Barksdale youth prepare for busy summer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Registration is taking place now for the Barksdale Youth Center summer specialty camps.

The camps are held each summer and include: digital photography, cooking, rocketry and sewing. The Missoula Childrens Theater being held at the beginning of August will mark the end to this summer's program line-up.

Aside from the $5 registration fee, which is waved for families with Deplayment Passes, children will not need to bring any supplies with them.

"Everything will be provided for the children - utensils, food, sewing machines and cameras, depending on what classes they are in," said Victor Santana, 2d Force Support Squadron chief of youth programs.

Mr. Santana explains the extra supplies and the curriculum expansion to include digital photography for the first time are due to grants the youth center has received.

"We do specialty camps for the kids as often as we can with our funding," he said. "We were very fortunate this year to have so many classes to offer. We received a lot of help and grants from Air Combat Command and the 4H Organization."

In addition, the extra funding has allowed the youth center to bring in knowledge experts to instruct the children.

"An Air Force contracted chef will be brought in to teach kids healthy and simple cooking skills and we are working in cooperation with 4H, who are providing instructors to teach rocket building as well as sewing," said Mr. Santana.

Attending the summer specialty camps is a way for many children to have fun over their summer vacations, but Mr. Santana says it also gives parents peace of mind.

"These camps keep the kids busy, teaches them life skills, keeps them out of trouble, and helps to avoid situations where kids are home alone," he said. "A lot of children may stay at home until parents get off work, but this program gives them an outlet.

"The camp ends around lunch - they can eat lunch and then the center opens up for normal programs," he continued.

According to some parents whose children have attended the programs in the past, the social interaction among the youth is the greatest benefit.

"My son is kind of shy and this helped him to get out there with the other kids," said Staff Sgt. Maria English, 2d FSS noncommissioned officer in charge of. "He got to learn to work as a team and interact with the other kids in a short time, it was awesome."

Space in the camps is limited and fills up fast. Each camp has its own registration date and parents are encouraged to call right away to sign-up their child.

"Last year all of our specialty camps were very popular with the children and were maxed out very quickly," said Mr. Santana. "In fact, on the first day of registration for the photography class it was maxed out."

Classes begin in July and run until the beginning of August. Contact the youth center at 456-3448 for questions or registration.

Digital Photography: July 6-9. Registration has ended due to full occupancy.

Cooking camp: July 12-16 for children ages 8 and up. Registration begins June 11.

Sewing or Rocketry Camp: July 19-23 for children ages 9-14 years old, registration begins June 21.

Missoula Childrens Theater: Aug. 2-6. Auditions held on Aug. 2.