Registration is Now Open for STEAM-Plus Summer Camp at Clarkston Community Center

Registrations are now being accepted for summer day camp at the Clarkston Community Center for children age 6-14. STEAM-Plus is a dynamic, fun, day-long camp focused on improving literacy and academic performance and bolstering the confidence levels of low-income students, refugees, immigrants and native Georgians. Camp will be offered Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. June 12-July 28, 2017, and includes daily breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. The cost is $75 per week or $300 per student for a four-week session. A limited number of DeKalb County vouchers will be accepted, but voucher holders must register for camp in person at the Clarkston Community Center by May 4. For more information, call (404) 508-1050 or visit http://clarkstoncommunitycenter.org/the-steam-plus-summer-camp/.

“Here in Clarkston, our community faces extraordinary economic and cultural challenges,” says Cindy Bowden, executive director of the Clarkston Community Center. “Nearly half of the children in our city live below the poverty line, plus 43 percent of our residents are refugees or immigrants who have arrived in the U.S. from over 57 different countries. Our summer camp is designed to give these children the tools they need to succeed academically in a safe and enjoyable environment. Plus, the camp experience builds stronger English language skills for those who are new to this country.”

The Clarkston Community Center’s STEAM-Plus camp emphasizes science, technology, art, math, English and social studies. Core academic subjects are taught by certified teachers, and campers also will learn about 3D printing, computer programming and architectural design, strengthening their STEAM skills: science, technology, engineering, art and math. In addition to academic subjects, the students will have the opportunity to explore Eco-Art, painting, drama, dance, gardening, theatrical improvisation and movie-making.

“Clarkson has become a major refugee center, and is often referred to as ‘the most diverse square mile in America’,” said Bowden. “Many of our community’s children are struggling to learn English, adjust to a new culture and succeed in school. Some are lonely and isolated, and living in poverty. Our summer camp, now in its fourth year, offers a safe and nurturing environment for about 82 low-income children and teenagers where they can learn important academic skills, explore their own creativity and have fun with kids their own age. The camp also serves as a summer feeding site, ensuring these children receive nutritious meals and snacks during the summer school break.”

STEAM-Plus Summer Day Camp is supported by Wells Fargo, BB&T, VisionFactory, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Something New and the City of Clarkson.

About Clarkston Community Center

Established in 1994 and headquartered in the beautifully renovated former Clarkston High School building at 3701 College Ave., Clarkston, Ga., 30021, the Clarkston Community Center offers programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, centered around art, recreation and community building. The Center serves over 40,000 individuals annually, primarily from Clarkston and greater DeKalb County, Ga., many of whom have immigrated to the United States or are newly-arrived refugees. In addition to the headquarters building, the Clarkston Community Center includes an activity field for sports and recreation, acreage for a planned community garden and an additional structure for future development. Angora Hall, the Center’s renovated auditorium and stage, is available for public rental for parties, weddings and other special events. A new fundraising program, Friends of Clarkston Community Center, offers individuals the opportunity to financially support the work of the Center. (404) 508-1050, www.clarkstoncommunitycenter.org