Children’s Programs See Increase

[image 1]While Northwest Vista College slows down with fewer students in the summer, another part ramps up – the children’s programs organized by Workforce Education & Training.

This past summer, the classes enrolled 232 students, which was a 20 percent increase in the number of children enrolled over the previous year. The summer-themed camps run weekly for children in grades 1 through 5 for $150. 

Rachel Perez, NVC Community Education program manager, said increase marketing efforts, such as getting on two local TV morning shows, distributing more flyers to new schools and libraries and adding more street banners helped to attract kids from all over the city.

Some of the most popular summer camps this year were the “Secret Agent” and astronomy. Tiffany Carmony, Community Education administrative secretary, said a new camp that was introduced this summer was the basketball and volleyball camp which filled up fast.

[image 2]Another class being debut this coming summer is “Film Directing for Shorts,” which will be combined with the acting camp and help give students more hands-on activities. 

Feedback from parents proves the NVC summer camps are worth the money.

“My daughter is having a blast and tells me everything she learned when she gets home,” said one parent.

Another parent said, “My daughter has really enjoyed this camp. This is her first camp at NVC and she has been to many others in town.”

In addition to the summer camps, the Saturday Children’s Enrichment Program kicked off on Oct. 6 and goes through Nov. 10. The 50-minute classes that go for six weeks include topics, such as math, music, dance, art, reading, science, fencing and martial arts. Saturday classes, cost between $64 to $85, and are designed for students ages 3 to the 8th grade.

Rachel added the classes for the 3- to 5-year-olds provide the basic fundamentals for children heading to kindergarten and helps expose them to reading and math. 

For more information about the summer camps and Saturday classes, go here: http://www.alamo.edu/nvc/children/