Featuring something for everyone, Odessa College’s summer camps are returning this year starting June 7 and running through the first week of August.
“We did bring some camps back, not all of them yet, but we did bring some camps back,” Director of Community Recreation Christine Williams said.
Favorites like volleyball, conversational Spanish and Zombie Preparedness are back.
“… We are a little more robust than we were last year, which is exciting, and then hopefully by next summer we’ll be back to full strength, God willing,” Williams said.
There will be private swimming lessons this year, but not group lessons and Williams said the camps are running at about half of what they normally would.
The age range for the camps is from 5 to 16, but each camp has its own age limits. Masks are required.
The summer will also include a new camp called the Fab Academy where students will take advantage of Odessa College’s Fab Lab.
“They will spend a week at the Fab Lab and they will earn a certificate of completion as well as they’re actually going to be creating some showcase items that they will display for campus and community to see” and then they’ll be able to take them home, Williams said.
“They’re going to learn how to use 3D printers and different digital design systems. I think it’s going to be awesome and it’s going to be able to serve a little bit older age range than what we normally do,” she added. “… This something completely different than we’ve ever done before … so I’m excited for this opportunity for kids to come and learn something totally new. …”
Williams said she is looking forward to the summer festivities.
“… I want to have the kids here already,” Williams said.
She added that she wants to hear the campers running around and having fun.
Golf is currently full, but Williams said they are looking at adding a couple of spaces.
Camp Runamuckus, an all sports camp, and volleyball might be close to be close to being full, she said. And certain camps, like archery camp, only had two spots remaining at the time of the interview.
“It’s where they go during the summer,” Williams said. “It’s where they go have fun.”
She added that they get a chance to be introduced to college campus and find that it’s a friendly place.
“It just becomes a second home for everybody, I think, which is a good thing,” Williams added.
