Summer at Barstow is a summer camp program run by Mr. Dan McNickle and Mr. Max Williams that allows students from any school to learn and have fun over the break.
The first semester has come to a close, which means we are halfway to summer break. For anyone wanting to learn new skills, touch up old ones, or just have fun over the summer, The Barstow School holds a program over the summer that offers camps for students, Barstow or any other school, of all ages. Summer at Barstow is a great opportunity for anyone, even adults, to try something new over the summer.
Mr. Max Williams, Director of Summer Programs, has been working as a teacher’s assistant since 2014, assistant director in 2016, and became the director of the program in 2021. Mr. Williams recalled some of the recreational aspects of the program, “My favorite camp is the paintball camp, and that’s because I never really went paintballing as a kid, so I got to go for the first time when I was a TA here, and it was just a lot of fun.”
Mr. Williams explains the benefits of participating in the program, “I think one thing that benefits the students the most is that it just gives them the opportunity to explore a lot of different interests.” He remarks, “As a young kid, you might not know all the different things that are out there in the world that you could be interested in, but because the summer camp offerings are so broad, it gives the kids the chance to try everything we have to offer and figure out what it is they like and don’t like. So, I think in that way it’s not only enriching, but it also gives you a chance to explore yourself and what you like.”
The Summer at Barstow program has a capable staff that will ensure that all campers are safe and happy. “I think the number one quality that I look for [in a TA or camp instructor] is just a positive energy and a general consistency of wanting to be a positive force every day,” says Mr. Max Williams. “If they’re excited and a very positive person, I think that’s the first characteristic you need to be successful with kids, because ultimately kids feed off your energy. So if you’re a positive source of encouragement and want to promote a good time, the kids are going to mirror that.”
With its 4-1 camper-instructor ratio, each student can learn at their own pace alongside the amazing staff. Experienced highschoolers, teachers, and other trusted adults are hired each summer to teach camps so the students can make the most of each week. Along with hired staff, highschool students can volunteer as TA’s and earn volunteer hours for school and a great experience with children of various ages.
Summer at Barstow offers camps for any upcoming preschool students to upcoming seniors. Camps like Kindi Camp or Mini Kindi offer a day of daycare-like experiences for very young children, where your child can make friends, learn, and have fun at our campus. On the other hand, there are college counseling camps for upcoming high schoolers focused on helping students make a good choice for their higher education. A few years ago, this program even started offering adult camps such as the adult kickball league, or camps for parents and their children to experience as a family. This program is all run by Mr. Dan McNickle, Executive Director of Summer Programs, Extended Care and Community Relations, and Mr. Max Williams.
A.M. extended care is offered at $7 per day or $30 per week, and P.M. extended care is offered at $14 per day or $60 per week. Extended care is offered from 7:15 A.M. – 9:00 A.M., or 3:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Students must be at least three years old by June 1 and toilet trained to apply. You can sign up for a camp, as well as learn more about the service at the Summer at Barstow page of the official Barstow website, or their official Facebook account.
