Henry Daily Herald

Special Photo Area youths take part in Henry Arts Alliance's annual summer arts camps. The alliance's Exploring the Arts Summer Camp is entering its 17th year, while its newer Visual Arts Camp is entering its 4th year.

By Johnny Jackson

jjackson@henryherald.com

Opportunities abound in Henry County to keep young people active over the summer months. Many of them keep students moving, and enriched, at the same time.

The Henry County Police Department is offering teenagers an opportunity to participate in a one-day program of leadership-development at the Henry County Police Department Headquarters, in McDonough.

The Youth Leadership Program is available to qualified high school students, ages 14 through 18, who have demonstrated above-average academic standards (2.7 grade point average or higher, on a 4.0 scale) as well as good citizenship, according to Henry County Police Capt. James Burch.

Burch said the initiative is part of the Henry County Police Community Outreach Program and covers such topics as Internet Safety, Gangs, and Traffic Safety. Students also will learn more about the local police department. Specialized officers will provide students with up-close learning in canine and SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) demonstrations, firearms safety, and crime scene analysis.

The police captain said the program is not limited to young people interested in a future career in law enforcement, but interested candidates should possess a desire to gain knowledge of the criminal justice system, police organization and its functions, criminal law, as well as leadership skills and personal development.

The program will take place at the Henry County Police Headquarters training room on June 18. Fees associated with the program include $5 for lunch in the training room.

Qualified young people are encouraged to complete an application and essay, and return them to 108 S. Zack Hinton Parkway, McDonough, Ga. 30253, by June 3. The application can be obtained by visiting www.co.henry.ga.us/POLICE. No student will be allowed to leave once the program begins.

A new crop of 4-H Camp counselors will open the 2011 4-H Summer Camp at Camp Fortson, in Hampton. To learn more about camp dates and activities, call 1-800-ASKUGA, or visit www.fortson4h.org. Camp registration is handled through local County Extension offices.

In its 21st season in the Southern Crescent, the Atlanta Festival Ballet is offering summer programming for children. The ballet company is making available its Summer Intensive Series for serious dancers wanting exposure to a varied curriculum of classical ballet, modern dance, and jazz techniques.

Other summer classes include the company's Ballerina Princess Day Camp, for children ages 3 to 6. The company also offers a summer session open division, which includes pre-ballet for ages 3 to 6; combination ballet and tap or jazz classes for students 7 to 14; and ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop classes for ages 14, and up. To learn more about dates, times and prices, visit the ballet company's web site at www.atlantafestivalballet.com.

Young people can also take part in the Henry Arts Alliance's 17th Annual Exploring the Arts Summer Camp, or its Fourth Annual Visual Arts Camp. They will have the opportunity to attend sessions in art, drama, literature, dance and music.

"Our children have a wonderful time," said Lynna Schmidt, artistic director of the camp. "They get to try something that they may have never tried before ... drama, dance, music or art. And they love it."

Exploring the Arts Summer Camp allows students to experience music, dance, drama, literary arts and visual arts. Schmidt said the camp costs $90 for children in kindergarten through third-grade. For children in the fourth-grade through seventh-grade, the cost is $130.

Visual Arts Camp is available for youths in the fourth-grade, through seventh-grade, and costs $130. She said visual arts campers will work on a variety of activities: mask-making, painting, drawing and set-and-light design.

"Our goal is to have a great time, learn something new, or try something new in a safe environment," Schmidt said. "There is no wrong way to do anything at our camp ... just have fun. We want these young people to walk away from the week with an excitement about the performing/visual arts. They may never go into the arts, but they are our future audiences of tomorrow, our future art consumers, and we hope that love for all the arts starts here."

Registration and payments are due by Tuesday, June 7. Download a registration form and learn more about the camps at the web site, www.henryartsalliance.org. Or call Kathryn Wood, at (404) 421-7743, or Elaine Childs, at (770) 778-3363. Mail forms and payment to: Henry Arts Alliance, P. O. Box 880, McDonough, Ga. 30253.