RSU’s Department of Psychology and Sociology recently partnered with Rogers County Volunteers for Youth to host a summer arts camp for local youth involved in the PAL Plus Program, a site-based mentoring program that matches a Rogers County public school student with a caring adult mentor.
Held June 13-15 at First Methodist Church in Claremore, the Kelci Howell Memorial Summer Arts Camp was a fun and educational camp for students that incorporated music, art, singing and more to give participants the opportunity to learn new skills, explore other cultures and be creative.
According to Volunteers for Youth Training Facilitator Mendy Stone, the camp came about at the suggestion of two RSU professors, who were involved in one of the group’s leadership projects.
“After doing a project with our Tuesday night leadership class participants, I was approached by a pair of professors from RSU, who had the idea of a summer arts camp,” Stone said. “From the beginning, we were all enthusiastic about the idea, so we made plans and decided to hold the camp in honor of a very special girl named Kelci Howell.
“Kelci had been a longtime participant in the PAL Program and loved all things creative and artistic, so this was a natural opportunity for us to honor her memory,” she said.
“Volunteers for Youth is one of the many nonprofit organizations that RSU partners with,” said Christi Mackey, RSU assistant professor of psychology and sociology. “It was a pleasure to collaborate with an organization that positively impacts our young people like this.”
During the camp, participants learned about music from Rogers County Youth Services staff member Susie Quiroz, about Cherokee culture from Cherokee Nation Rogers County Health Educator Emily Mealin, and about Korean culture from RSU Assistant Professor Dr. Sara Moon-Seo.
“It was such a pleasure to be part of the camp,” Dr. Moon-Seo said. “I was excited to share Korean culture, including making the Korean flag, singing Arirang (a Korean folksong) and playing Gonggi (a Korean children’s game) with the students. I truly enjoyed every moment with the kids.”
Campers also were provided a t-shirt from the nonprofit named in honor of Howell, KH Heavenly Corporation, which emphasizes the importance of suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
Although this was the first year for the camp, Mackey said there are hopes to bring it back again next year.
Rogers County Volunteers for Youth’s PAL Plus Program is a site-based mentoring program that matches a Rogers County public school student with a caring adult mentor. The mentor strives to be the youth’s friend, role model, motivator and personal advocate. For more information, visit https://volunteersforyouth.com/
Rogers State University’s Department of Psychology and Sociology helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and offers degrees in social science, elementary education, environmental studies and community counseling, as well as micro-credentials and badges.
For more information about RSU’s Department of Psychology and Sociology, visit www.rsu.edu/ps.
