Summer Fun in the City — Kids and Culture Camp
LaTeisha Williams
Bright-eyed, eager faces file into classrooms bursting with color and scenes inspired by a yet unknown land. An excited, “Buenos dias!” greets them as they settle into their seats. Their adventure is about to begin; a fun-filled journey of culture, creativity, and comprehension of a fascinating place and its people. It’s the first day of Kids and Culture Camp. For four weeks these young travelers will explore—an itinerary starting with Panama, then the Islands of Africa, moving to China, and ending with Ethiopia.
Kids and Culture Camp, in its third year, consistently receives excellent ratings from campers, their parents, and staff. It is the brainchild of Jania Otey, Esq., Founder and Camp Director, who was searching for a summer camp for her children that was not only fun and educational, but affordable as well. The camp, located in northwest Washington, DC, is a cooperative, primarily staffed by moms who pour heart and soul into crafting a unique learning experience for the campers. Children, ages 3-12, are introduced to cultures around the world with lessons encompassing one or more of the following themes:
- Our Part in Art
- Nothing But Nature
- Positive Vibrations
- Fables and Folktales From Afar
- Life Skills for Little Learners/Build Skills
- World Changers
- Fitness Fun for Everyone
- Communication Station
- Number News and Word Play
Woven into the cultural lessons are field trips, art and crafting projects, music, native languages, traditional games, science and nature investigations, and cooking classes tailored to the area of study. Campers also enjoy chess, yoga, foreign language, sign language, math, storytelling, and other special interest offerings, as well as physical education and water play. Weekly summaries of what the campers learn are sent home, which gives parents the opportunity to be actively involved in their child’s camp experience. Every week culminates in Festival Friday, where campers present a performance highlighting the country of focus, then enjoy, with their parents and camp staff, an authentic cultural presentation and regional foods, amidst striking exhibits of the campers’ artwork and crafts.
Every year, Kids and Culture Camp cultivates children overflowing with new knowledge and ways of observing and appreciating the world around them. This year is sure to be no different. Having fun and learning all the while—now that’s a great way to spend the summer.
