Columbus State University is hosting an innovative educational summer camp this June that will have young students and teacher candidates learning together.

Children ages 4-11 are invited to enroll in Summer Spectacular, offered by CSU’s Early Childhood Education program in the Department of Teacher Education. Summer Spectacular combines two experiences in one. ECE students will gain valuable teaching experience, while young minds will engage in hands-on, enriched learning activities. Parents can rest assured that their children will receive personal attention from students of a nationally accredited program that was named the 2016-2017 Distinguished Program in Teacher Education by the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators.

This year’s Summer Spectacular theme is “Exploring Georgia.” Using science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics, teachers and students will team up to learn about three regions of the state: the Coastal Plains, Piedmont and Northern Georgia.

Kmiko Johnson, a CSU ECE major and Summer Spectacular teacher candidate, plans to construct a river with her campers, complete with running water, a canoe, campsite, plants and animals that are representative of Northern Georgia.

“Summer Spectacular is a project-based learning experience,” said Johnson. “It’s really an exploration. By building and creating, it’s amazing how much students can learn, and I’m learning at the same time.”

ECE students receive 12 credit hours for their participation in Summer Spectacular, the equivalent of a semester’s worth of coursework. More importantly, CSU students are gaining confidence.

“Summer Spectacular will give me the confidence to manage a classroom of 25 students,” said Summer Watson, a senior ECE major. “CSU sets you up so that you are learning hands-on. You get to learn your own teaching style.”

“CSU’s Department of Education absolutely has the best professors,” said Ieshia Davis, a senior ECE major, who is planning to teach about the Piedmont region with Watson. “Our professors have all had experience in the classroom, so they have prepared us for this full-on experience.”

Summer Spectacular runs June 5-29, Monday-Thursday, from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Registration is $40 per week per child or $140 for all four weeks and includes a t-shirt, all supplies and snacks. Registration is first-come, first-served. Up to 75 spots are available per week. Camp will take place at Gentian Elementary School. For more information or to register, please visit coehp.columbusstate.edu/summer-spectacular.