For the first time, KinderCamp™ is coming to Holbrook and Joseph City this summer, offering a unique academic experience to young learners just weeks away from starting kindergarten.
In Holbrook, KinderCamp Coordinator Meagan Newton-Pender said the program will launch with one class.
“Holbrook is a rural town and many of our students are transported in from the surrounding areas,” she explained. “We’re still getting the word out, but we’re excited to get started.”
She said around half of Holbrook’s incoming kindergarteners have little to no school experience, which makes the first few weeks challenging.
“In rural areas, some kids do not have access to preschool or structured early learning,” she explained. “KinderCamp helps bridge that gap, giving them a chance to get used to routines, classrooms, and learning expectations before kindergarten officially starts.”
It will also allow students to interact with peers before school starts, building those first school friendships, learning to share, and improving communication skills in a group setting. All of that will boost their confidence when they transition into kindergarten later this year.
In addition to classes, which will be held Monday-Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm, students will also have a few field trips, such as an excursion to the Petrified Forest for a dinosaur dig and planting flowers in a garden with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension team.
In Joseph City, excitement is just as high. Preschool teacher Darolyn DeWitt is helping facilitate KinderCamp after learning about it through a visit from Kristen Strauss the Manager of Youth Programs and Education Initiatives at United Way of Northern Arizona.
“Even a few weeks of preschool experience makes a huge difference,” DeWitt said. “KinderCamp is critical for kids who haven’t had that, especially those with developmental delays or who struggle with transitions.”
The Joseph City program will run from May 27 through June 18 and will include a kindergarten teacher, Deidre Smith, supported by an assistant and DeWitt herself, who will help with assessments and provide one-on-one support.
With a circus theme to keep things fun and engaging, the class will focus on early language and pre-literacy skills – like vertical lines and shapes – while also helping students develop school routines and confidence.
The Joseph City KinderCamp is also planning some field trips – including a visit to the Holbrook Library – plus fun in-school events like obstacle courses and dance parties.
“I’m just really excited for the boost it will give our kindergarteners,” said DeWitt. “It’s also great for the teacher-building relationships with some of the kids ahead of time that will make a big difference come fall.”
Surveys of parents indicate that children’s KinderCamp experience improved their knowledge of letters and sounds of the alphabet, made them better able to socialize with other children, and increased their ability to communicate with adults.
KinderCamp is open to four- and five-year olds who have had a year or less of preschool and meet family income eligibility requirements. Additional factors can also be considered for eligibility in the program, including whether the child has special needs.
Although the program is provided free to families, the estimated cost per student is about $1500, which includes transportation, teacher and staff salaries, facility costs, teaching supplies, meals, and literacy kits given to every participating family so they can help their children continue to learn throughout the summer. KinderCamp would not be possible without YOUR support and the many partnerships that make this program possible, including the school districts in Flagstaff, Williams, Pinetop-Lakeside, Holbrook, and Joseph City.
In addition to individual donations, KinderCamp also benefits from the sponsorship of several organizations and businesses, including the NARBHA Institute; the City of Flagstaff; the Coconino County Board of Supervisors: the Purina Trust Fund; Arizona Public Service (APS); the Salt River Project (SRP); the PNC Foundation; Coconino Community College; BMO Bank; and Northern Arizona University.
