CrossRoadsNews, March 16, 2013 - Section B by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Summer Camp Expo – March 23, 2013 March 16, 2013

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Section B

Time for Fun, Exploration

Information, Performances, Fashion Show, Prizes Don’t miss the fun on March 23 at the Mall at Stonecrest Lower Level, Noon to 5 p.m.

CrossRoadsNews

Summer Camp

March 16, 2013

Best of all, families who visit at least 15 exhibitors can enter to win a $250 gift card. Camp operators at the 2013 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo will share information about their programs and answer questions that parents may have.

“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

The 2013 Summer Camp Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Jessica Smith Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Fashion Show Coordinator Jami Ffrench-Parker

Circulation Audit by

Audit Report available by request. For information, call 404-284-1888.

Expo chock-full of information and resources Summer camps should do more than just keep kids busy over the school break. They should engage them, teach them new things, and prevent summer brain rot. Parents and kids who come out to the 2013 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on March 23 will find an array of camp operators eager to discuss their programs. Maybe your kids might want to try out a string instrument. Still

Waters Sinfo-Nia, the nation’s only African-American youth orchestra, will be there, ready to discuss early bird specials. If dance is on your kids’ mind, there will be a number of dance schools at the expo. There also will be camps offering outdoor programs, lacrosse and fencing. The Summer Camp Expo, which is in its 10th year at the mall, is chock-full of information and resources to help kids have a great

summer when school lets out for the two-month break in May. It takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level between Dillard’s and Kohl’s. Starting at 11:30 a.m., music lovers can listen to a musical interlude by Still Waters musicians. Camp operators will share information about the programs they have planned and will answer all the questions that parents have. Some will even entice savvy parents

with early bird registrations. Talented kids will sing, dance and model from the Main Stage in front of Sears. The Easter Bunny will arrive and be ready to take photos with kids in front of Macy’s. But best of all, families who visit at least 15 exhibitors can enter to win a $250 gift card from the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road. For more information, call 404-284-1888.

Visit at least 15 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest, have them validate your entry form and enter to win a $250 Gift Card from the Mall at Stonecrest.

5 AAA Auto Club South 5 Camp C Square 5 City of Decatur Active Living 5 Community Resource Solutions 5 Cornerstone Leadership Academy 5 Craig B. Williams DDS

5 CrossRoadsNews 5 DeKalb County Board of Health 5 Excellent Montessori 5 Girls With Gusto 5 Moja Dance Studio 5 New Life Christian Academy of Achievers

5 Phusion Performing Arts Alliance 5 Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia 5 The Academy of Scholars 5 The Sunshine House 5 Tupac Shakur Center

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ City ______________________ ZIP code _______________ Email Address ________________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone __________________________________________ Cell phone _____________________________________ *Eligible door prize entries must have exhibitors’ validation code on them. Full name, address and telephone number(s) required to win. An entry entitles you to receive regular news updates and other information from CrossRoadsNews. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are excluded from winning. Must be present to win.

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

2013 Summer Camp Expo Program Highlights

March 23, 2013 - Noon to 5 p.m. Main Stage in front of Sears • Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest 11:30 a.m. Musical Interlude with Still Waters Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra

12:30 p.m. Woodridge Elementary Cheer Squad

3 p.m.

2 Unique Girls

3:30 p.m. Phusion Performing Arts Alliance

1 p.m. Macy’s Kids Fashion Show

4 p.m. Ki’loni Lee

2 p.m. Moja Dance Studio 5 p.m.

Expo ends

Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

Great memories are made at summer camp, but food poisoning will give the term “unforgettable summer” an entirely new meaning.

