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Darlington Summer Camps: Adventure, athletics and the arts
Jul 1, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington Summer Camps are in full swing, with Total Football, Basketball and Artistic Expressions concluding in mid-June and Camp Darlington and Delightascope currently in session.
“Although Darlington’s 2004 summer program is halfway finished, there are still two great opportunities to give your child the summer camp experience that every adolescent deserves,” said Ballard Betz, director of summer programs. “Camp Darlington and Delightascope are the program’s two oldest day camps, and for a reason. Year after year, parents of children in these camps see their young ones grow in positive, lasting ways. Building confidence and character is what we set out to do; having fun is what happens as a result.”
Camp Darlington, a co-ed program designed for children ages 7 to 12, gives participants the opportunity to experience the School’s 500 acres of outdoor fun. Each day at 9 a.m., campers arrive at Darlington School ready for a day of excitement and adventure. Activities include archery, canoeing, tag football, tennis, Whiffle ball, arts and crafts, basketball, soccer, Capture the Flag, Frisbee golf and more. Camp ends each day at 3 p.m.
According to Camp Director Shari Cannon, a fifth grade and pre-kindergarten teacher’s aide and after-school caregiver who has worked with Camp Darlington for five years, there are several choices during each activity period so the camper is able to decide what he or she wants to do.
Bob Ledbetter, a Darlington School first grader, said he likes everything about camp. “My favorite activity is Four Square,” he said.
Third grader Chandler Johnson said his favorite activity is canoeing. “I have met a lot of new friends,” he said, “ and the counselors are really nice and funny.”
Cannon agreed that camp is going well so far. “I love working with children and seeing the campers doing new things and making new friends,” she said. “The majority of our campers come back from year to year.”
The first Friday of each two-week session of Camp Darlington is set aside as a trip day, where campers are treated to an afternoon of bowling and skating, followed by evening games and swimming and ending with a “lock-in” in the A.J. Huffman ’67 Memorial Athletic Center. At the end of each session, campers are recognized with certificates and ribbons during an awards ceremony.
Camp Darlington’s first session will conclude July 2, and two additional sessions will be held July 5-16 and 19-30. Cost is $350 per session, which includes lunch.
Designed for boys and girls ages 2 to 8, this year’s Delightascope combines learning and fun with the creative theme “Spotlight on Favorite Authors.” Currently hosting its first one-week session themed “The Most Fun” with books by Bernard Most, this camp focuses on age-appropriate activities in different areas.
“Campers have many adventures each day,” said Camp Director Patricia Ayer, kindergarten teacher and director of the after-school program at Darlington Lower School. “They explore the wonders of science, hear stories, play sports and games, move with music and have fabulous art experiences.”
Delightascope runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Two and 3-year-olds participate in the same activities as the older children, but in a designated room. They also have an adult who travels with them from place to place.
“The Most Fun” will conclude July 2, after which Darlington will host two more sessions of Delightascope: “Ziefert Alert!” with works by Harriet Ziefert, July 5-9, and “At Camp With Amelia Bedelia” featuring the writings of Peggy Parish, July 12-16. Cost is $150 per session.
Cheerleading Camp, directed by Darlington School Varsity Cheerleading Coach Angela Pieroni, is designed for girls ages 5 to 13. Each day of the four-day camp will be split into two sessions: K-5th grade from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and 6-8th grade from 1 to 4 p.m.
To spice things up, each day of camp will have a theme, such as Miss-match Day; Red, White & Blue Day; and Pajama Day. Additionally, pep rallies will be held at the end of the session, under the direction of Darlington School varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders, so that participants can show off what they have learned. Pep rallies will take place Friday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m. for the morning session and 3:30 p.m. for the afternoon session.
Cheerleading Camp will be held Aug. 2-6 at the Huffman Center on the Darlington School campus. Cost is $85.
