By Teri Zerfluh

Kids College is the summer enrichment series sponsored by Paul D. Camp Community College’s Division of Workforce Development in Franklin. This program offers unique workshops that are designed to teach rising second- through 12th-graders new skills, help them develop new interests and hobbies, and get them to explore future career opportunities.

What makes Kids College unique? The classes at Kids College set us apart from other summer enrichment programs by embracing the following characteristics:

4Being hands-on

4Having a strong element of fun in planned activities

4Not too much like “school”

4Offering topics they never get to do in school

4Offering topics they enjoy in school, but never get to really “dig deep” into

4Incorporating enrichment opportunities to do things they won’t do many other places

4Being age-appropriate

4Allowing kids to “explore, experiment and discover” in new ways

Our topics include arts and expression, career exploration, hobbies and interests, STEM (science, technology and math) and student success. Some of our most popular classes in past summers have included Balloon Art, Fossil Finders, Cake Madness, Computer Programming, Health Career Academy, Kayak Kids, Fashion Design, Self-Defense, Art Unleashed, Junior Master Gardeners Camp and Tie Dye Tuesdays.

This summer we have lots of new classes lined up to join our favorites from years past, including three new magic camps, which will teach some of the tricks from the magician’s hat and encourage public speaking, confidence and storytelling.

Our magic camp for high school students will not only teach teens how to do the tricks, but how to turn those tricks into networking, marketing and entrepreneurial skills that will help them be financially successful in the future.

Much of our success comes out of fantastic partnerships with area organizations, including the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Southampton Memorial Hospital, Western Tidewater Tennis Association, Isle of Wight/Southampton County Cooperative Extension, Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program and Blackwater Outfitters/Nottoway River Guides.

Registration for this summer’s fun began May 1.We are offering an early-bird special. If you register by June 3, you will receive a $25 discount on each child’s tuition.

The vision behind Kids College has always been the same — that kids can’t dream about things they don’t know about. So our job at Kids College is to help them see new things — to explore, experiment and discover — because if they can see it, they can dream it.

Kids College helps them dream the possible.

So come dream with us this summer and every summer. For more information, visit www.pdc.edu/kids-college or contact me at 569-6700.

Teri Zurfluh is Kids College Director at Paul D. Camp Community College. Email her at tzurfluh@pdc.edu.