Innovative Spring Break Camps Keep Campers Engaged

By Katharina Meredith, After-School Program Manager

For our History Treasure Hunt spring break camp, ten AIS students searched all over Atlanta for the “stolen” Inman family jewels, which were removed from the SunTrust vault just days before by the Georgia State history student, Steve Jerrison. Starting out with Steve’s notebook, they went to the Margaret Mitchell house, Piedmont Park, Martin Luther King Center, Paschal’s restaurant, Jimmy Carter Center, Governor’s Mansion, historic King Keith House, Inman Park, and Westview Cemetery. Often, clues were left behind at one of these locations, and each afternoon the students researched famous people they learned about to determine where to go the next day. Congratulations to our campers, who successfully immersed themselves in Atlanta’s rich and diverse history, recovered the jewels, and returned them to an official from Scotland Yard!

Our second camp which was held on campus, the Survivor Challenge, students completed difficult tasks such as finding their snacks in the wild, searching for a chicken, making their own bowls to eat from, and building a hut from branches. It was unbelievable to see them help each other transport really large branches for the hut, and even though the winds have damaged our habitat, a very happy squirrel now lives there. They all worked together as a team, enjoyed fun activities and arts and crafts, and also learned a bit about preparing food and where it comes from. Their burritos, cookies, pizza and crepes were divine. Thanks to them we had a great party on Friday, with beautiful decorations and angel food cake!