School is out in Bogue Chitto, but education is still goingstrong.

The Bogue Chitto-Lincoln County Community Center is hostingSummer Reading Camp this June, a relaxed, extended tutoring sessionfocusing on the three R’s – with a dash of fun time and food.

So far, about 25 area children in grades kindergarten throughsix are attending the camp, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon onMonday through Thursday. The volunteers there have three weeks togo until the program ends June 24, and there’s plenty of room toaccommodate more young learners.

“The goal is when children leave here and go back to theirclassrooms, they should be refreshed. If they’re struggling in someareas, we’re here to help them so when they go back to school thosesubjects won’t be as complicated,” said Janet Holmes, one of theinstructors at the reading camp.

When new children arrive at reading camp, they are firstskill-tested to determine their reading level and comprehension ofsubjects so instructors will know how to guide them in theirstudies. Classes taught at camp include spelling, readingcomprehension, math, and arts and crafts, with fitness, exerciseand play mixed in.

Each day begins with devotion and prayer before moving on tobreakfast. After eating, the children have fitness exercises toburn off a little of their youthful energy and then it’s on toclass work. Lunch is served daily before camp ends at noon.

To encourage good grades, the highest-scoring student is awardeda small prize each day.

“We didn’t want it to look or feel like school, so we added someactivities for fun,” Holmes said.

But school plays a part. Instructors find class materials fromvarious websites and seek guidance from teachers at nearby BogueChitto Attendance Center, where a couple of the volunteerinstructors teach professionally.

“We found out there were some students struggling in spelling,and when you’re having trouble spelling, you’re having troublereading,” Holmes said. “When kids go to pre-K now, it’s like firstgrade. We want to make sure they’re not just singing the alphabet,they’re recognizing it.”

Next week, the camp will move classes out of the communitycenter and into the New Zion Head Start Center next door, wheremore students can be accommodated. Holmes is inviting anyinterested parent to bring their children out for a quick summerrefresher, and promised to help those with transportationdifficulties.

“Parents need to be aware we’re here for their children,” shesaid.

Community center president Charles Edwards said his group haslong discussed the possibility of a summer learning camp, but thecommunity support had never been up to strength. But support was upwhen the results of state testing in local schools were releasedlate last year, and the center went ahead with its plans.

“I saw the graduation rates in the schools were 81 percent, 83percent and the growth requirements were not failing, but still notwhere they needed to be,” Edwards said. “We feel like we can helpour schools. If we get kids interested enough at an early age, wewon’t have as many dropouts.”

Edwards said Summer Reading Camp would be extended to six weeksnext year and more involvement would be sought. Additionally, thecenter’s after-school tutoring program will resume this fall.