UNCP's Campus was Busy as A Summer Camp for Youngsters

At this summer camp, bug spray and poison ivy are not rites of passage for youngsters. UNCP is becoming a popular summer destination for hundreds of area youth.

This summer more than 1,000 young people, mostly from the surrounding region, attended athletic, academic and leadership camps at the university. And, they slept in air-conditioned comfort.

With a record number of more than 2,500 university students also enrolled in summer school at the same time, Chancellor Allen C. Meadors said a busy university during the summer is a good thing.

"This summer we saw a university that is thoroughly involved with its community," Chancellor Meadors said. "With the planned construction of another residence hall and the completion of our Outdoor Education Center, I believe that this is just the beginning."

"Bringing young people to a university campus is a good thing because we excel in advanced instruction of all types," he said. "It also increases the familiarity of students with the university environment which increases the likelihood that they will attend college."

Here is a brief summary of summer activities at UNCP for area youth:

• The Regional Student-Athlete Summer Institute (SASI) hosted its ninth annual leadership and development camp for 59 high school student-athletes from 19 high schools. Athletes developped their leadership, teamwork and study skills through class sessions and activities. The participants attended of classes ranging from ethics, substance abuse, nutrition, conditioning and conflict resolution.
• Aquatics Director P.J. Smith held two instructional camps and organized one competition. Coach Smith ran the North Carolina/USA Developmental Wrestling program for over 200 youngsters, swimming classes for approximately 230 and staged the first Lumbee Games Wrestling Tournament with 40 contestants.
• Assistant Athletic Director John Haskins brought 47 children, ages 8-12, to his annual All-Sports Camp.
• The Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development hosted several programs, including SummerStart, Youth Opportunity, Purnell Swett High School Health Academy Summer Experience and a summer youth conference. SummerStart 2002 was attended by 99 high school students. The program offered academic enrichment. The Purnell Swett Health Academy Summer Experience was attended by 13 high school students. The program provided training in topics like career planning, SAT preparation and Internet skills.
• A Summer Youth Conference 2002 hosted 200 young people for a program sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
• The Regional Center enrolled a total of about 90 kids from the Lumberton, Red Springs, Maxton, Fairmont and Rowland Youth Opportunity centers. The youngsters participated in recreational, financial aid and life skills sessions, had role model speakers, etc.
• The Office of Continuing Education and Distance Education sponsored a Summer Enrichment Program for grades 4-7. Eighty-one children were involved in the Summer Youth Enrichment group.
• Theatre Professor Holden Hansen conducted the first-ever Summer Theatre Workshop for four university students. The workshop produced the play "Sally and Marsha" and gave two public performances at the Givers Performing Arts Center.
• The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs organized the Summer Residential Academic and Life Enrichment Program, which enrolled 40 students on campus. They attended math and science focused classes and participated in enrichment and recreational activities. Business Professor Cammie Fleury directed the program.
• The EI-EI-O Program (Educationally Integrated, Environmentally Involved Outdoor Program) was a hands-on environmental service-learning program designed to offer ancillary support to the public school's largely theoretical approach to math and science by giving students the opportunity to apply these disciplines in an outdoor educational summer program. Eighteen students attended the program, which was under the direction of Denise Renfrow and Scott Haith.
• UNCP's oldest youth enrichment program is Upward Bound, which enrolled 70 students this summer for an eight-week wide-ranging residential experience that included a trip to Atlanta.

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