving kids an up-close-and-personal view with plenty of hands-on experience. Camp curriculum in recent years has been built upon themes focusing on outer space, forensics, kitchen chemistry, junior geology and ancient Egypt.

 

Camp coordinators and instructors Kellee Shuttleworth, Kay Burnette and Candy Belcastro – all longtime teachers in Bridgeport schools – annually brainstorm to decide upon themes and how to carry them out.

 

“We get together and Google ideas for summer science camps and find ideas we think look pretty interesting, then we tweak them to fit our kids’ needs,” Shuttleworth said.  “We look for new ideas and things to keep the kids engaged, keeping it fresh and fun every year.”

 

Because the camp is geared toward a wide age range, there are many children to come back year after year, she said.

 

This year’s themes are brand new to Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Xtreme Science Camp. Organizers believe both will be well-received.

 

“Everything is hands-on so the kids are not only learning science, they are doing science,” Shuttleworth said. “That’s how they learn the best. You can’t teach science with a paper and pencil. You have to do it.”

 

Much thought, planning and organization goes into each Xtreme Science Camp.

 

“Parents who send their kids to this camp will know at the end of the week that their kids learned science – and had a lot of fun, too,” Shuttleworth said.

 

The maximum enrollment for each camp is 50 students. Class will be held 9 a.m.-noon at Benedum Civic Center. Some activities, particular the messier ones, will be held outdoors. The cost is $100 for each five-day camp. Parents can register children entering second through sixth grades at the Benedum Civic Center office. For more information, call 304-842-8240.