Think safety, nutrition, hydration when packing lunch By Chef Asata Reid

Summer camp is a time of tremendous excitement. There are new faces to meet, new activities to enjoy, and new experiences to learn from for you kids. It also can be a stressful time for parents as you face the challenge of safely feeding your children during the hot summer days and long dehydrating excursions. Great memories are made at summer camp, but food poisoning will give the term “unforgettable summer” an entirely new meaning. Take some time to prepare your children’s food with care, keeping in mind they may be burning more calories than they normally would during a sedentary school day. Fuel their activities with nutrient-dense foods like carrots, hummus, fruits and whole-grain breads and crackers, and save the chips and cookies as treats. Focus meals and snacks on the USDA’s MyPlate model, which presents a plate with three-quarters of the food coming from plant sources – fruits, vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates – and a quarter of the plate from lean protein sources – eggs, nut/seed butters, lean meats. Here are some tips to help you pack healthy, safe lunches and ensure the kids are staying hydrated while staying busy. n When will your children have mealtimes? This will help you prepare a lunch that is in the safe-food handling time frame. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cold foods should be kept under 40 degrees, and hot foods should be kept over 140 degrees. The USDA also suggests perishable foods be consumed within two hours. So ideally if you can keep your lunch container consistently cold, the food should stay fresh for at least four hours. n When do they have water breaks scheduled? This will allow you to send enough water to keep them hydrated throughout the day. Know that nothing hydrates like water. Sports drinks and juices are high in sugar, which can exacerbate dehydration. (Yes! Swimming can dehydrate you.) n Where will your children’s lunch box/ container be stored: indoors or outdoors? This matters because it’s easier to keep cool food fresh indoors rather than poolside on hot concrete. Where will you need to arrive in case of an emergency? Where are field trips scheduled to take place and will lunch/breaks alter because of them? n How can you keep cold foods fresh and hot foods hot? Pack at least two water bottles, but freeze one of them overnight. Utilize streamline ice packs, which will keep foods cool but won’t take up a lot of space. If you’re sending hot foods, get a high-quality thermos container, and preheat it with hot water before you add your hot foods. n Do not pack highly perishable or heatintolerant foods like sliced tomatoes, lettuce or cut fruit. Instead, consider acidic condiments like commercially prepared mayo, mustard or vinegar because the acidity helps to prevent spoilage. Certain foods like garlic, honey, parsley, cinnamon and cumin have

Life Chef Asata Reid says prepare healthy, safe lunches with care and ensure that your child has adequate hydration – know that nothing hydrates like water.

antibacterial properties and add flavor. Send whole fruits like apples, grapes and oranges, and avoid cut fruits and soft fruits like strawberries because they tend to brown or get mushy quickly. Dried fruits and dehydrated fruit snacks like fruit leathers are also lunch box-tolerant and hold up well. n Freeze yogurts overnight because they will hold up better than most other dairy products. Be mindful that some camps have banned peanut butter and all nuts and seeds, so inquire with the camp before sending the trusty old PB&J with your campers. Fueling our youngsters properly guarantees they’ll have the energy to run, jump,

Liturgical • Ballet • Hip Hop • Modern Tap • African • Jazz Piano Lessons • Acting Classes Tutoring in Reading and Math Summer Intensive Dance Training Piano and Vocal Lessons Lyrical & All Boy Class

MOJA DANCE STUDIO 678.691.7135 www.mojadancestudio.org

Do not pack highly perishable or heat-intolerant foods like sliced tomatoes, lettuce or cut fruit. Instead, consider acidic condiments like commercially prepared mayo, mustard or vinegar – the acidity helps to prevent spoilage.

swim, learn, read, build and really have a rocking summer! Chef Asata Reid is founder of Life Chef LLC. She teaches wellness through healthy cooking for groups and individuals and is host

of What’s Cooking? second Saturdays monthly at Sevananda Natural Foods Market in Atlanta. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter for daily recipes and wellness tips @ChefAsata and learn more at www.LifeChef.net.

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

Summer Camp

“I think they recognize that being onstage is a great way for kids to express their personality while building self-confidence.”

Glorious Miller (left), shown with models from last year’s Macy’s Kids Fashion Show, will walk the runway beginning at 1 p.m. on March 23 at the mall.

