Academy Launches New Summer Camp Program

Story by Lauren Esveld

This summer, Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) launched its first-ever summer camp program, providing a fun, educational and Christ-centered experience for both SAA students and children from the surrounding community. Designed to keep young minds engaged during the summer months, the program offered a variety of themed camps that encouraged learning, creativity and friendship.

June welcomed elementary students ages 6–9 for an exciting Outdoor Discovery Camp adventure led by Lynette Louie-Nelson, counselor and teacher from Joshua Adventist Multigrade School (Texas). Campers explored STEM through hands-on activities, creative challenges and interactive learning experiences. Students also participated in a variety of engaging projects, including nature scavenger hunts, simple engineering challenges, outdoor science experiments, team-building games and creative art projects inspired by the natural world. These activities fostered curiosity, problem-solving skills and teamwork in a fun and supportive environment.

In July, the summer camp program continued with a variety of sports camps for both elementaryand middle-school-aged students. Participants had the opportunity to develop their skills in soccer, volleyball, acrobatics and basketball, while building confidence, teamwork and sportsmanship. These camps were led by Meagan Stanley and Adrianna Pacheo, SAA’s current athletic coaches, and Ryan Reinhardt (’25), giving students the opportunity to learn directly from experienced mentors and coaches who lead the school’s athletic programs throughout the year.

The enthusiasm and excitement displayed by campers throughout the summer highlighted the success of this new initiative. Through these programs, SAA is committed to providing meaningful summer experiences that support students’ growth academically, physically, socially and spiritually.

The inaugural summer camp program also provided valuable insights into the interests and needs of both school families and the broader community. Through participant feedback and strong enrollment across a variety of programs, SAA has gained a deeper understanding of the types of experiences families are seeking during the summer months. These lessons will help guide future planning as the academy continues to refine and expand its offerings. Staff are grateful for the enthusiastic support of the campers and families and look forward to building on this year’s success as they prepare for an even stronger and more enriching summer camp program in 2027.