Duzan was demonstrating the art of building model dinosaurs from the ground up. Many in the small group volunteered, and several tyrannosaurus rexes are underway.

Around 40 area students, all entering either eighth or ninth grade this fall, participated in the camp’s science, math, and physical education activities. This summer, eight schools are represented.

The camp is sponsored by the College’s Post-Secondary Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP) program. PREP is a University System of Georgia initiative which provides academic enrichment activities to young people to help stimulate an interest in post-secondary education.

“Summer Stars Camp provides an opportunity for area students who attended both sessions of Saturday of Stars last year to come back to campus during the summer and participate in new projects,” says Sherri Stafford, Director of the College’s PREP Program.

“Some of the students are repeat campers and have come for several years,” she says.

And students are not the only repeaters. Duzan teaches at Ithaca Elementary School in Powder Springs, Georgia, but comes back each summer to help with Summer Stars Camp. This is her ninth summer.

And Corey Dempsey, a former Dalton State student who teaches eighth grade math at Eastbrook Middle School, makes Summer Stars Camp an annual event.

“I love doing this,” says Corey. “I do it every summer.”

Corey’s group, physical education, takes advantage of the College’s outdoor volleyball court and flat grassy fields for games, including “Never Have I Ever.”

A third enrichment activity is Quizdom, a computer-based math activity taught by Gina Crider, who teaches at Sonarville East near Calhoun.