Kid models to strut in Macy’s fashions By Jessica Smith

Proud parents, adoring aunties, giddy grandparents and fashionistas can see more than a dozen pint-size models show off the latest fashions at the Macy’s Kids Fashion Show during the 2013 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on March 23. Models ages 3 to 13 will showcase the latest Easter fashions and sportswear that they can don for summer camp and field trips. The fashion show starts at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears. The models hail from Decatur, Lithonia and Conyers and attend schools in DeKalb, Fulton and Rockdale counties. Jami Ffrench-Parker, who has coordinated the fashion show for the past four years, said the response to the call for models has been overwhelming. “We received over 40 applications from kids and parents

interested in participating,” she said. “I think they recognize that being onstage is a great way for kids to express their personality while building self-confidence.” This year’s models include kids who are aspiring models and others, like 3-year-old Glorious Miller, who have modeling, beauty pageant and talent careers. Glorious’ mother, Wanda Johnson-Miller, says her diminutive beauty is no stranger to working the crowd. She said her daughter got her show biz start after watching an episode of “Project Runway” on Lifetime. “She said matter-of-factly, ‘I’m going to be a model and you’re going to sit there,’” her mom said. Johnson-Miller said she is committed to helping her daughter, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth, have as many exciting opportunities as possible. “I just feel that it’s really important for me to live every day with her to the utmost,” she said.

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Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

“When I entertain, I want to make sure that I inspire people and I want to make sure that I get a positive message across.”

Natural-born enterta By Jessica Smith

Phusion Performing Arts Alliance company will show their best moves at 3:30 p.m. on March 23 on the Main Stage.

Phusion aims for professionalism By Jessica Smith

When the dancers from Phusion Performing Arts Alliance company take any stage, people can’t help themselves. They just have to stop and drink it in. The perfect techniques of the ballerinas, tappers and modern dancers are attention-grabbing. Those same techniques have helped the Stone Mountain company develop a loyal following and helped its dancers nab spots in summer dance programs offered by the likes of Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Andrea Nalls, the school’s artistic director, says they take their shows very seriously. “I teach my students as if they’re going to be professional,” she said. “Even if you’re not, it doesn’t mean that you should not be trying to aim to be professional at what you’re doing.” During the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Summer Camp

Expo on March 23 at the Mall at Stonecrest, the company will showcase some of their best moves on the Main Stage in front of Sears at 3:30 p.m. To keep students sharp over the summer break, Nalls will be whipping dancers into shape during a summer dance intensive at her studio at 5615 Memorial Drive. The June 10-28 program is open to seasoned dancers and experienced amateurs who want to improve their technique. Participants will have three weeks of accelerated training and conditioning. Nalls said the summer program is comprehensive and is for dancers who are serious about increasing their technique and pushing themselves to the next level. “It’s serious, but we do recognize that some kids just love dance and that’s fine, too. Everybody has a good time.” For more information, visit phusionpaa.org or call 404-298-3332.

