During the summer of 2020, Karla Neff, director of Pequea Valley elementary advocacy, held an outside learning and enrichment program for a limited number of students at the Braves Learning Center, which is located, along with The Factory Ministries, in the Together Community Center in Paradise.

This year, Neff was able to hold Braves Summer Camp in the learning center, an area comprised of staff offices and a brightly decorated classroom, which opened last spring. "Coming back off COVID restrictions and having the new center at the same time, this is a huge gift," said Neff.

Each week that the free camp was held, Neff and a volunteer helper, along with an invited expert in a particular field, worked with about 12 children, for a total of 80 over the weeks of camp. "Typically, (students are) here 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m.," said Neff, who held the camp for a total of eight weeks, taking off the week of July 4. "Each learner comes for two weeks." Neff explained that the parents choose the two weeks the student attends and that those weeks need not be consecutive.

Neff said that about half the time students are at camp, the focus is academic. Depending on the individual student's specific needs, the curriculum might be literacy or math based. The other half is enrichment oriented. "Then the fun (enrichment) part is connected to the theme," explained Neff, who noted that the first week of camp was gardening week and that Salisbury Elementary School teacher Anita Girvin served as plant expert. Another week, a Factory Ministries intern designed a literacy program that included reading and enrichment games. Paradise resident Christy Fieldsa visited for a week to lead students in trying different art mediums. "We did chalk (drawing) outside, and we painted with flowers," said Neff, who added that the Factory staff members led a survivor week for students. Other themes highlighted cultivating kindness, and kindergarten readiness, and special STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) weeks focused on kindergarten through second grade and third through sixth grades.

Neff customizes activities according to the age and academic level of the student. For instance, a community journal page done by a kindergartner may include a drawing while an older student would be asked to write several sentences. "We take the activity and engage it to the age," said Neff, who talks to parents about each child's strengths and weaknesses and reccomends that the student sign up to attend during the week that offers the best fit. She also reaches out to teachers to help develop a program for each child. "So if a child is specifically struggling in math, I can get math sheets from their grade," she said. "If we see a child needs help, I work with (the) students one-on-one separate from the camps."

More information about The Factory may be found at https://thefactoryministries.com or by searching for "The Factory Ministries" on Facebook.