By Mary Stewart | The Selma Times-Journal

Summer is a time to relax and have fun, but for campers at the Educational Talent Search Summer Camp, it will also be a time to learn.

The summer camp is back again this year to prepare students to return to the classroom in the fall.

Students will spend Monday-Friday from 8-12 p.m. in classes at Wallace Community College.

Corey Bowie, the talent search recruiter, realizes the importance of continuing a student’s education through the summer months.

“Often times during the summer months, a lot of students have the tendency to want to relax and have a good time, and there is nothing wrong with that,” he said. “This camp is here to try to reinforce some educational goals that they need to set to prepare them for when they go back in the fall.”

Students who participate in the summer camp will take classes in math, science and college/career readiness.

Bowie said the college/career sections will prepare students for the next step in their education.

“Basically, what we are trying to do is prepare our students upon graduation, or when they get ready to graduate, so that they would have some idea as far as what the career side of it is,” Bowie said.

The summer camp has been at Wallace Community College Selma for more than 12 years, and Bowie has been working with the camp for seven years.

He said he has seen a growth in the number of students who attend the camp each summer.

“Each year, the number seems to have increased,” Bowie said. “It speaks volumes of the quality of service that we are providing to the students.”

The instructors of the camp include current and retired educators from the Dallas County school systems.

Students will not only benefit educationally this summer, but they will also be taking field trips in order to make them more culturally aware.

“Part of academics is enriching the educational side, but also exposing students to the cultural awareness in and outside of Alabama,” Bowie said. “The most exciting thing is seeing the students enroll in the camp and enjoy having a good time while learning while also being exposed to the cultural awareness.”

The camp will begin on Monday, June 5 and will run until Friday, June 30. Sixty participants from grades six-11 will be selected for the camp.

If the student is a part of the program during the academic year, then they will fill out a short form. Students who have not been involved in the program before will need to bring a copy of their current grades to apply to the camp.

Students interested in applying can call 876-9290 for more information or to pick up an application.