Seventeen-year-old Ki’loni Lee was born to entertain. The triple-threat singer/dancer/actor developed an affinity for the bright lights of the stage at age 3 after her mother enrolled her in 1998 at Fancy Dancer, a dance studio in her hometown of Dublin, Ga., and she began learning to master ballet, tap and jazz “before I even realized what I was doing.” Ki’loni spent her spare time as a child watching Dakota Fanning and other young starlets dancing, singing and acting on television and knew she wanted to be just like them. “I kind of just knew I wanted to entertain,” she said. Throughout the years, Ki’loni expanded her dance repertoire to include hip-hop and pointe. In 2006, she won the West Coast Dance Explosion scholarship in Atlanta, brought home the 2007 High Gold Award for Duo Dance at the Access Broadway Competition, and snagged the first-place dance trophy at the Platinum Awards. On March 23, Ki’loni will be onstage at 4 p.m. at the CrossRoadsNews 2013 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. She will bring the keen ear for music she developed from listening to the vocal stylings of Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera. The multitalented Ki’loni learned to play the drums and the flute in middle school and is currently learning the guitar. She also has tried a hand at acting. When she was 16, she got her start as a backup dancer for R&B artist Jacob Latimore. After ending a 32-city stint in 2011 on the SCREAM Tour with Latimore and other headliners like Diggy Simmons and the OMG Girlz, she began exploring her own music. “After seeing other artists my own age, it kind of gave me that boost of encouragement to actually go forth with it,” she said this week. Last spring, she released her first single, “I’m That Girl,” which she will perform from the Summer Camp Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level. Ki’loni says she strives to set an example for her peers. “When I entertain, I want to make sure that I inspire people and I want to make sure that I get a positive message across because nowadays for girls and women, we’re exposed to unladylike things,” she said. “As an artist, I want to make sure that I maintain a sense of classiness but still trendy and stylish.” Ki’loni, who was a three-year victim of continuous verbal bullying in elementary school, also wants to discourage bullying. She says she knows the toll bullying can take on a person’s self-esteem. “[It was] telling me I’m not pretty or telling people not to play with me or taking my stuff,” she said.

Woodridge Elementary squad has lo By Jessica Smith

Photos by Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Cartwheels, pyramids and Herkies aren’t only for middle and high school cheerleading queens. The cheer and dance team at Woodridge Elementary School in Stone Mountain can bring it on with the ranks of the big girls. The dozen 6- to 9-year-olds have been demonstrating warrior spirit since 2011 when third-grade teacher Karol Jeffers formed the cheerleading squad to help her girls be more well-rounded. “I wanted to give them something to do outside academics, other than reading, writing and arithmetic,” Jeffers said on March 11. She enlisted the help of her 21-year-old daugh-

ter, Sasha, a 12-year cheerleading veteran, and held a cheer tryout. The first- through fifth-graders were expected to learn a routine and perform it, along with any gymnastics and tumbling stunts they knew, in front of a panel of judges. Sasha, who began cheering at age 9, helps the team learn cheers and practice stunts. The dance routines, however, are all Jeffers’. “I cheered many moons ago, but after having two daughters in dance and cheerleading, I really grew to like it,” she said. Jeffers draws inspiration from television and music videos, translating those moves into jazz and hip-hop routines for her team.

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Ten weekly sessions to choose from for ages 5-16

www.smokeriseministries.org • 678-469-1377

March 16, 2013

Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

“We wanted to let people know it’s OK to be a nerd. … We like to dress different and we have different personalities.”

ainer is a triple threat at 17

Shakira Banks and Brooke Jackson (in pink) make up 2 Unique Girls and promote antibullying. They will perform “Nerd It Up” at 3 p.m. on March 23 at Stonecrest.

Ki’loni Lee, who sings, dances and acts, will perform her first single, “I’m That Girl,” at 4 p.m. on March 23 on the Main Stage at the Mall at Stonecrest during the expo.

A female classmate also threatened to take her back to her hometown and shoot her in the head. “That was very scary because I was the new kid and in a new environment, and that can be intimidating,” Ki’loni said. On Feb. 22, she launched Bully Yourself, an antibullying campaign to raise awareness and reduce the number of bullying incidents among teens. She visits local schools to tell her story and uses her music and dance to motivate students to take a stand against violence. “I just want them to know that it’s OK to tell,” she said. “Because as a teenager, we have this image or reputation to where we don’t want to seem like a snitch. Or we want to fit in and be cool. But being cool is not bullying somebody and making them feel less than their actual value.” Ki’loni’s love of performing has taken her throughout the country. She has performed to audiences in sold-out venues like the Philips Arena during halftime shows for the Atlanta Hawks. Last year, she opened for R&B boy band Mindless Behavior’s 25-city #1 Girl Tour. Before being home schooled in 2011, she was a straight-A student on the principal’s list at Chapel Hill High in Douglasville. For more information, visit kilonilee.com.

