Photos| SCSU 1890
BENNETTSVILLE—It’s never too early to plan for summer camp. South Carolina State University 1890 Research and Extension has two camps planned for Marlboro County.
Kinda McInnis, 4-H Youth Development Agent, 1890 Extension, will host a 4-H Teen Civic Engagement Camp and the 1890 Explorer’s Camp, both will be held at the Marlboro School Community Center, located at 612 King St. in Bennettsville.
“This summer we will be offering the 1890 Explorer’s Camp for ages 8-13, June 3-7. And the times will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here the kids will learn about drones, learn about different STEM activities, we will be doing some agricultural activities and nutrition and health activities as well,” McInnis said.
Participants in the Explorers Camp will also take two field trips, she said. One trip will take the kids to the Research and Demonstration Farm in Olar.
The 200-acre property is the university’s first research farm in 50 years. Researchers at the farm will focus on topics including vegetable production, hemp, agroforestry, atmospheric water generation, and drone analytics, according to the university.
“Once there they will have the opportunity to learn about soil and how soil helps crops to grow. Then our second visit we will go to Horry-Georgetown Technical College to see the different trades that are at the technical college. I think it’s important for a kid to know about a technical college versus a four-year college. Because some kids don’t want to experience a four-year and just want to do a trade,” McInnis said. “And like some of my kiddos tell me, I’m going to go to a trade school and make more money than you. I get really tickled about that because they know there is a difference and they can choose one or the other, as long as they are successful with what they do choose.”
McInnis The Explorers Camp is designed to teach students that agriculture is the leading industry in the world and without it, there’s no food or clothing.
“What I’m trying to do is introduce these kids to it so they can see there are mounds of careers in agriculture. I know a young man who works at the Tyson plant and his job is to go around a inspect the chickens before they go out to the local grocery stores and he has a six-figure salary,” she said. “Who wouldn’t want a six-figure salary?”
McInnis said that’s one of the reasons why she focuses on showing students different types of agricultural careers.
The participants will also build a drone and fly it during the camp. McInnis said the camp allows her to show the students how to bridge technology and agriculture.
The second camp is the 4-H Teen Civic Engagement Camp, which is free and open to rising eighth-12th graders. The camp runs June 3-7 from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
“The main thing I want to do is teach them about the importance of voting, them going out and getting their parents and their family members who are registered to vote to go out and vote. And show them how to register to vote.”
McInnis said teaching the participants the importance of civic engagement shows them that they have a voice and how to use it.
“The kids that I’m serving, that is our future. Some of them will be sitting in elected seats and they need to know the process,” she said.
Kids in the civic engagement camp will also have a chance to visit the statehouse in the fall for a first-hand look at government in action.
If you want to sign your youth up for either camp, contact Kinda McInnis at (843) 456-5174 or email kmcinnis@scsu.edu