Summer 2008

All DES Summer Programs take place at the DES Campus at 404 Alexander Ave., Durham, NC. DES is located on Alexander Avenue next to Ronald McDonald House near Duke Campus. You may call DES (286-7795) to arrange a visit to the campus. Extended Day is an additional charge of $60 per week from 3:00pm - 5:30pm. To register, mail in a completed registration form (DES registration form). If the camper is not a CFS student, you will need to complete a medical form which you can download here (CFSSP medical form) or we will mail one to you. Please include this with your registration form when registering. We will mail confirmation letters within 10 days explaining policies and activities and including forms you must sign. Print out a brochure for DES Summer Program (DES Summer brochure). Campers play outdoors in a shaded playground and indoors in air-conditioned buildings. Campers should pack a lunch and snack. Durham Early School is a 4 Star Licensed Child Care Center: ID # 3255217. The Summer Camp at DES meets the same stringent state requirements as during the regular academic year. The camps at DES have a focus each week and also allow periods for children to be more open-ended in their play and work. There will be a time to rest after lunch and engage in quiet activities to balance out the more active periods of the day. Yoga, creative movement, stories, and music are incorporated into all three weeks. Creating a sense of community each week is another experience the children will engage in as they learn how to negotiate conflicts, incorporate children into play experiences, and get to know each other’s and one’s own boundaries and limits. The environment is one of joyful learning, creating, playing and it is carefully geared to the developmental stage of young children. Staff: Cesanne Berry, M.A. Elementary Ed., is the Head Teacher of DES and has taught at CFS for 19 years. She was also the Creative Arts In Public Schools (CAPS) director (program of the Durham Arts Council and the Durham Public Schools)for five years. Much of Cesanne’s inspiration comes from immersion in the Reggio Emilia approach(exemplary municipal preschools in Italy).

Weekly Themes

Session 1     July 21-25 Visual Arts: Exploration of Self and Animals 4 spaces In this visual arts camp, children will explore self-portraits in a variety of medium (e.g. pencils, pastels, markers, and clay). They will also experiment with drawing and modeling animals that particularly interest them. There will be two trips to the Nasher Art Museum to view art related to our explorations and to engage in an art activity there. Books, stories, and song related to the children’s art interests will weave in out of the experiential activities.   Session 2     July 28-August 1 Creative Drama FULL Children will co-create with Cesanne a short, informal play that they will perform on the last day of class for their parents and friends! Activities will include acting games, creative movement, costume and set designs, singing, and stories. The camp will be a low key and fun introduction to the creative world of drama and performing.   Session 3     August 4-8 Nature Explorers FULL Duke Gardens is a wonderful, wild world of bugs, birds, flowers, plants, and ponds! Focused explorations each morning will help children learn about and observe the natural world. We’ll use magnifying glasses, binoculars, and other tools to help sharpen our observations. After our walks, the Duke Gardens children’s classroom will provide a delightful space to read books about our daily topics and engage in related science and creative art projects.

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