Some 150 kids, from ages 6 to 11, took part in the annual Camp ROCK held last week at the Cutrer Mansion and the Coahoma County Higher Education Center in Clarksdale.
This was the sixth year of Camp ROCK, which stands for Recreation and Outdoors for Coahoma Kids.
Lesley Johnson, the camp coordinator, said the focus of the camp is to promote health and wellness and nutrition.
“It’s just a great community event,” Johnson said, noting the support the camp receives each year from sponsors. “The Cutrer is known for its weddings and events largely geared toward adults so it’s great to see the kids out on the lawn, playing games.”
There were nine camp instructors with a good number of those returning instructors.
The camp was originally supported by a large grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi, but once that ended, organizers were able to secure a mini-grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, said Jen Waller, the camp director.
Campers are charged a $25 registration fee and sponsors pitch in to help meet the approximate $10,000 needed each year to run the camp. Donations were received from First National Bank, Yazoo Pass and Delta Muffler, as well as a large number of private citizens, Waller said.
Each child receives a T-shirt, back pack, rally towel and water bottle. And they also received a daily snack.
John Ruskey, the Quapaw Canoe Company and the Lower Mississippi River Foundation offered a canoeing trip to campers this year as well. Other activities included an obstacle course, archery, flag football, soccer, hockey, golf, yoga, tai chi and volleyball.
“The camp is one week and we always have to turn kids away due to space issues,” Waller said. “They love it.”