ots to cheer about The Woodridge dance team performs regularly at their school and has performed at the DeKalb NAACP’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade and Redan Park’s cheer-off. They will take the Main Stage in front of Sears at 12:30 p.m. during the CrossRoadsNews March 23 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Unlike high schoolers, elementary students don’t have football or basketball teams. Jeffers said that participating in a cheer and dance team is a great way for girls to do something off-campus. “They love performing and going to events outside of a school setting. It’s really an The cheer and dance team at Woodridge Elementary in Stone Mountain will perform at outlet for them.” 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage at the mall.

Talk About a Fun Program For Girls!

For girls age 8-16

Girls with Gusto is a fun filled program that will enhance the quality of leadership skills within each individual. This program includes activities that young ladies already enjoy doing so, why not be a Girl with Gusto? Confident, Stylish, Unique! The purpose of this program is to bring to the forefront the importance of leadership skills, confidence, and positive selfesteem in young girls to ultimately bring out the best in each student. Students will participate in a variety of activities such as fashion design, team dance, fashion shows, volleyball, girl talk sessions, styling, and much more!

Flash Mob Dance Routine • Discovering Your Unique Style • Volleyball • Finale Fashion Show Dining Etiquette • Check Yourself Out Workshop • Acting • Runway Modeling • Karate for Girls

2 Unique Girls ‘Nerd It Up’ By Jessica Smith

Thirteen-year-olds Brooke Jackson and Shakira Banks passed each other for a year in the hallways at Edwards Middle School in Conyers without a second glance. But when they both enrolled in hip-hop classes at a dance studio in Conyers, the two hit it off right away. At a sleepover at Brooke’s house, they stayed up all night writing songs. Now they are a singing, dancing, rapping and songwriting duo named 2 Unique Girls. The musical act promotes anti-bullying, something both of them know about quite well after having been bullied at school. They even sing about it in their rap song “Nerd It Up,” about their shared experiences with bullying and doing well in school. Brooke, who runs track with Shakira at school, said that after practice, a classmate likes to steal her keys and cell phone for laughs, leaving her stranded at school. “In my art class, there’s a girl always saying really mean things,” Shakira said. The girls’ goal is to raise awareness surrounding situations at school. They also will raise awareness at the March 23 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. 2 Unique Girls will perform “Nerd It Up” from the expo Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level at 3 p.m. They said they want kids to know that it

takes all kinds to make the world. “We wanted to let people know it’s OK to be a nerd,” Shakira said. “We’re different from everyone else. We like to dress different and we have different personalities.” She said that a lot of kids her age are bullied because of their clothes, may not fit in socially, or they look different. “Being a nerd can be cool,” said Brooke, whose stage name is Crackle for the crackled pattern on her glasses. Shakira goes by Square because of her love for math. Academic success is important to both girls, who are determined to maintain their A-and-B averages in spite of their performance commitments outside school. Since they launched their group, they have won first place in the Atlanta Parent Magazine Talent Showdown, and they have performed at Mercer University in Macon. Last October, they performed at an anti-bullying campaign at the Rockdale County soccer complex with R&B artist Young Mieo. Brooke said they are passionate about pushing their anti-bullying message. “I want to take this really far and raise awareness everywhere ... that it’s not good to bully,” she said. To see them perform, visit http://you tu.be/6sMrzR2kIeU. Visit www.facebook .com/TwoUniqueG or call 678-910-4306 for more information.

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Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

“It’s about touching people’s hearts, not so much how high your leg is. That’s what we teach the girls.”

Students can explore a variety of dance styles and theories at Moja Dance Studio’s summer camp. Young dancers will perform at 2 p.m. on March 23 during the expo at the Mall at Stonecrest.

