SPC College For Kids Is First Step To Higher Education

From St. Petersburg College:

April 27, 2021

It’s time to sign the kids up for summer activities! St. Petersburg College’s College for Kids offers safety, fun and enrichment at a very reasonable price, and might just encourage kids to start envisioning themselves as students on a college campus.

Dr. Yvonne Williams, Coordinator of SPC’s Corporate College, said this isn’t the first time the college has offered a summer camp for kids. But this year’s camp moves the experience from public school campuses to St. Petersburg College sites.

“We wanted our students to experience the look and feel of a real college campus,” Williams said. “Introducing this at an early age could spark their desire to attend college in the future and greatly increase the chances of them doing so.”

The program runs for five weeks, starting June 14, with classes from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Extended care is available from 3-5:30 p.m. Registration is now open.

Students will experience innovative and experiential activities, both in the community and in small, COVID-19 safe classroom settings. Williams said state-certified instructors will be teaching and looking after students who attend the program.

“It’s so important to us to provide our curriculum via credentialed instructors in order to ensure that our students are learning in a safe environment from people who are experienced in teaching a diverse group of learners,” she said.

Visual, graphic arts, arts and crafts and STEAM activities are just a part of the many activities College for Kids will be offering. Activities will vary, depending on the site.

“Students attending the Downtown Center summer experience will have walking tours of the Downtown St. Petersburg area, as well as tours of some of the many art museums located there,” Williams said. “The Tarpon Springs Campus is home to the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, where students will create art and have it displayed in the museum.”

Teresa Wilkins, Executive Director of the Leepa Rattner Museum of Art, said the exposure to art will proffer the mindset that is required for college success, including creative problem solving, effective communication, empathy and an openness to differing points of view.

“When children are able to engage in the artistic process, their social and emotional capacity and their understanding of the world around themselves grows,” Wilkins said. “When the artwork they produce is displayed, it reaffirms this process of discovery and boosts self-esteem and willingness to continue to grow and learn.”

For $80 per week, kids entering grades 4-9 will receive:

• Quality instruction led by credentialed teachers
• Access to a St. Petersburg College campus
• Fun, active entertaining experiences, including field trips – without the pressure of tests or grades
• A T-shirt

For more information, view program information online or call 727-302-6436.

This press release was produced by the St Petersburg College News. The views expressed are the author's own.