Ancient Greece makes for a Camp Good Sam program

Camp Good Sam and summer go together well. Keeping school aged children learning and fed during the summer months, that is what the non-profit Good Sam does. In families where both parents work in order to survive, sometimes the children are left to fend for themselves during the hot months.

The Good Sam program, this year being held at Scudder Elementary with a Greek Mythology theme. The theme is from the fantasy children’s books featuring Percy (Perseus) Jackson, a demigod, son of a mortal and Poseidon and his adventures featuring characters from Greek Mythology.

One program of the non-profit Good Samaritan, is geared towards those who are not “well off” is Camp Good Sam. The camp tries to break the cycle of at-risk youth in Wimberley, that is provide learning during the summer, a time where low-income children can lose two to three months in reading and math skills, setting them behind other, more well off families.

“As Site Coordinator for Good Sam, as well as teacher and do-all, I’m at the school to help as many kids that have a need,” Mary Gajnos of Good Sam said. Keeping track of all that is going on with so m any different activities.

According to the Good Sam Wimberley website,” Activities are designed to support educational achievement, encourage healthy decisions, explore college and career pathways, develop leaders, and engage families.”

The children are engaged and are excited to learn more about the ancient Greeks, especially with the counselors decorating the rooms with the theme, Ionic columns drawn on paper graced the common areas along with paper lightning bolts.

Anna Fletcher is one of the counselors and leader of team Poseidon, made up of 4th and 5th graders. “The kids will be presenting their song, they made the lyrics… then cookies!” The children are provided breakfast, lunch and a snack.

The program has been in existence since 2014, and this year runs from June 3 through July 11, Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some children have attended multiple times and are having a lot of fun.

“So far, I’ve attended the past three years. There’s so much fun and so many activities…(the theme) is all about gods, myths and Percy Jackson,” nine-year old Carla Jimenez said. “I would like to be a counselor or director in three or four years,”

Fellow Poseidon teammate ten year old Hunter Allen agreed.” I like the Percy Jackson book, the architecture and the Greek Myths. We get free time and the teachers are very nice.”

Helping under-privileged kids learn and to keep pace with classmates, especially during the hot summer months is a chore in itself. But presenting a Greek myths themed program to children is mind-boggling and a welcomed an oasis in a sea of cell phones, where the kids’ creativity is on display.

For more information about the Camp Good Sam Wimberley program, please contact Mary Gajnos at 920-321-8109 / [email protected]; or Marby Shaw at 210-900-6775 / [email protected].