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Three of the teachers involved all teach at Weston Elementary School and include Dina Tallis, Becki Auger, and Debbie Hanna. Jennifer Little, a substitute teacher in the district will also be involved in the endeavor. The four educators have more than 50 years of combined teaching experience and will bring that knowledge to the Lewis Learning Center. The camp will be held in Lum on a 200-acre farm.

"We had the idea for years," Hanna said. "I've taught 37 years and always wanted to do something with the fine arts and the basics. My colleagues said they'd like to be involved. I think being taught by master teachers, this will be an enriched learning experience for the kids."

Hanna said the camp will run four weeks in July and will teach art, music, writing, and about nature.

"We're really excited," Hanna said. "We don't get the chance for kids to expand their horizons. This will be for enrichment."

Auger said her daughter, Emma, has Hanna for a teacher at Weston and signed on because she thought it would be a good opportunity for the mother and daughter. "I don't feel like I'm giving my summer up," Auger, who has taught 10 years, said.

Tallis has taught eight years and said she became enchanted with the camp idea because she frequently has lunch with Hanna.

"I have a daughter, Ashlee, who is in the second-grade at North Branch," Tallis said. "We all agreed she'd love to do something that interests her. She's really into art and I know she'll be happy. Plus, there will be academics. We get a lot of parents who want tutoring that can be as much as $25 per hour. This is tutoring at a reasonable cost with enrichment. We'll also have local artists share their time with us during the camp."

The camp is for students who have completed the first-, second-, and third-grades and will include daily learning themes. The teachers hope to get 40 students and if they do, they will be divided up into four classes of 10 children.

"I think the main reason for me is because there are not enough available programs for school-age children in our area," Little said about the camp. " I think that giving parents and students an opportunity to be a part of program that is educational yet fun is important during the summer months. We don't want to make it seem like school, since it is summer vacation, but we do want to provide quality instruction that will teach the students things that they wouldn't necessarily learn during the regular school year. Fun activities are planned and we are excited to share our knowledge and excitement with those that enroll in our program."

Sign up for the camp and tuition is by the week. The camp will be held 10 am. to 3 p.m. July 7-28. Tallis said students at the camp are likely to perform a play, sing, make instruments, create props, or do cooking.

For more information on the camp, visit the Web page, llcsummer.googlepages.com or call (810) 790-0965 or (810) 656-4030.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.