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West Point summer camp "Retreat into Reading" drew strong participation, presenters say
Summary
Division presenters told the school board that a reading-focused summer camp enrolled 97 students and sustained an 86% attendance rate over two weeks, combining reading instruction with field trips (Virginia Living Museum, VIMS) and hands-on enrichment; teachers and board members praised engagement and discussed budget and scaling for next year.
Presenters for West Point Public Schools told the school board the district’s summer camp — billed as a "retreat into reading" — drew high participation and positive feedback from students and staff.
A district presenter said 97 students signed up and attended at least one day and reported an 86% attendance rate across both weeks, roughly 83 students per day on average; when adjusted for students who were away some days the presenter said that attendance rose to about 95% for enrolled days. “We tried to provide enrichment activities, field trips and reading instruction while closing reading gaps,” the presenter said.
Teachers and staff described program elements that paired age-appropriate lessons with hands-on experiences. Activities included a visit from the Virginia Living Museum, a South Carolina sea-turtle rescue Zoom, solar-oven s'mores tied to the book theme, and journals students used to record learning takeaways. A teacher who helped run the camp said the week’s structure and rotating lessons kept students engaged: “The children truly ... seemed to enjoy being there,” the teacher said.
Board members lauded the program and asked about scaling and budget implications for next year; one trustee suggested exploring budget priorities if the district wanted to expand or make parts of the program invitation-only. Presenters acknowledged staffing and transportation logistics and said they would take the board’s feedback into account for future planning.
Next steps: staff will carry the lessons and feedback into planning for the next summer program and discuss budget needs during the board’s upcoming work sessions.
