At that time it seemed that the COVID-19 pandemic had spanned years. As cases fell over the summer it was still unsafe for any typical camp experience. Those excuses did not stop our team from joining with a few partners to put on a weekly, socially distant summer camp experience for our neighbors in Desoto Bass and Hilltop. Corona Camp we called it, with a Superhero theme that encouraged kids to see themselves as heroes using love to overcome challenges. The camp was completely free of charge to eliminate any barriers for participants.
Kicking off camp June 1st was made possible by the Foodbank and Wesley Community Center with food delivered to 50 families. Each week there was food for all and an activity that drew on the kids’ creativity and incited their imagination. Pictured above is one Superhero Spaceship art project. One week centered on fitness and provided hula hoops for each child involved. Another week provided backpacks filled with school supplies. The activities provided something fun to look forward to during an abnormally cooped-up summer.
However, the goal was not just to fill time or join together for fun activities but to enable the kids involved to see themselves as their own storytellers. Camp reached its peak with each kid receiving a portable camera inviting them to take pictures of everything that inspired them. After a week the film was developed and each child received the photos they had taken. Some were incredible shots of the garden and others candid photos of friends. During the final week in August, Snow Show provided over a hundred kids with snow cones. The excitement was electric. Each child not only deserves to have opportunities to experience joy but to see themselves as a hero, someone who can create joy for others.
Here at the Dayton Equity Center, we believe that learning to “Lead By Example” does not start when you turn 18 but leaders are made on playgrounds, city streets, and classrooms. Since the 653 activities during Corona Camp, we continue to maintain weekly food delivery and educational activities because our children are not the future, they are leaders now. None of this would have been possible without the amazing partners at West Dayton Strong, McKinley United Methodist Church, and the Foodbank. If you are interested in summer camp activities, contact us on our website or on Facebook.