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By Jessica Smith

The students of Moja Dance Studio will give their interpretation of the contemporary African production “Wings of God, the Life of a Butterfly” and the jazz piece “Speak Lord” onstage during the March 23 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Inaambura Newman, artistic director at the Lithonia studio, and her 5-year-old and pre-teen intermediate dancers are looking forward to the performance, which takes place at 2 p.m. from the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level. She said the performance will be heartfelt. “It’s about touching people’s hearts,” she said. “Not so much how high your leg is. That’s what we teach the girls.” Newman, who teaches ballet, hip-hop, African, jazz, jive and salsa, uses dance to express her faith and minister to young

women. More than 80 students ages 4 to 18 attend the school. Students who want more intensive training can hone their skills at Moja’s annual summer dance program, which Newman says is much more than just a camp. “The girls have to study dance as education,” she said. Training is offered in a variety of dance styles and theories as well as voice and acting lessons. Students also can choose to enroll in a retreat, an individualized session designed to accomplish target goals and broaden dance vocabulary. Newman said her mission is to foster spiritual development through the arts. “We want to go to the people, who might not ever be able to see a little girl in a butterfly outfit, and be able to touch their hearts,” she said. For more information, visit www.mojadancestudio.org or call 678-691-7135.

March 16, 2013

Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

Still Waters’ repertoire ranges from classical, jazz and gospel to R&B, movie themes and African Diaspora. Stillwaters founder and director David Robinson will lead the orchestra ina music prelude starting at 11:30 a.m. on March 23 at the Mall at Stonecrest.

Youth orchestra serves kids metrowide By Jessica Smith

Music lovers at the 2013 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo are in for a treat. Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia Orchestra will bring the multicultural sounds of the African Diaspora to the Mall at Stonecrest on March 23. The orchestra, which is the only African-American youth orchestra in the state of Georgia, consists of talented young musicians and dancers who perform side by side. Still Waters’ repertoire ranges from classical, jazz and gospel to R&B, movie themes and traditional African Diaspora.

Expo-goers can enjoy a musical prelude starting at 11:30 a.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears on the mall’s lower level. Orchestra members attend public and private schools throughout metro Atlanta. The Dance Company is made up of students from age 8 to 18 who enjoy the various techniques and styles of modern, ballet, jazz and African dance. David Robinson, Still Waters founder and director, will be available after the performance to talk with parents and students who are interested in the orchestra’s summer and year-round program. For more information, e-mail still waters690@yahoo.com or call 404-328-0840.

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B10

Summer Camp

CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

Parents can speak with more than a dozen operators and exhibitors at the expo before deciding how their child will spend the summer.

To pick best camps for your kids, do your homework By Jessica Smith

Summer camps aren’t just about roasting marshmallows and singing campfire songs. The break from school is a great time for kids to explore the world around them and discover new things, and the right program can provide a child with lifelong memories and skills. This year, parents can speak with more than a dozen camp operators and other exhibitors at the March 23 CrossRoadsNews Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest before deciding how their child will spend the summer. Here are some tips to help you make the best camp choice.

