Last week, we asked a few students attending Camp Imagine at Grant Elementary to share their experience.
Camp Imagine – a series of mini day camps held at several school sites across Spokane – is entering its final week of three for students who will be in grades 1-5 next school year.
Gail, a rising third grader who attends Grant during the school year, says her school feels different in the summer.
“We don’t do all the work here that we do during the school year, but I like both,” she says. “I like the snacks and the fun activities that we do.”
Jameson is going into fifth grade at Madison Elementary next year. He’s a fan of the themed weeks Camp Imagine offers. The first week was Texas, followed by Alaska, and finishing up this week with Hawaii.
“I wanted it to be Canada,” he says.
Sitting nearby, camp lead Tanya Valdivia chimes in. “That’s not a state,” she laughs.
“Tomayto, tomahto,” Jameson replies.
Jameson has enjoyed the chance to socialize with students from across Spokane.
“At school we’re doing work and there’s less time to talk, but it’s the opposite here at camp,” he says. “If I wasn’t here I’d just be hanging out at my house and I think I’d kind of be bored because I don’t have anyone to talk to.”
Aaliyah, who is going into fifth grade at Wilson Elementary this fall, agrees.
“If I wasn’t at camp I’d probably just be sitting in my house, bored,” she says. “I like how we learn about lots of things, and I like all the teachers here.” Nodding toward Valdivia, she notes “She’s my favorite.”
Aaliyah is proud of her ability to make new friends. “Almost everywhere I go I make at least one friend,” she says. The secret? “Just be really nice. And probably the best way to do it is you going up to them.”
Camp Imagine 2025 by Spokane Schools
Nearby, Isla is sitting with her friend – a stuffed bunny. She’s going into first grade this fall at Ruben Trejo Dual Language Academy.
“The S is silent,” she says of her name, “Just like in Spanish, the h is silent.”
When asked what activity she’s liked best so far, she holds up her stuffed friend. “The craft we did today because it was a bunny one.”
She introduces her friend, saying: “This is Bunny. It’s simple because if you don’t look at the tail you think it’s a dog. Bunny in Spanish is conejito for a boy, conejita for a girl.”
Jacob, a rising first grader at Madison, is at a table next door. He says camp has been a lot of fun.
“Coloring is the best and I just get to play with everybody,” he says through a bite of lunch, which is served along with breakfast and a snack as part of the camp experience. “It’s fun to be in a different school. And going down the tube slide they have here is amazing.”
Learn more about Camp Imagine and plan ahead for next summer.