“Around the World in 40 Books” has been an extraordinary way to spend the summer at the South Baldwin Literacy Council’s Summer Reading Camp. The children in grades kindergarten through 5th, with a few 6th graders in the mix, have experienced a hands-on reading camp where countries, cultures, animals, foods, tutoring and crafts all came to life.

The children visited all seven continents, traveled to 15 different countries and read a total of 40 books, all in eight weeks. Each camp day began with a specific country being introduced by a person that is originally from that country or has spent extensive time there.

During our welcoming station each morning, our speaker would introduce pictures along with fun, fascinating facts and teach everyone a proper greeting. Thus, 15 different ways of saying good morning, goodbye, how are you, etc.

Rotations throughout the day included country specific crafts, tutoring (with worksheets to be completed), snacks, story time and a cultural experience. To make each camp day experience come to life the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo spent time over the course of the summer introducing all of the campers and volunteers to animals from our specific area of study. We are beyond grateful for their partnership with the South Baldwin Literacy Council, otherwise we might not ever have the chance to get up close and personal, to learn super neat things, see and touch. Simply an extraordinary experience!

To enhance each camp day the campers would incorporate their five senses where they would spend time recording some of the things in which they had heard, smelt, tasted, felt and seen. Each student had their very own passport, where this information was recorded, and once completed they would receive their very own country flag stamp for their passport signifying that they indeed visited the country of the day.

Camp was closed out with a wonderful family cookout held at the South Baldwin Literacy Council where many joined in on the last day of camp fun. We are so grateful for all of our volunteers that worked throughout the summer to make this program possible as well as all of our local businesses that helped us bring places never heard of or that seemed out of reach to life. A huge thank you goes out to The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo for sharing so many of their incredible ambassador animals with us and for zoo passes for our campers to go and visit all of the amazing animals at the zoo. What an over-the-top way to spend summer!

If you would like to volunteer or gather more information for the South Baldwin Literacy Council, there are many different opportunities and areas to do so. You may reach out at 251-943-7323, southbaldwinliteracycouncil.com, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram at SBLC_Alabama.