Talk with your child Maybe there’s something – drama, sports, dance, science, etc. – that your child has been yearning to try. Camp is a great place to take on new challenges. Most programs combine academic and indoor/outdoor activities; find one that suits both of you. If you can’t find everything you want for your child in one camp, you may consider sending your child to more than one. For example, if your children want to dance and do sports, you might split time between a dance camp and a YMCA camp. Find out what’s available There are traditional camps that offer a variety of events, and there are specialty camps that focus on a single activity or area of interest. Traditional summer camps are a Don’t be afraid to ask for references. This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp’s reputation and service record. great idea for children who are flexible but counselors and/or teachers ahead of time love fun. Campers get to explore a variety of and learn about the program and activities events that will broaden their minds. in which your children will be involved. You Ask the right questions to make the right choice Specialty camps are a great choice for also will get a feel for the people who will be children who are interested in specific skills The American Camp Association recommends that parents ask the following spending the summer with your kids and and activities, such as dance, music, basketquestions when deciding on a camp for their children: the environment in which they will spend ball, golf or mathematics. At specialty camps, their time. children get to focus on a particular activity What is the camp’s philosophy and program emphasis? and learn all they can about it. Each camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Learn counselor policies Does it complement your family’s philosophy? Does the camp focus on learning through Some camps may use teen counselors Learn about the camp’s counselors competition or through cooperative learning? How does the camp handle homesickness who may be unaccustomed to dealing with What are their backgrounds regarding and other adjustment issues? large groups. Make sure the counselor/child childhood education? Who is certified in ratio suits your child’s needs. The American CPR and who do you contact in case of an What is the camp director’s background? Camp Association recommends a 1-to-6 emergency? Who should the camp contact ACA recommends directors possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed in-service staff-to-children ratio. in case of an emergency? Who are your training within the past three years, and have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative What is the return rate for the counselors backup contacts? Is the camp accredited by experience before assuming the responsibilities of director. and campers? How old are the counselors? the American Camp Association? Is the camp What sorts of experience and education are tied to any other community, religious or What training do counselors receive? required? What is the process for screening social organization? At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency when hiring staff? Do they do background procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse checks to screen out child predators? Is the Know what fees apply prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for staff certified in CPR and first aid? There are usually registration fees and supervision. supplemental fees for field trips, camp THow are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled? Do they use positive Overnight camps shirts, food and extended services. It’s imreinforcement? What are the rules and consequences? When kids go away to 4-H, Girl Scouts, portant to find out what’s included in camp YMCA and other overnight camps, they get fees so there are no surprises later. How does the camp handle special needs? the opportunity to expand their horizons beOnce you have chosen a camp, make an For a child with special requirements, parents should ask the camp director about yond their neighborhood or school. Parents appointment to meet the camp director and needed provisions and facilities. Is there a nurse on staff? A designated place to store and children get to practice “letting go.” arrange for a tour. If the staff seems hesitant insulin or allergy medicine? Are special foods available for campers with restricted diets? Decisions about camp should be a joint to talk to you, this is often a sign that the venture, depending on your child’s matucamp is not very organized and perhaps you What about references? rity. If a child feels his opinions are being should move on to your next choice. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask for references. This is generally one of the best respected, the chances of having a positive For your meeting with the director, have a ways to check a camp’s reputation and service record. experience will improve. list of questions you need answered in order Source: American Camp Association. www.acacamps.org to properly evaluate the camp. Talk about concerns Pin down additional costs for field trips As the first day of camp approaches, some or other activities. Will you be expected to children experience uneasiness about going provide meals, snacks or supplies for your allergens? What is the camp’s safety proto- to a new or unfamiliar place. Discuss these on field trips. child? feelings. For children with medical issues, such as col? Find out if need-based scholarships are Let your child know that you believe in What is the chain of hierarchy when it available and the refund policy if your child diabetes or asthma, make sure that there is his or her ability to deal with new situations gets sick or has an emergency and is no lon- trained staff on-site and emergency proce- comes to responsibly monitoring your chilbut maintain realistic expectations. Encourdren’s activities? dures in place at all times. ger able to attend. Talk with the camp staff about your age your child to write letters home and be In Atlanta, the temperature soars in the summers. What types of physical activities child’s medical needs and what medical sure you know how to reach them in case of Ask about safety Make sure the camp you choose has staff will your children be engaged in? Will they be facility your child would be transported to emergencies. Encourage children to have a reasonable should the need arise. Finally, learn what the trained in safety procedures, supervision, indoors or outdoors, and for how long? and realistic view of camp. Camp, like the Will they be exposed to high tempera- discipline procedure is and decide if you’re conflict resolution and other issues that may rest of life, has highs and lows. be specific to working with young children. tures, cold water? (Yes! Swimming can de- comfortable with that approach. Every moment is not filled with wonder Find out what procedures the camp follows hydrate you!) and excitement. Go to open houses If kids are spending a lot of time outin case of an emergency. But remember, if you make the right Some camps have open houses to introFind out the camp’s procedures for track- doors, find out how the camp will keep them duce parents and children to their programs. choice, fond memories of your child’s camp ing kids during field trips and how it deals hydrated and cool. Will there be challenging hikes, potential This is a great opportunity to meet camp experience can last a lifetime. with roadside emergencies when the kids go

