Immersive Spanish Summer Camp being offered in Taylor County

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — If you’ve been thinking of ways to incorporate culture and new learning experiences with your family, a Spanish Summer Camp in Taylor County may be for you.

The camp was founded by Blanca Skaggs, a Spanish teacher from Venezuela with 23 years of experience. She said many of her students have gone on to continue pursuing Spanish as an official second language and use it in their daily lives.

“West Virginia really don’t have a lot of diversity, and for me being in Grafton and in the rural area, and being able to go to Bridgeport, Fairmont, I think it was a likeness of this kind of stuff for children. I thought I can help the community and the families and their children to see something different, to have a different camp,” said Skaggs.

In its inaugural year, the camp will run from June 19-21 for students in second through fifth grade. Students will be able to make traditional dishes, learn the geography of the 21 world countries that have Spanish as their official language and even learn how to dance salsa.

“Every day they’re going to do like something from different countries, the first day they’re going to make tortillas from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador. The second day—this is my favorite—they’re going to make arepas that is from my country Venezuela. Arepas is a very important meal, we eat arepas for breakfast and dinner, and the last day we’re doing some fruit juice, like banana juice, and maybe strawberry juice too,” said Skaggs.

Skaggs said this truly immersive experience will allow students to learn easier. “It’s not the language, it’s the culture, the traditions the food that’s very important when you learn a language…I think it will make a difference, because children are a sponge, they learn a lot and this is also, it will open their curiosity to learn more and maybe in the future, continue with Spanish,” said Skaggs.

If students want to continue learning Spanish, Skaggs provides private tutoring for children and adults. She also caters arepas and more through her Blanquita’s Spanish Experience company.

The camp will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. June 19-21. at 109 Rolling Meadows Drive, Flemington, WV 26347 (near West Taylor Elementary). Admission is $75 and the deadline to sign up is Monday, June 17.

To sign up your student for camp, or to learn more, you can go here .

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