Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

HAPPY CAMPERS

Elementary School, Extension Team Up For Summer Camp

Mary Lynch students obtained a stronger background in science last week as over 30 children in grades K-6th participated in the first ever summer camp of its kind here.

Kimball Public School partnered with the Kimball-Banner County Extension Office to host the academic and hands-on camp. The Extension Office supplied the curriculum for the camp.

Kimball teachers Denelle Klosterman, Kelli Patterson, Cassady Malm, Katie Culek provided the instruction while Robin Whitehead and Julia McGinnis helped throughout the mornings. Danielle Reader coordinated the camp.

K-2nd grades studied insects including ants, ladybugs, butterflies, and the week-long class culminated on Friday with an up close look at honey bees, thanks to Kevin Moser and his bee house.

The young insect lovers learned from Moser that a "colony of bees consists of 20,000 to 60,000 honey bees and only one queen bee." The young students were all business and simply enthralled by the bees.

The 3rd and 4th graders' camp theme was "Learn, Grow, Eat and Go". These scientists dealt with planting and gardening. They learned the parts of the plant and what is needed for plants to grow, such as sun, proper soil, water, and air.

And finally, the 5th and 6th grade campers created a product and learned how to advertise and sell their product. They visited local businesses and asked questions about motivation and inspiration.

On Friday, they introduced their products in a type of "Sharktank" presentation. One group's product was a parental control app and the other group invented a "double saddle" for riding double on a horse. The "double saddle" company distributed responsibilities to each of their individuals - explaining the product, marketing, who they were trying to reach out to, and the background of their company. They discussed and finally settled on selling 25% of their company to obtain the necessary funds, just like on "Sharktank".

The Extension Office hopes to get more youth involved in 4-H as a result of this summer camp.