Summer Sensation

      Being healthy is very important and there are many ways to achieve this.  Being physically active, eating right, and learning to reduce stress are some of the ways youth can build strong muscles, lower the risk of serious disease and illness, and lower their emotional stress.

     The past year was a difficult and stressful time for youth.  Activities were limited for youth to participate in.  The Lewis County Extension Office partnered with the Lewis County Family Resource Center and the Youth Services Center to offer youth fun educational programming that had not been available since Covid.  The Summer Sensation Day camp program had 31 youth that signed up to participate.  Participants were provided transportation by bus to Central Elementary where the three hours daily, nine-day program was conducted.  Each day participants were provided breakfast and lunch with special treats on each Friday.  

    According to the web site Health Hub, the creative arts - drawing, painting, sculpture, drama, dance, music, and so on - are not only a great way to create something beautiful, they are also fantastic for relieving stress, enhancing creativity, developing problem-solving abilities, and building leadership, negotiation, and social skills! There are also physical benefits such as improved hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. To help youth learn to express themselves, be physically active and to learn to relax- art projects, recreational activities, science activities, and special programs including wheelchair basketball, Circus Mojo, Penguins from the Newport Aquarium, Re-mix Education, and Hooked on Science were provided during the Summer Sensation program. All these programs gave a wide variety of learning opportunities that help develop a well-rounded person. Participants learned how to make slime, they made their own clock, they created a picture for their room, made rockets and learned how rockets fly.  Through the special programming, participants learned about people with handicaps, about penguins, juggling, and how to balance objects.

      At the end of the nine-day program a survey was conducted with 26 participants.  All participants agreed that they learned that being handicapped does not have to prevent you from competing or excelling, 96%(25) agreed that playing wheelchair basketball helped them understand more that those with handicaps have a more difficult time than those without handicaps, 96% Said they learned how to make their own rocket and about Newton’s law of motion, 81% (21) learned how to make slime and said they could make it again. Youth surveyed said they learned to never give up and to pursue their dream, and that practice makes perfect from Circus Mojo. From Remix Education 93% (24) said they learned that choices are important and that you should choose friends that will support them in a positive way.   All 26 surveyed said they learned that not all penguins are the same.  All surveyed also agreed that they had a good time and felt safe.  All in all the program offered opportunities that helped provide positive programs and learning that helped participants reduce stress, be physically active, and learn important live lessons.