The smiles from children participating in the City of North Charleston’s summer camp helped brighten what started out as a rainy day at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.
This week, more than 800 kids will climb aboard the USS YORKTOWN, USS LAFFEY and USS CLAMAGORE to learn about science and history. The summer camp adventure is part of a special relationship between the city and the Patriots Point Education Department.
“The children are really excited,” said long-time camp counselor SanTonia Singleton. “This is the ‘Big Trip’. Everybody looks forward to coming here.”
Singleton has been a counselor with the North Charleston summer camp for 23 years. She said if it wasn’t for the trip, most of the children would never get the opportunity to visit the historic warships floating just a few miles away from where they live and go to school.
The cost of the summer camp’s trip to Patriots Point is covered through a $6,500 grant provided by the Exchange Club of Charleston. The money covers the full cost for more than 800 kids. The campers will visit the museum every day this week in groups of about 100 children.
“Some of our kids are from lower income families,” Singleton said. “This helps the children get out and see what they are learning in school. We want them to learn about this history and see the sea culture in Charleston.”
The 10-week North Charleston summer camp started in June and will end August 15th.
Story by Chris Hauff, Patriots Points Public Information Officer.