Hardin-Simmons Provides Summer Camp Opportunities

For students of all ages, the summer is a time for sleeping in on the weekdays or spending time out by the pool. But at Hardin-Simmons University, the summertime can be a chance for students to venture out from their typical summer break plans and gain new experiences and opportunities through the camps at HSU.
Hardin-Simmons offers an array of summer camps for the attending students of the college and those around the Abilene community by covering ranges of interest from science to swimming.
Academic Camps
The Health Sciences Department at HSU will be hosting a two-week Health Sciences Summer Enrichment Program for 11th and 12th graders or incoming college freshman who are interested in attending Hardin- Simmons and pursuing a career in the health sciences field.
The participants will work to strengthen their math and science skills through the collaboration of lectures, interactive labs, and hands on experience with health care professionals in the workplace. The students will also receive feedback at the end of the program based on their strengths and weaknesses show.
The camp aims to build the student’s confidence in performing science skills at the collegiate level and examine a variety of health care career options.
The Irvin School of Education will be hosting their 5th annual Dream Catchers camp at the university to provide the students from Ortiz Elementary School and Mann Middle School with a science and social studies-based literacy enrichment program over a two week period.
At the camp, students will experience real-world connections through interactive activities and critical thinking with technology, nutrition, fine arts, music, and physical challenges. The program hopes to motivate and challenge the students of Abilene to experience academic success and think about future career options by establishing educational goals.
The Hardin- Simmons Education Department also host a program for students enrolled in Gifted and Talented programs called Threshold. The camp will be offering two, one-week programs that will provide creative thinking activities for both the students of the camp, and the HSU students who will be assisting in running the program.
Director of Threshold, Dr. Mary Christopher believes the event will provide great experience for the participants as well as the college students.
“I think it benefits both undergrad and graduate students to understand the needs of gifted children in the classroom,” Christopher said.
Music Camps
The Abilene Summer Piano Camp at Hardin-Simmons will be from June 19th- 23rd, in which high school students will experience in playing the piano will have the opportunity to enhance their musical skills through intense studying and training.
Attendees will arrive with a memorized piece, and will be assisted in their technique and memorization through interactive activities. The program will conclude with an open recital on June 23, at 10:00 a.m. at the Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall.
At the All-State Choir Camp at Hardin-Simmons, high school students will participate in a week long choral experience, where participants will partake in rehearsal and voice training under the baton of HSU conductors, Dr. Clell Wright and Dr. Dee Romines. The instructors will provide the campers with an increased level of music-making experience, and a public performance, featuring the choir, soloists, and small ensembles, at the end of the program.
Activity Camps
The Hardin-Simmons Swim Program, led by Dr. Corrie Reed, will be providing the Abilene community with two session opportunities and a choice of participating in one of the five different swim courses offered, based on the swimmer’s experience and skills. The sessions offer swimming lessons for students of 18 months old to 14 years old.
Depending on the swim course a child qualifies for, the participants will strengthen their swimming skills and become more confident and familiarized with various swimming techniques, such as the backstroke and butterfly. A prep course for training life guards will also be open for ages 13 and 14, where the students will begin their journey of knowing water safety.
The Hardin-Simmons summer camps all take place throughout June and July and aim to provide participating students with knowledge and skills in the specific field of interest.