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March 16, 2013

Summer Camp

“Little acts of kindness help. FCCLA has taught me to be a better leader and member of the community.”

Volunteerism exposes MLK High students to new experiences By Jessica Smith

Members of the Martin Luther King Jr. High FCCLA Club know the value of lending a helping hand. Since the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club launched at the school 14 years ago, its 52 members have helped serve breakfast at DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson’s Community Cabinet monthly meetings and regularly visit Traditions nursing home on Evans Mill Road in Lithonia to play bingo with elderly residents and serve them cupcakes and ice cream. On March 23, the group will add volunteering at the CrossRoadsNews March 23 Summer Camp Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest to their list of community service. Febra Clark, the group’s faculty adviser, said the volunteer group of ninth- to 12thgraders is helping students give back to the community and interact with people they would not normally encounter. “It helps students develop life skills,” said Clark, chapter adviser since its founding. The national club has 200,000 members in nearly 7,000 chapters. It addresses social concerns for teens through education in the family and consumer sciences. Chapter President Dasha Jordan, a senior from Lithonia, joined in the 10th grade. She cited positive peer pressure. “My older friends said it was so much fun,” she said. “I’m so glad I did. FCCLA has taught me to be a better leader and member of the community.” The issues change annually to fit teenage concerns. This year, MLK has focused its efforts on bullying awareness and domestic violence among teens. The chapter also hosts fund-raisers to support participation in re-

Ninth-grader Joshua Reed (from left) works on a competition banner with DeJohn Willis, Lawrence Allen and Bryson Kelsey, junior co-presidents. Members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club at Martin Luther King Jr. High prepare posters for state competitions in Athens on March 14-16.

gional and state competitions called Students Taking Action With Recognition Events. The events test proficiency in family and consumer sciences, culinary arts, and education through hands-on challenges. Clark says they allow students to use their leadership, public speaking and interview skills. The chapter was scheduled to participate in the state competitions during the March 14-16 FCCLA conference in Athens. Top state winners will be eligible to represent Georgia on July 7-11 at the 2013 National FCCLA Leadership Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. “FCCLA has given me professional experience that I think is valuable to everyone,” Dasha said. “People should join so that they can prepare for the real world, their career and help the community out.”

Photos by Jessica Smith / CrossRoadsNews

Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia Orchestra and Dance Camp

in our Special Supplement Easte

r S e rv ices

Two Weeks: July 8-19, 2013 • 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ages 7-18

College Students Also Welcomed

ts E gg H u n

Call Kathy for Details H o l i d ay 404-284-1888 Specials

"Early-Bird" Tuition Discount if paid in full by May 31, 2013

Special workshop given by "The Mad Violinist"

404-328-0840 www.sinfo-nia.com

Location to be announced

Local News. Loyal Readers. E v e r y We e k! 2346 Candler Road • Decatur, GA 30032 www.crossroadsnews.com

David E. Robinson, III, Founder & Artistic Director • Alycia W. Robinson, Dance Director & Operations Manager

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CrossRoadsNews

March 16, 2013

Exhibitors include: AAA Auto Club South Camp C Square City of Decatur Active Living Community Resource Solutions Cornerstone Leadership Academy Craig B. Williams DDS DeKalb County Board of Health Excellent Montessori Girls With Gusto Moja Dance Studio New Life Christian Academy of Achievers Phusion Performing Arts Alliance Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia The Academy of Scholars The Sunshine House Tupac Shakur Center