OCU Welcomes Kids on Campus

Ohio Christian University welcomed Kids on Campus — a summer enrichment program for first through fourth graders that allows them to experience academic life on a college campus, while improving their math, science, art, and technology skills — for the 10^th consecutive year over the last two weeks.

The program is a partnership with Pickaway HELPS (Higher Education for Learners Partnership) and Ohio Christian University with generous support from PPG industries.

Campus rarely lacks youthful exuberance, but having Kids on Campus over the last few weeks really brought a child-rich energy. It wasn’t just the adults who enjoyed having the kids around; the kids had fun too.

Carley Derexson, a junior at Circleville High School, has been sharing her love of science with students.

“We were dissecting owl pellets and (one student) was like, ‘I want to be a scientist just like this!’ It was really neat to see their reactions to each of the experiments and how excited they get about learning,” she said.

New this year was the addition of a music program taught by Linda Price Huff, a teacher at Scioto Elementary during the school year. “The new Kids on Campus music program provides fun, hands-on music learning experiences,” Huff said. “We are singing, playing, reading, writing, listening, and moving to music.”

“This is a meaningful experience across the board to students of all ages,” said Christy Mills, executive director of Pickaway HELPS. Mills added that Kids on Campus started a decade ago, “because there was nothing like this offered in Pickaway County.” According to Mills, “Each year enrollment has grown from the first year when 20 participated to more than 280 this year.” The program began with just math and science, but has added classes in technology, art, and music over the years.

OCU is looking forward to hosting the 11^th year of Kids on Campus next summer.

Portions of this article originally appeared in the Circleville Herald written by Jennifer Bahney.