Submitted by Brooks Taylor
Citizens of Gotham and Central City faced off in tic-tac-toe and bottle flip challenges with an educational twist at Troy University’s Civic Heroes Camp.
About 20 campers in 4th-6th grade took part in the fifth annual Civic Heroes Camp where they learned about government and citizen action through fun games and visits from community heroes, such as police officers, entrepreneurs, city councilmembers and firefighters.
Magdeleno Jaimes-Pena, 9, admitted he wasn’t really interested in civics before camp, but attended because his sister was a counselor. However, he quickly changed his mind.
“Just because it doesn’t sound fun doesn’t mean it’s not going to be fun,” Jaimes-Pena said. “My favorite part has to be when we get to meet different people.”
That change of heart was exactly what camp organizers had hoped.
“We definitely have noticed an overall decline in the interest of civics and history,” said Jayden McQueen, a second-year camp counselor and political science major from Crestview, Florida. “Getting kids active in being a good citizen and helping to make it fun – that sticks with them. So, as an adult they are voting. Maybe they are running for office. They’re involved in their communities, and that in turn will just make our world a better place.”
As part of the experience, campers learned about American government, constitutional documents and good citizenship. Then, they divided up into two teams representing Gotham and Central City to put their new knowledge into action.
“We try to make it fun and interactive every single time,” said Alondra Jaimes-Pena, a first-year camp counselor and political science major from Birmingham, Alabama. “We take something that’s a little bit ordinary and put our own twists to it.”
Lauren Cochran is the coordinator of the Office of Civic Engagement at Troy University and has been director of Civic Heroes Camp since it began. She said the summer camp is not only a good place for younger people to learn about civics, but also for college students to take on leadership roles and develop curriculum.
“This was a really great year for me to allow them to have more opportunity to learn and develop their skill sets as college is a kind of springboard to their future careers,” Cochran said. “These are great opportunities for them to develop some professional and personal skills and learn how to lead different audiences.”
While the camp counselors involved this summer shared they loved learning about American government and history as children, Daniel Mensah, a computer science student from London, said the camp has helped shape his understanding of American government as a college student.
Mensah has been serving as a international graduate assistant in the Office of Civic Engagement and provided logistical support for the camp.
“I think that it is very important for people in a nation to understand how everything works and why it works the way it works…,” Mensah said. “I believe that when people understand that – especially from their youth, from their childhood – they have a deep understanding of the power of their choices… and that’s what shapes the future of a nation.”
This won’t be the last chance for area children to learn about community service and government as the Office of Civic Engagement works with local schools during the year and – thanks to a grant from the David Mathews Center for Civic Life – organizers are already planning for next year’s summer camp.
“The camp was very good, and I enjoyed it,” said Cameron McQueen, 11. “I made new friends. I would definitely come back.”
Brooks Taylor is a 6th-grader at Banks School who attended Civic Heroes Camp.
