St. Augustine Catholic Church is holding its first summer camp, Camp Create, as a fundraiser for the church's preschool, the St. Augustine Learning Center. The camp takes place at the church Monday-Friday, July 16-20, from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
Open to children ages 4-7, the camp is designed for creative kids who love to use their imaginations. Each day of camp focuses on a different theme, with activities ranging from constructing play forts and Lego worlds to creating music, mixed media and 3-D art to participating in science projects.
Camp directors include Lissa Goeltz, who took over as director of the St. Augustine Learning Center last December, and Mary Helen Watson, lead teacher for the preschool's 4-year-old class.
"The school, being a very small preschool, can always use some fundraising," Goeltz said, as to why the church decided to hold its first summer camp this year.
Goeltz, who ran the summer camp program at Bachman Community Center while serving as its executive director, said the camp is also a way for her and Watson - also a Bachman camp leader - to continue to do something they loved doing in the past.
"Not only will kids have a fun time exploring all kinds of different things throughout the week, the money also goes toward a good cause," Goeltz said.
The cost for the camp is $150, which includes snacks and materials for activities. To sign up, pick up a registration form at the church office, 1716 Anderson Pike in Walden, or email learning@staugustinecatholic.org.
A preschool for 3- to 5-year-olds, St. Augustine Learning Center offers a Christian learning environment with a focus on providing a nurturing and developmentally appropriate classroom for children of all learning styles, educational needs and strengths. Enrollment is up this year, said Goeltz, though a few spaces remain in the 4-year-old class for fall 2018.
For more information, to join the waiting list or to schedule a tour of the school, email learning@staugustinecatholic.org or call the office at 826-0428.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.