Camp Einstein Beats Summer Brain Drain

The Boys and Girls Club of America hosted its annual science camp, Camp Einstein, for kids who were interested in going away to camp for four days to have fun, meet new friends, and learn about science and technology in a safe environment. Boys and girls each had their own week of camp; there were a total of 16 boys and 12 girls who participated in Camp Einstein. These 28 kids were welcomed to the Burrage Mansion in Redlands and slept in teepees around bonfires with sleeping bags for a true camp experience. Jo Bohlman, camp director, commented on Camp Einstein. “Camping as a child was my favorite childhood experience. What we add to the camp experience really make a difference to the kids who are here. It’s fun watching the excitement from the students as they do the activities we set up for them,” Bohlman said. One of the activities that the campers did was an interactive activity that required the kids to follow instructions and use problem-solving skills to build an alligator from building blocks. The blocks were connected to mechanical pieces that were fed information from a computer that made the alligators open and close their mouths and make noises based on what the students input into the computer program. However, it wasn’t all following directions and solving problems with this activity. One of the campers, a 9-year-old girl named Trinity, made up a three-part story to go along with the block alligator named “Snappy,” the block man “Joseph,” and a hand-drawn fish that they had created, assisted by her 8-year-old partner Teresa, who operated the mechanics of the alligator during the trilogy. Camp organizers focused the camp on preventing summer “brain drain” and keeping kids sharp during the months off from school. Camp Einstein gives them an opportunity to prevent brain drain while they are interacting with each other during the activities. Following the building block activity was a solar-powered boat race that required the campers to put together their own boat before putting it down in the water. For many children, Camp Einstein is the first time they are able to experience camp. The Boys and Girls Club works hard to make sure that their prices allow low-income families in the Inland Empire to enjoy their programs. Campers will also be traveling to other locations during the camp, including Big Bear Mountain. The Boys and Girls Club also offer their regular day camp for members at their main office in Redlands, where kids can go and participate in similar activities and experiences without having to stay overnight. Daysi Mata, who is counseling the campers for the first time, said, “I love this camp, it is so much fun. So many of them started out shy but are now slowly breaking out of their shell and participating.” Although Camp Einstein has ended for this year, The Boys and Girls Club has plenty of activities and programs to join year round and are always welcoming new members into their club.