It’s Never Too Late For A CVU Summer Connection
by Duncan Wardwell,
May 19, 2011, page 19.....

The CVU Summer Camp provides many ways for CVU students to create positive connections to their educational environment. For over 12 years, the camp has connected incoming 9th graders with academics, clubs, sports and CVU culture. Current and former CVU students serve as counselors to challenge campers to develop high school attitudes. The CVU Summer Camp illustrates how high school students may experience success in a variety of ways.
The process began this year on February 16 when parents and students attended the 8th Grade Parent Night to learn about CVU and the camp. I talked to groups of parents in core classrooms and a few experienced counselors answered student questions at Four Corners. We want to prompt students to create good first impressions. Everyone wants to make new friends and know the layout of the school.
Families are encouraged to register as early as possible so we can coordinate counselors for Interest Area activities; however, there are no deadlines on when students can join the camp experience. I joke with parents that they can register up until the last day of camp. We try to remove obstacles that might interfere with a good connection while coordinating transportation and scholarship support. It is better to have a student make a small connection than no connection at all.
The camp implements a variety of ways to cascade learning between new and current CVU students. Incoming 9th graders sign up for Interest Area groups led by counselors and CVU staff. Counselors serve as mentors for campers to develop high school skills. Last year Anthony Jordick completed his CVU Graduation Challenge project based on personal experiences as a camper and counselor. He created a handbook for students to utilize during the summer and school year. Anthony shares that “lessons about making friends, managing your time, and using the resources available to you are all things that we can learn from, as an adult and a learner. Making connections with the school is equally as important.”
André LaChance, a CVU English teacher of 22 years, challenges Summer Academy campers to know their teachers. “It’s nice because I work in an informal way with a small group. We talk about life at high school as a student, and we learn strategies for success. I also challenge them to interpret literature and write with revision techniques.” The activities at the camp provide the initial connection but it often expands into the fall, winter and spring. “I often see them later in my English classes or help advisors and teachers plan for success.”
All Interest Area choices provide ways for campers to orchestrate success at CVU. The students that sign up for CY (Connecting Youth) CVU explore how to improve personal assets through clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities. Campers choose ways to connect to CVU with a technological, artistic or athletic talent. André also observes how counselors implement skills that transcend CVU, “I mentor counselors as they facilitate a community environment. The campers already feel ownership of their building and their decisions before walking off buses in September. We hand-select a talented group of counselors; Duncan and I feel like we have the best of the best.”
The counselors learn how to put skills learned at CVU into practice. Ellen Snyder explains, “As an experienced counselor, I really enjoy planning lessons, acquiring materials and teaching art skills that allow a camper’s creativity to flourish.” The counselors develop leadership skills and experience responsibilities that transcend high school. Each counselor contributes a unique talent as well as leading a variety of fun Interest Area activities. Konnor Fleming discovered that it’s “more than easy to communicate with the students and help teach them what it means, in my experience, to be a contributing member of the CVU community.”
There are many ways to discover success at CVU during the summer. Many future, current and former CVU students will connect with content and community resources. To find out how to enhance your CVU connection, check out the CVU Summer Camp website at cvuhs.org or call or e-mail me (482-7194, dwardwell@cvuhs.org). Spaces are available for incoming 9th graders in both sessions and all Interest Areas. CCS students or families may register online or via e-mail or phone call.