Summer need not be boring and uneventful for kindergarten through sixth grade students in need of something to do. Oakdale Joint Unified School District once again offers Oakdale’s Super Summer Camp. The eight week series, with a different theme for each session, opened its doors for the first round of campers on Monday, June 3. The final camp week will conclude the week of July 22 to July 26.

The district sponsored program is being hosted at Fair Oaks Elementary school for the second year. A location change from Magnolia which was prompted last year, due to school construction. According to Director of State and Federal Programs, Armida Colon both campuses are well suited for the program. The single entrance at the front of the Fair Oaks campus, however, has proven to be beneficial.

“Probably the biggest change has been that we are trying to move away from doing long trips on the other side of the Altamont,” Colon said of this year’s program.

She further stated trips to the Bay Area had turned out to be more taxing than necessary with unpredictable weekly traffic conditions. The one popular Oakland A’s baseball game field trip, has now been replaced with a River Cats baseball game in Sacramento.

“They have been so helpful and accommodating,” Colon said of the River Cats, noting that parents of students have also been very receptive to the change of keeping trips closer to home.

During the duration of the five day themed camps, students experience a field trip to a pre-designated location as well as three days at the Plunge.

“We did see an increase,” she said of attendance for locally based trips. “As a matter of fact the last couple of years we have seen an increase in participants slowly but surely.”

The administrator also stressed the Summer Camp is not geared to be curriculum based, since it is summer, the focus is more toward creating fun experiences and memories for the campers. While there are some activities which include project based learning it is not the primary focus of the staff.

“The number one concern with families tends to be who is going to be running the program and we have expert leaders,” the district administrator said of the staff of seven. She said each offers experience within the district and the after school rec programs. “They are trained to work in a diverse environment and be creative on their toes.”

The following are the remaining weeks and trips for the 2019 Summer Camp: Week 2 - That’s How We Roll, trip to McHenry Bowl; Week 3 - There’s No Plate Like Home Plate, Sacramento River Cats; Week 4 - Horsing Around, Equine Hospital, Oakdale Cheese, Baskin Robbins; Week 5 - Movie Madness, Regal Cinema; Week 6 - Wild Wild West, Columbia State Historic Park; Week 7 - Laser Legends, Laser Quest; Week 8 - The Final Countdown, Funworks.

For additional information on fees and availability for individual camps call 848-4884 or visit www.ojusd.org.