Registration open for Early Childhood Summer Enrichment Camp

After a three-year hiatus, the Early Childhood Summer Enrichment Camp will resume this summer.

“We are compelled to bring back this program that has been in demand in the Auburn community for over 25 years,” said Sean Durham, associate professor and coordinator of the early childhood program in the College of Education. “This program is unique in that it features, in abundance, one of the primary developmental mechanisms that drives children’s learning and healthy development—play.”

Rooted in the belief that children are competent, creative and thoroughly capable of constructing their own understanding of the world, the summer enrichment camp provides developmentally appropriate educational experiences for children ranging in age from 3 1/2 to 7 1/2.

“We have learned through research that in recent times, children’s opportunities to direct their own learning through play have been dramatically reduced,” Durham said. “Children have reduced access to play in school with increased emphasis placed on academics and testing. Even play at home is not what it used to be with more screen time and less time spent outdoors. Our program provides a rich play environment for children to explore and choose to engage at deep levels with activities and materials that interest them.”

The program will meet Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to noon, June 12-July 27. The camp will not meet the week of July 3.

For more information or to complete the enrollment application and pay the $60 registration fee, visit the camp registration site.