More than 150 preschool-age children in Flagstaff, Williams and Pinetop-Lakeside recently completed the four-week camp, which prepares children academically, socially, and emotionally for kindergarten. During the four weeks, children will learn letters and sounds, numbers and some science while getting used to being part of a classroom community. The program is provided at no cost to families.
In 2020, KinderCamp couldn’t be held due to the pandemic. Instead, organizers created take-home kits for parents and caregivers that included many of the activities typically held during the camp. The following year, KinderCamp was held in person, but on a shorter schedule and with limited classroom visitors.
Each of the guests in the program this year had a special purpose, Owen said. The pediatrician and her team talked about healthy bodies and what to expect when you visit a doctor. A representative from Coconino County Health and Human Services brought a puppet with teeth so the kids could practice good brushing technique. The visit from the firefighters demonstrated that children needn’t be afraid of emergency personnel, even when they were wearing all their bulky gear.
Then there were the basketball clinics with members of the NAU women’s basketball team and the Flagstaff High School boys and girls teams.
“It was just so cute,” said Owen. “They dribbled and they passed and everyone got to make a shot.”
The student athletes made baskets with their arms so each child could do a slam dunk, Owens said, but she noted that some of the four- and five-year-olds came awfully close to making baskets with the real hoop.
The basketball clinics came courtesy of a donation last year from the Phoenix Suns for KinderCamp.
