More than 100 students in grades five through eight and 27 sponsors attended Milo Adventist Academy’s first Arts and Technology Camp in Days Creek, Ore. The event opened with a barn party in Milo’s new equestrian center. Students and guests had the opportunity to try their hands at goat milking, bareback mounting and saddle racing, among other games and contests. They also enjoyed watching Milo’s equestrian drill team perform.
Randy Thornton, Milo Academy principal, started the Arts and Technology Camp because, although Milo’s Sports Camp has been increasing in popularity each year, he realized that not all middle schoolers enjoy sports. He wanted to create a camp that would benefit more students.
On Monday, the students attended five preselected classes, such as art, music, drama, computer programming, photography, science, robotics, culinary, agriculture, horsemanship and remote-controlled helium balloons.
Milo students volunteered to help staff members in many of the workshops. Asha Moturi, Milo senior, assisted Darla Milam with the culinary workshop, during which middle schoolers made pretzels from scratch. “I thought it was really fun because I never had an experience like that before I came to Milo," Moturi says. "I enjoyed helping them see what Milo is like.”
Steven Dahman, Milo senior, enjoyed helping with the remote-controlled helium balloon workshop because, as he explains, “Jeff Miller is one of my favorite teachers, and the tech building is the greatest place on campus.”
Student chaplains including David Echevarria, Milo junior, provided worship programming and assisted Chad Reisig, Milo Academy Church pastor, who taught the drama workshop. Echevarria liked “seeing how the kids creatively made the Bible stories come alive.”
Eighth-grade home-school student Stevan Crary says, "The teachers are brilliant, and the activities are fantastic.”
His brother Levi agrees, adding, "This was the best time ever at Milo … even better than sports camp.”
For information on future camps, email Kathy Hernandez, Milo Academy teacher and recruiter.
Students guide a helium-filled balloon through an obstacle course by remote control.
Milo senior Asha Moturi helps fifth-grade home-school student Kayla Melashenko create pretzels from scratch during the culinary workshop.
Agriculture director Jeff Birth teaches middle schoolers how to grow vegetables.
Robotics was a popular workshop at Milo’s first annual Arts and Technology Camp.
In one short session, John Carter, music director, had his workshop participants playing a complete song with their handbells.
Science teacher Al Andrieux guides middle schoolers in an experiment.
