King's Camp aims to strengthen families, develop successful kids

YOUNGSTOWN

The children giggle, sing, color, laugh, play, do their happy dances and rejoice in just being kids as the sound level during an activity indicates.

Fun is the joyful component, but there’s more going on.

About 40 children from 5 to 12 years old are engaged in math and language-arts classes as part of the King’s Kamp at the E.B. Family Life Center, 7 S. Garland Ave., which is sponsored by Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 1210 Himrod Ave. The center is the former church on the East Side.

For the first time as part of a summer camp, a youth police academy was offered. It was funded by a grant from the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence.

LaDonna Walker, member of Elizabeth Baptist and its church administrator, is volunteer program director. She worked at Youngstown After-school Alliance. Walker has a master’s degree in organizational leadership and administration.

She takes the family life center’s mission, “Strengthening the Community One Family at a Time,” seriously. “This is about the total child,” she said of academic and recreational activities.

“King’s Kamp focuses on integrating a new generation into society. We want them to be aware and be successful as they always do their best,” Walker said.

“We work first and play later,” Walker said of the philosophy she follows.

Read more about the program and an after-school program that starts in October in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.