‘Camp Elevate’ offers academics and athletics to middle schoolers in Chicopee

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Chicopee Public Schools started one of their summer camps this week.

Camp is in session over in Chicopee for the middle schoolers in the Chicopee Public Schools and it is packed with activities. Chicopee School District’s Camp Rlevate’ gives students a combination of academics and athletics during the summer. The 103 campers are rising sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth graders.

Chicopee Public School teachers, coaches, and assistant coaches help to lead the camp as what they call “coaches”, while high school seniors or recent graduates help out as “assistant coaches.” “We found out through education, the summers off there are a lot of gaps in learning, we want to keep the kids excited to be in the classroom, working with each other, working with instructors, and seeing that there is a lot more unique ways to learn than just sitting at the desk,” stated Adam Tanguay, Camp Director for Camp Elevate.

Besides continuing education through the summer in a fun way for kids, Camp Elevate is almost entirely free aside from a 30-dollar registration fee. Campers receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack during the camp day.

Sean Mackin, Director of Athletics for Chicopee Public Schools, told 22News, “I grew up in camp, so I grew up playing basketball and going to basketball camps and I was washing dishes and cleaning pots to be able to go camping for free and I think that it had a great impact on my life and think it is something we can give back to the kids as well and then let them know they are valued and they are an important part of what we are doing here.”

The camp is four weeks long with two weeks here at Chicopee Comprehensive High School and the other two at Chicopee High School. Academic and athletic courses will be at both schools but the other activities will change based on the special programs in each school.

Currently at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, the unique activities include culinary where student will cook and sample their products, and advanced manufacturing allowing the campers to make something using their hands they will be able to take home. When they switch to Chicopee High School, they will experience the ROTC and video production.

“We are trying to bring the community together and we are trying to engage the campers on a whole level,” adds Tanguay. “With community engagement, we have theme weeks including sustainability, community engagement, and mindfulness and we are bringing a lot of community representation to camp so the kids can see what Chicopee has to offer them.”

Campers will go on a few field trips throughout the four weeks including the basketball hall of fame and a Woosox baseball game. The camp is also fully inclusive for all students as 43% of campers qualify for the special education programs.

In the first few days, campers wrote and addressed postcards to themselves listing their goals. Camp Elevate is going to mail those postcards in August for a little pep talk right before the school year starts.

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