UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—The Penn State College of Education announced that it is holding its eighth annual Summer Reading Camp this July. The camp is for elementary and middle school students who are experiencing challenges in developing their literacy.

According to Kathleen Shannon, the camp’s coordinator, campers will read across all types of texts in order to become experts on a topic. Campers will learn word solving and comprehension strategies while involved in large group, small group and independent activities based on their interests and needs. Such activities may include constructing a museum exhibit, preparing a readers theater performance, writing and publishing personal magazines and individual research projects.

“Students who attend will participate in activities including reading, writing, drawing, painting, singing and sculpting,” said Shannon. “In addition, visual artist Amalia Shaltiel joins the camp staff courtesy of the College of Education’s Dean David H. Monk's Arts in Education initiative.”

During the 16-day camp, Shaltiel’s role will be to help campers visualize, design and construct exhibits, which will be part of a museum that is open to the public, said Shannon.

“Graduate student candidates for the reading specialist certification provide literacy apprenticeships, supporting campers' reading to become experts on a topic and writing to represent their new knowledge,” said Shannon. “To further support learning, the camp provides a low student-to-teacher ratio.”

Shannon said she looks forward to another productive and rewarding camp.

“We measure our successes in smiles, engagements with texts, poems, essays and maps, pride in accomplishments and returning campers,” said Shannon.

The Summer Reading Camp is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 7–31, Monday through Thursday, in Chambers Building on the University Park campus.

The enrollment fee is $50. For more information or to register for camp, contact Shannon by email at kds12@psu.edu.