Camp Expedition is held at HES
Near the end of June, most of us expect local schools to be empty and quiet. That, however, is not the case at Hillsboro Elementary School.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. HES houses 74 pre-kindergarten through high school age students and 32 staff members who are part of the Prairie View summer camp program — Camp Expedition.
The camp, headed by Cheri Ochs Wheeler, director of community-based services for Prairie View in Marion County, and led by a leadership team including Chuck Maggard, Leanne Wonser, Heather Steiner, Ann Carr, and Mark Rogers, is in its third year at the Hillsboro location.
Members of the leadership team are full-time employees at Prairie View and have a combined 11 years of experience working at the summer camp. As full-time employees, the summer camp is part of their regular job description.
"We contract with USD 410 during the summer to use their facilities and some of their vehicles," Wheeler said. "We also use buses from USD 408 and USD 418."
The countywide program buses in students to participate in the three-day-a-week program which runs from June 9 through July 29. The program, funded by federal funds and existing statewide, is in its fifth year in the county and third year at Hillsboro Elementary School.
"Gordon Mohn has a vision, and he is willing to work with us to provide for Marion County students," said Wheeler.
Prairie View uses six classrooms in the elementary building, the all-purpose room, art room and Head Start room, and pays for utilities, custodial help, lunch room help, and the use of vehicles.
The psycho-social therapeutic pre-school with eight students, ages three through five, is housed in the Head Start building in Marion.
The Prairie View summer camp program encompasses the tri-county area of McPherson, Harvey, and Marion counties and employs a staff of approximately 132.
"Our purpose is to provide social and emotional support services to children who have been identified as needing structured support," said Wheeler. "We also provide support services to the families of these students."
Students are required to have specific goals, and to help meet these goals they work with staff members and other students in small groups or with staff members one-on-one.
"We want the students to be successful in activities here and in their communities," Wheeler said. "Hopefully, all students will make developmental gains and achieve their goals."
Staff members train during the year and for several days before the camp opens in the summer.
"Our staff members range in age from 19-50," said Wheeler. "We expect them to honor confidentiality issues, be able to work with students, handle pressure, be flexible, have a heart for children, and be non-judgmental.
"We have a neat partnership with Tabor students, and I think they learn a lot from working in this program," she added.
The student/staff ratio is approximately three staff members for every eight students. The program has grown from 21 students its first year.
Staff members report to work at 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday and use the two hours before campers arrive at approximately 10 a.m. for planning. Campers return home at 3 p.m., and staff members can have as much as three hours of paper work to do before their day is finished.
Monday is a work day and planning day for staff members, and Friday is used for one-on-one contact with campers and their families. A typical day for staff members is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Campers' activities include physical activities and social skills activities. Campers are involved in adventure-based games to help them develop team work, cooperation, problem solving, and leadership skills. Each camp session has an overall theme with a different emphasis each week. Community is this summer's theme.
Activities during the first week emphasized diversity; second week, acceptance of others; and third week, building friendships. The remaining weeks will focus on expressing feelings appropriately, resolving conflicts/peace making, healthy relationships, and boundaries. The last week of camp will recap what the campers have learned throughout the camp.
Not only is the camp a positive experience for students, it also has a positive economic and social impact on Hillsboro.
"We hire many local people to help run the camp," said Wheeler. "We also have other expenses like gas, drivers, lunch room workers, activities, and custodians."
The greatest benefit to Marion County communities is the support provided to help young people to help them to become valuable members in their community.
"We have a great program and great kids," said Chuck Maggard, a member of the leadership team.
