Camp Sachem Holds Parent Showcase

Parents of campgoers at Sachem's summer enrichment program, Camp Sachem, were welcome to attend a showcase that displayed children's projects and activities at Tamarac Elementary School last week.

The showcase started off with a presentation of songs such as "This Land is Your Land" from a chorus of first and second graders, along with an introduction of the camp staff from director Leslie Routh.

Some of the projects parents viewed were digital photo stories, art displays, hand-written books, Lego buildings and hand-crafted jewelry. Parents and campers viewed an eruption of a cola-and-Mentos volcano a meteorology class put together, participated in rocket launching and kite flying and tried some candy created by the older campers.

Camp Sachem recently expanded this year to include seventh graders. The camp is currently in week two of its second session, and Routh said it has been successful so far.

"It's been really great," she said. "The kids are really engaged and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from the community."

As they viewed the various projects, many parents said they were happy with what the camp offers, as well as their children's enjoyment of it.

"He really enjoyed it," said Holbrook resident Daren Murphy of his son Thomas, 7. "He did the kite flying and meteorology and really liked [them]. He enjoyed all of them."

The campers also said they liked the program. While 9-year old Jordan Salzano said she sometimes didn’t like going every day, she said she enjoyed the activities she participated in.

“I like the computers and recess [and] junior scientists,” she said.

Routh said some of the popular activities among campers are kite building and meteorology. However, she said all the children like the longevity that comes along with working on projects.

“I think they really like that they have a long time to work on something,” she said. “They get to do something every day.”

But Routh said that at the end of the day, Camp Sachem’s purpose is to keep kids active while also engaging them in educational activities.

“They’re active and go home happy,” she said. “There’s something for everyone.”