A camp that helps bridge the learning gap in children from low-income communities will recruit students as counselors in November.
The camp, called Project Transformation, is a nonprofit organization formed to help children from first through fifth grades learn literacy, as well as spiritual, social and emotional skills. The camp has nine sites across Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, Moore, Bartlesville, Enid, El Reno, Muskogee, Mangum, and two sites in Tulsa.
“The main focus of the camp is literacy. In low-income areas, there is one book to every 300 kids owned in the house,” said Bri Williams, acting sophomore. “The literacy rates go down over the summer. The camp worked to keep that literacy rate the same or increase it.”
Williams worked as the art coordinator at the Southern Hills United Methodist Church site in Tulsa.
“I would have them do activities like coloring a picture or make something out of recycled things,” Williams said.
Project Transformation and OCU also grant scholarships to students participating in the program.
Kelly Pan, nursing senior, said she recieved $1,800 as salary for the summer and $1,200 as an educational grant from AmeriCorps.
“OCU has a good partnership with Project Transformation, so they give you an additional $500 per scholarship you get,” she said.
Pan worked as the STEM coordinator at the St. Paul United Methodist Church site in Muskogee. This was her second year working as a counselor at the camp.
“I taught the kids math and science,” Pan said. “I realized that I definitely want to do something in my future career with kids, maybe teaching. I really liked the education aspect of it.”
Before the camp began on July 26, the students working as counselors had a week of training through the Methodist conference.
“We learned about safe sanctuaries,” Williams said. “I was taught how to react if a child told me something was going on at home and how to notice signs of abuse.”
The camp lasted for 10 weeks during the summer. It was from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“It made me self-reflect on how I can use my skills and training as an actor to go and help people,” Williams said. “It was an amazing experience.”
Applications to become a camp counselor at Project Transformation will be available Nov. 1. Students can go to www.projecttransformation.org or call 405-530-2010 for more information.
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