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A Special York Summer Camp Has One Major Goal: Saving the Children: 'Valley' Kids Get Chance for More Fruitful Summer

Posted on: Monday, 26 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

By Karen Bair, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.

Jun. 26--If 7-year-old Shandon Cobb weren't attending camp for the first time ever this summer, he knows just exactly what he'd be doing: "Nothing."

Kids like Shandon usually don't go to summer camp, so Pastor Rodney Freeman marched with his flyers into York's low-income housing projects and into a poverty-ridden area of York notoriously known as "The Valley."

He calls the summer camp for low-income children "Save Our Children Youth Academy," and, with the help of the Western York County Chapter of the NAACP, has gotten the York school district, York County's Culture & Heritage Museums and area churches, businesses and organizations involved.

"I looked for areas where kids would not have the opportunity to go to summer camps," Freeman said. "Until someone gives them an opportunity, they don't know about it. They don't apply for scholarships. You have to go into the community."

Until school starts, kids like Shandon will be catching up or forging ahead on their school work, playing kickball, learning Bible passages, eating lunch, enjoying board games like bingo and checkers that improve math and other mental skills and learning about good character.

The camp meets from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day at the McCelvey Center Annex, thanks to the generosity of the Culture & Heritage Museums, which also will host trips to Brattonsville and the Museum of York County. The York school district provided state-curriculum textbooks and learning materials, as well as snacks and lunch, which some of the kids otherwise might not get this summer.

Each child has individual materials and tutoring based on their level of learning. Area churches, businesses and organizations chipped in with financial sponsorships and volunteer efforts.

"This gives them a safe haven this summer where they are off the streets and not home alone," Freeman said. "We give them academics to keep their minds working during the summer."

Other groups get involved

Freeman started the program five years ago at Mount Zion Restoration Church in Gastonia, N.C. He still pastors at that church and in February assumed leadership at Restoration Church South in York as well. He wanted to start a camp for York's inner-city kids, too, and contacted Steve Love, president of that area's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter.

Love, who founded a youth organization of the local NAACP and has worked with the York school district on other kid-related issues, called York schools Superintendent Russell Booker, made contacts at the McCelvey Center and began touching base with other local organizations.

"It's something that's been needed in this area for a long time," said Love, who also is coordinating efforts with the housing authority to provide activities for children who live there. "This whole thing is bringing the community together. Everyone's playing a part."

The Culture & Heritage Museums staff was happy to pitch in, said Owen Glendening, deputy director of interpretation.

"We're an educational institution, too, and we are eager to bring enrichment to children," he said. "We want to start our museum-visiting with children as soon as we can. For some of them, this is the first visit to a museum they've ever had."

Nancy Crane, manager of the Culture & Heritage Museums educational programs, said many of the children also will visit the museums in the fall as part of their school curriculum.

"When they arrive, they will feel familiar," she said.

Next week, the 22 campers will attend a baseball game with Freeman's camp members in Gastonia. Meanwhile, they are becoming accomplished at games and seem to be enjoying the individual help with their school work.

One child will enter the first grade in August and is learning his ABCs. Another will enter the second grade but is still catching up with what he didn't understand in the first grade. Some are already doing well in school and are being introduced to work they will do in the fall.

"This is better than watching TV," said Donnia Darby, 12, a rising sixth-grader.

"You learn stuff from it you didn't know," said Willia Love, 11, the NAACP president's daughter, who is also a rising sixth-grader. "I'm learning fractions."

Her sister, Kadedra, 8, is learning subtraction.

And some teen and adult volunteers are learning they enjoy working with children.

Freeman, Love and other community members hope it will blossom into an after-school tutoring program in the fall.

"Next year we're hoping to open it up to a lot more children," Love said.

WANT TO HELP?

The Save Our Children Youth Academy is open for up to 30 children ages 6 through 12 in York. Volunteer tutors and financial sponsorships are welcome. The fee to cover expenses is $20 for registration and $10 a week, but many of the children's families cannot afford it.

If you would like to help or want to learn more, contact Pastor Rodney Freeman at Mount Zion Restoration Church, 2311 Crescent Lane, Gastonia, NC 28052, or call (704) 864-8616. E-mails may be sent to pastor@mtzionrestoration.org.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Herald

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