After a great 2009, Austin Peay State University’s Department of University Recreation will again be offering Junior Govs Summer Camp to the families of the Clarksville communities for children ages 5-12. The recreational-based summer day camp, now in its fourth summer, will continue to offer a different variety of activities and convenience that is exclusive to the Junior Govs program.
The camp will continue to be based around the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center on the campus of Austin Peay. Some of the features of the building include an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor rock climbing wall, and activity areas for both sports and arts/crafts activities.
Along with the normal camp activities, Junior Govs focuses on the complete development of the recreational aspect of a child’s life. Field trips to various sites in Clarksville and Nashville add an exciting “hands on” element to camp, and the children take pride in their work by putting on an annual art show in the APSU student art gallery as well as an annual talent show which takes place in the Clement Auditorium. Junior Govs also offers a chance for children to become familiar with the University at an early age, which might be missing from other summer programs. Several speakers from the Clarksville community will come in to speak about a variety of topics that relate to their profession. Several campus departments have also done programs and presentations for the children, including a partnership with Felix G. Woodward Library last summer where books were donated to the children. The camp also made an appearance on the “4 the kids” segment on WSMV Channel 4 news. When asked about how Junior Govs’ influence on her own child, Christine Booth, the Director of Major Gifts for APSU University Advancement, stated that:
Besides the convenience and affordability of the camp, Junior Govs Summer Camp is the best camp my children have ever attended. They don’t just sing songs about the stars, they perform them in Clement Auditorium. They don’t just do arts and crafts, they put their projects on display in the Trahern Art Gallery. Not only do the children have fun, they learn about what Austin Peay has to offer. Our 7 year old has been for 2 years and can’t wait for next year. His goal is now to attend Austin Peay as a college student, and it’s all because of Junior Govs.
2010’s camp will run from Tuesday, June 1 until Friday, July 30. Camp runs from 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p. m., with early drop off and late pick up also available. Junior Govs also prides itself on the convenience it can offer a family to plan around their summer vacations, church camps, or a parent’s return from or departure for deployment. The weeks your child attends can be predetermined when your child is registered for camp. Junior Govs is a supporter of Austin Peay athletic camps and encourages all families to look into those camps in addition to Junior Govs, as Junior Govs will be available all the other weeks of the summer.
The camp also offers a very diverse staff filled with enthusiastic college students of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. This year’s staff includes backgrounds in social work, nursing, elementary education, human health and performance education, as well as staff with prior classroom experience. One of the returning staff members from last year’s staff is Annette Holmes, an Austin Peay adult student and military spouse majoring in human health and performance education who also has two children in the camp. When asked about her family’s experience in Junior Govs, she responded that:
As a military family, we are used to adapting to new environments. Junior Govs allowed me and my boys to experienceJunior Govs allowed me and my boys to experience something new. The hours of camp are great for a working family or summer student. The addition of campus departments getting involved also added the APSU “personal touch.
There may be several options in the Clarksville area for your family for summer programming, but few can match the experience that the entire family takes away from Junior Govs Summer Camp. Maybe you should consider making Junior Govs part of your family this summer.
For more information about 2010 Junior Govs Summer Camp, please contact Camp Director Greg Pigott at 931.221.7564 or pigottc@apsu.edu.