Spaces are still available in each of these programs. For more information about these and other Darlington Summer Camps, or to register your child, please contact Ballard Betz at 706-236-0424 or bbetz@darlingtonschool.org.
“Although Darlington’s 2004 summer program is halfway finished, there are still two great opportunities to give your child the summer camp experience that every adolescent deserves,” said Ballard Betz, director of summer programs. “Camp Darlington and Delightascope are the program’s two oldest day camps, and for a reason. Year after year, parents of children in these camps see their young ones grow in positive, lasting ways. Building confidence and character is what we set out to do; having fun is what happens as a result.”
Camp Darlington, a co-ed program designed for children ages 7 to 12, gives participants the opportunity to experience the School’s 500 acres of outdoor fun. Each day at 9 a.m., campers arrive at Darlington School ready for a day of excitement and adventure. Activities include archery, canoeing, tag football, tennis, Whiffle ball, arts and crafts, basketball, soccer, Capture the Flag, Frisbee golf and more. Camp ends each day at 3 p.m.
According to Camp Director Shari Cannon, a fifth grade and pre-kindergarten teacher’s aide and after-school caregiver who has worked with Camp Darlington for five years, there are several choices during each activity period so the camper is able to decide what he or she wants to do.
Bob Ledbetter, a Darlington School first grader, said he likes everything about camp. “My favorite activity is Four Square,” he said.
Third grader Chandler Johnson said his favorite activity is canoeing. “I have met a lot of new friends,” he said, “ and the counselors are really nice and funny.”
Cannon agreed that camp is going well so far. “I love working with children and seeing the campers doing new things and making new friends,” she said. “The majority of our campers come back from year to year.”
The first Friday of each two-week session of Camp Darlington is set aside as a trip day, where campers are treated to an afternoon of bowling and skating, followed by evening games and swimming and ending with a “lock-in” in the A.J. Huffman ’67 Memorial Athletic Center. At the end of each session, campers are recognized with certificates and ribbons during an awards ceremony.
Camp Darlington’s first session will conclude July 2, and two additional sessions will be held July 5-16 and 19-30. Cost is $350 per session, which includes lunch.
Designed for boys and girls ages 2 to 8, this year’s Delightascope combines learning and fun with the creative theme “Spotlight on Favorite Authors.” Currently hosting its first one-week session themed “The Most Fun” with books by Bernard Most, this camp focuses on age-appropriate activities in different areas.
“Campers have many adventures each day,” said Camp Director Patricia Ayer, kindergarten teacher and director of the after-school program at Darlington Lower School. “They explore the wonders of science, hear stories, play sports and games, move with music and have fabulous art experiences.”
Delightascope runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Two and 3-year-olds participate in the same activities as the older children, but in a designated room. They also have an adult who travels with them from place to place.
“The Most Fun” will conclude July 2, after which Darlington will host two more sessions of Delightascope: “Ziefert Alert!” with works by Harriet Ziefert, July 5-9, and “At Camp With Amelia Bedelia” featuring the writings of Peggy Parish, July 12-16. Cost is $150 per session.
Cheerleading Camp, directed by Darlington School Varsity Cheerleading Coach Angela Pieroni, is designed for girls ages 5 to 13. Each day of the four-day camp will be split into two sessions: K-5th grade from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and 6-8th grade from 1 to 4 p.m.
To spice things up, each day of camp will have a theme, such as Miss-match Day; Red, White & Blue Day; and Pajama Day. Additionally, pep rallies will be held at the end of the session, under the direction of Darlington School varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders, so that participants can show off what they have learned. Pep rallies will take place Friday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m. for the morning session and 3:30 p.m. for the afternoon session.
Cheerleading Camp will be held Aug. 2-6 at the Huffman Center on the Darlington School campus. Cost is $85.
Spaces are still available in each of these programs. For more information about these and other Darlington Summer Camps, or to register your child, please contact Ballard Betz at 706-236-0424 or bbetz@darlingtonschool.org.
