The ACS campus was buzzing with activity all summer long as children from preschool to the sixth grade attended our popular, award-winning Cougar Camp and Early Education summer program. Faculty member Eric Tardif, in his second year as Cougar Camp Director, put together an exciting schedule of weekly-themed activities for nearly 90 campers who attended two or more days a week. “It was a summer filled with laughter, joy, and making memories,” said Tardif on the final day of camp on August 27. Early Education Director and Elementary Principal Gail Alford oversaw the Early Ed summer camp program for nearly 100 preschool and kindergarten-aged children.

In Cougar Camp, the children enjoyed field trips to Young’s Skating Center, Birch Grove and Estell Manor Parks, the Cape May Zoo, the Funny Farm Rescue, bowling at DiDonato Family Fun Center, and more. The campers also looked forward each week to water days on Wednesdays and Fridays, especially enjoying the Big Kahuna water slide and “foam fun days.”

Thursdays were STEM days and the challenging projects included constructing a tower using popsicle sticks, making a flashlight, and designing an aluminum foil boat that could hold marbles and float in a basin of water. The students also enjoyed learning more about alpacas, who visited the campus in June, and experienced the wonders of magic performed by Mr. Magico. The campers cooled off on several hot summer days with treats provided by Kona Water Ice.

The campers also held their own Camp Olympics, coinciding with the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and even made their own Olympic medals out of oreos and fruit leather. The school garden was a favorite place of activity each week, where campers watered, weeded, and harvested tomatoes, beets, carrots, and much more, with some of the produce donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch.

Each day in Cougar Camp began with the worship and devotions. The older campers led the group in several worship songs and devotions were presented by one of the camp counselors.

“One of the most memorable parts of camp for me was seeing the hearts of a number of children transform to desire to know God and to learn about what He wants for their lives,” Tardif said. “The seeds of the gospel were sown and we started seeing fruit from that.”

Congratulations to our camp directors and camp counselors for a memorable and life-changing summer.