Summer Safari offers classes, skill development

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July 16, 2011

Summer Safari offers skill development, classes for kids

FELICIA KRIEG Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Jul 16, 2011, 03:26 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — About 200 area children are participating in 38 enrichment classes from across the disciplines as part of this year's Summer Safari program at Plattsburgh State.

"It's totally different from school. It starts a little later, it's more relaxed, it's short in duration but long in activities and fun. It's just different," said Kate Chilton, conference director for College Auxiliary Services at Plattsburgh State. She has organized and operated Summer Safari Enrichment Programs for Kids for 25 years.

It began with just one science class and has expanded over the years, Chilton said.

The classes, which run through July 21, are for students age 5 through 14, with the theater program accepting participants as old as 18.

New classes this year include Digital Photography, The Magical World of Harry Potter, A Series of Series, Art-o-Mathics, Folk Music: A Great American Art Form, Web Design for Beginners and Foundations of Flash: Animation 101.

Developing skills

Programs in science, foreign language, art, technology, literature, dance and theater are offered. The theater class is always one of the most popular, Chilton said.

Mary Fortin, a fifth-grade teacher at Momot Elementary School who has been involved with Chazy Music Theatre, is one of the directors for this year's production, "Annie Jr." She has been with Summer Safari for 15 years.

Many children return year after year, and Fortin's favorite part is seeing them grow up.

While the theater program is undoubtedly fun, it also helps the children develop essential academic and social skills.

"It keeps their creativity growing. It also builds a lot of cooperative work ability for them. There are chances to work as a team," Fortin said.

Chilton knows theater keeps kids academically and socially engaged, which is important during the summer months.

"The theater program is academically challenging for them because they have to learn lines, they have to project. It gives them confidence in public speaking," she said.

Kym Taylor, the theater class choreographer and Dancing Storybook Princess Camp and Queen for a Day Camp teacher, said she loves "seeing the kids surprise themselves. They can do a lot more than they thought they could. It certainly gives them a lot of confidence."

Taylor is an English as a second language teaching assistant at Peru Central School when she isn't working at Summer Safari.

As the children who became involved at a young age get older, they often take on a "mentor" role for the younger children who are just starting Summer Safari, Taylor said.

It takes a lot of work to put on a production like "Annie Jr." in fewer than three weeks.

"They learn a lot about patience and a lot about hard work, how much it takes to pull off something like this," Taylor said of this year's play.

An impressive 400 to 500 family and friends usually attend the performance, and everyone always enjoys it, Chilton said.

Starting place

Summer Safari has served as the starting place for some students, sparking an interest in the performing arts that continues into college, Taylor said.

One student who was in the theater class for many years recently graduated from high school and is going on to study music.

Carla Domenico-Wasbes, who is teaching Hip Hop and Broadway Jazz this year, participated in Summer Safari dance classes as a child. When she's not involved in the enrichment program, Domenico-Wasbes works as a physical therapist and adjunct dance teacher at Union College.

"My very favorite thing is coming back to the community where I grew up taking dance and being able to teach the kids that are currently in the community," she said.

"The kids come back year after year and continue to take the class, which is really exciting for me to see them grow and (see) what they remember from the year before."

College Auxiliary Services has a small scholarship program that they offer each year. All that is required is for the parents and student to write a letter communicating the child's interest, Chilton said.