Minot students in grades five through eight will have a chance to do more than learn about good character this summer at the first Character Leadership Camps.
They can also practice it.
Students will take part in service learning projects such as interviewing nursing home residents about their lives, by planting flowers for people who can no longer do it themselves or creating a mosaic at a local nursing home.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo - - From left are Jim Hill Middle School eighth-grader Sierra Duttenhefer, Edgewood Vista residents Helen Tague and Marilyn Nelson and eighth-grader Mandi Zavalney. Some of the projects students might do in a leadership camp this summer include interviewing nursing home residents and planting flowers.
Cindy Mau, who is directing the camps, said her goal is to teach kids that good character and leadership requires action to help others, not just saying the right thing.
Grant funding
Funding to offer the new camps came from a grant through the board of the Oppen Family Guidance Institute. It is intended to serve the needs of youth in the community.
There are two sessions open to the general population of kids, one of which will be held from June 7-9 and another from June 21-23. A third will be held for kids who are in need. Fliers went home with kids in enrolled in the public schools, but Mau said she hopes to get the word out to other parents and encourage them to enroll their children.
All of the camps are free and help will be provided for kids who need a way to get to and from the camp, such as free bus tokens.
Any student who attends the Minot Public Schools or Our Redeemer's Christian School or the Minot Catholic Schools can attend. However, enrollment is limited to 25 students per session. The application deadline is May 17. Parents can pick up applications at Jim Hill Middle School.
Mentors
Mau and Lacy McDowell, one of the instructors for the camp, said they also need area business leaders to volunteer to mentor kids this summer and show them what working at the business is like. Some of the kids who attend the camps in June will have an opportunity to participate in the youth mentorship program, which will run July 11 through Aug. 18 for two to three hours per week.
During the camp sessions, children will learn about life skills, manners, proper business attire and etiquette. During the youth mentorship program, they would volunteer at a business by doing such things as delivering mail, providing companionship to residents, horticulture and building and ground maintenance or any other duties that the mentor business might require. The service work will give children an early experience of the business world and of serving the community.