Bona Vista hosts summer camps

By MEGHAN DURBAK
Tribune staff writer

July 05, 2008 04:25 pm

— Eight boys tried to remain quiet as they passed through the narrow hallway. They were hunting for treasure using a map made by their teacher.
After glancing at his teacher’s treasure map, 6-year-old David Lane declared the group’s next move.
“We go to the baby’s room.”
Before their teacher, Shari Shockney, could ask them what to do next, the boys spotted their prize just beyond the nursery.
“I knew it was over there,” declared 5-year-old Matthew Tuchscherer.
Within moments the boys, ranging from age 2 to 6, surrounded the chest filled with chocolate gold and silver coins, small games and bouncy balls.
The treasure hunt was one of many activities during the week as a part of the Crime Scene Investigation program. Throughout the summer, Bona Vista is putting on several similar programs for the summer science and enrichment camps, designed for 2- to 6-year-olds. The camp is located at 1220 E. Laguna St.
“I think it gives them a chance to really use their brain during the summer. It’s an option besides television, something a little more structured. It’s also a lot of fun,” Shockney said.
From 12:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, children participate in a variety of activities, such as fingerprinting, making shoeprints in clay, looking through microscopes, using magnifying glasses and drawing treasure maps.
This past week’s theme allowed them to play detectives and scientists, a perfect combination for Nathan Tuchscherer, 6, who’s thinking about being a doctor when he grows up.
Nathan mentioned the boys eating all their newly acquired chocolate would be unhealthy.
“Then we’d be on a sugar high, and we’d all go crazy,” advised the future physician.
Some children didn’t see that as a problem.
“I’m rich. I’m rich with candy,” David said.
Parents like the summer camp as well. Pam Akers said her 5-year-old, Jackson, looks forward to coming to Bona Vista every day, she said.
“He has two older siblings,” she said.
“I wanted him to have some activities geared toward his age this summer,” she said.
Sharon Herr, said her grandson A. J. Robertson, 3, loves the camp. She said it’s one way he gets out his energy.
“He loves coming here. He loves the other children,” Herr said. “It’s a wonderful program.”
For more information on the summer camp, call (765) 457-8273.

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