Imprints Cares Summer Camp

by Chelsea Pyne

As you are layering your child with wool, scarves, beanies and gloves, just think…in a matter of months they will only need one layer: sunscreen. Perhaps it is hard to imagine as frost settles on our lawns, but it is certainly something to look forward to. In fact, Imprints Cares–a local nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of poverty, promoting positive parenting, and preparing children for academic success in school–opens registration for summer camp on Saturday, February 15. Yes, there is light at the end of winter’s tunnel!

Imprints Cares understands how important it is for children to stay active during the summer. Not only do children need to have fun, their well-being and development is at stake if they remain idle. Imprints Cares has also realized that many families need care for longer than most camps provide. That is why Imprints Cares has made huge strides for the last 50+ years in helping the community with before-and after-school programs. They offer hot meals to children who attend after-school care at their Title 1 schools, provide care for children with special needs, and supply families with educational parenting tools, books, and more. Their outreach is truly incredible, and to top it all off, they want to help families send their kids to camp to enjoy a summer of fun.

This year’s summer camp offers children the chance to run, jump, laugh and sing together as they imagine, explore and discover in a safe, nurturing and educational environment. Imprints Cares camps (available in four locations) have additional value because their team of teachers and teacher assistants, that you have grown to know and trust throughout the school year, provide children with a wonderful summer experience.

The summer enrichment camp is designed for rising kindergarteners through rising sixth graders. Weekly themes guide children as they chart their course for discovery–explore new and creative ideas, participate in healthy and fit activities, and enjoy fun field trips. Camp Coordinator Shelby Rodden explained, “Last year campers went to Forge Greensboro (a community makerspace with ceramics, welding workshops, woodshops, sewing shop, 3D printers, etc.) to cut and design their own key chains. They attended a woodworking class and they got to take home their amazing work. Then campers competed in a boat regatta where they created/tested their own boats at a local pond, and got to program and play with robots as part of a BrickEd program put on by the High Point Robotics group.”

Exploring our beautiful Kernersville and Triad area will benefit the campers’ appreciation for their hometown in more ways than one. Truly, these engaging field trips are what sets Imprints Cares summer camp above the rest. Imprints Cares bases their capacity on the number of campers the buses and vans can transport. The capacity is also based on each group, not the entire camp. For instance, at the Kernersville Camp the capacity is 7 campers per team. Once a team hits capacity, capacity is closed for that team. (So sign up as quickly as you can!) Generally, there will be three trips per week. Campers will go on roughly two half-day trips and one full-day trip on full weeks and one full-day trip for short weeks.

Mary H. registered her daughter Charleigh for camp. She said, “We have been participating in Imprints summer program for the past two summers. As a parent, I have enjoyed the busy schedule that they have the kids involved in throughout the summer. The teachers are friendly and my daughter loves it!”

Camp is staffed with a mix of teachers, school employees, and other trained professionals from their current before-and after-school programs throughout Forsyth and Davidson County. These Camp Leaders are well qualified and understand the high standards Imprints Cares has for our children and parents. Imprints Cares employs a ratio of 1 professional staff for every 12-15 campers. Additional staff and volunteers allow for even more individual attention for campers.

Shelby added, “We recognize that age plays an undeniable role in a camper’s abilities, skill levels, and interests, so our camps are divided into two teams. Rising Kindergarteners through rising 2nd graders will make up the Orange Team. Rising 3rd through 6th graders will make up the Blue Team. The Orange and Blue Teams are separate for most of the week. Activities and trips are done as Teams.”

Summer Camp is open from 7am-6pm every Monday through Friday of summer (aside from the July 4^th holiday). Kernersville Camp starts June 11 and goes through August 21. To find out the location and theme of each week, visit ImprintsCares.org/SummerCamp.

“The Imprints Cares Summer Camp program is important because it provides families a safe and fun place for their kids to spend their summer. We design our camp to be non-stop excitement with unique weekly themes while also sneaking some learning in for our campers! We are open from the day students get out of school to the day students go back to school, so the working parent does not need to worry about where their child will go during the summertime,” Shelby explained. Indeed, Imprints Cares takes weight off of parents’ shoulders ensuring a fun and memorable summer. 

To register your child, contact Lori Richards at lrichards@imprintscares.org. Registration opens February 15. Camp is $165 per week, which includes everything except for lunch. Campers must bring their own lunch each day. All other camp expenses are covered: snacks, activities, supplies, and field trips. Imprints Cares is the only educational nonprofit in our community that serves children from birth through elementary school, for more information visit ImprintsCares.org.

“My son and I can’t wait for the Imprints Cares summer camp. It looks like an exciting couple of months are in store! Thank you to all the staff and administrators for doing everything you can to nurture, protect and care for our children!” – Nikki M.