Canton High School is offering a week-long video production camp for upper elementary and middle school students -- part of a pilot program for further enrichment camps.
Assistant Superintendent Lynn McMullin came up with the idea for the camp as a way to provide kids with an affordable opportunity for enrichment after noticing the extremely high cost of some summer camps. Earlier this summer, there was so much interest in a jazz camp that the music department brought in an extra teacher, so, McMullin says, the school district will consider offering a variety of camps, depending upon teacher availability and student interest.
Canton High School is hosting a Summer Tech Camp next week, where students will learn basic video production skills. The camp is for children entering grades five through eight, and runs from July 11 to July 15. The class meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. As of late last week, 10 of the 15 slots were filled and the school was still accepting students.
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The camp is run by Canton High School technology education teacher Jeff Dubois, who said the camp is "a good opportunity for kids to spark an interest." He stressed the importance of kids having an outlet during the summer where they can learn something new, but have fun at the same time.
The students will use the high school studio to make a news broadcast or Public Service Announcement, he said. Dubois will also teach students how to use video equipment, a green screen, and video-editing software.
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Activities like these help to "build confidence in younger kids and give them access to technology that might not otherwise be available to them," Dubois said.
Students of all skills levels will be able to work in groups to create a fun video containing whatever interests them. The program provides enough flexibility to encourage creative thinking while giving enough structure and support to foster learning.
The cost of the program is $225, which will cover the school system’s costs of running the program, rather than generating income.
McMullin said she suggested video tech as one of the first offerings because she had seen the enthusiasm generated by the high school's annual CHS TV, and wanted to open the door to younger students.
In a world that grows ever more reliant on technology, McMullin said, "Kids should be the producers of technology, not the consumers of it."
This is the first year that such a camp has been offered and is a pilot for future summers. McMullin says that she is looking to expand opportunities next summer to include a creative writing program, guitar, pottery, and any other area that a teacher would like to contribute.
This camp is available to all students in the area, and anyone interested in checking availability should contact Lynn McMullin at 860-693-7704.
