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HOLA Lakeway will host a STEAM Camp for students Kindergarten through fifth grade from July 17 through July 20.

The camp will focus on science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics to help students gear up for the upcoming school year.

“This is the second year we have decided to host the camp and we are excited to bring it back,” said Betsy Bonilla Jimenez-Hurst, HOLA Lakeway executive director.

“It’s important that we offer this to students to help them get prepared for the upcoming school year.”

With the new third grade retention law, it’s especially important that students are prepared for the upcoming school year, Hurst said.

“A lot of students spend the summer relaxing and enjoying the break, but it’s so important that they do not fall behind especially with the new reading law,” Hurst said. “So we are offering this camp to get their brains working and help them get prepared for the next school year.”

Many local teachers with Hamblen County Schools and other education agencies will volunteer their time to help educate students.

“We will have staff from Walters State Community College to come and help students,” Hurst said. “We will also have Donna Kanipe who serves as our robotics coach and also is a grades 4th-5th Instructional Coach for Hamblen County Schools will be helping with the camp.

“Heather Rouse, an art teacher at Morristown-Hamblen High School East, will be teaching the art portion of the camp, so the community has really come together to help with the camp.”

The camp will be hosted at HOLA Lakeway’s Sankofa Center and will be held weeklong from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“We wanted to make the camp accessible for everyone,” Hurst said. “Many camps that are held in the summer usually take place during the day and we wanted to make sure those who have parents that work during the day could still participate in the camp and that’s why we’re having it during this time.”

Hurst wants to emphasize that the camp is open to all students who are interested.

“This camp is for everyone,” she said. “If a student falls into the age ranges they are welcome to sign up.

“We want to help as many students as we can because educating the youth and making sure they are on grade level is very important.”

The nonprofit organization is currently looking for sponsors or donations to help feed students during the camp.

“Since we are having the camp during the evening to make it more accessible, we also plan to feed the students so we are currently looking for donations to do so.”

The camp is free for all students and HOLA Lakeway is currently accepting registration for students.

“Registration is open, if a parent or guardian is interested in enrolling their student they can give us a call or visit us anytime during our business hours.”

For more information for the camp, to sign up a student or to make a donation, call 423-621-9065 or email info@holalakeway.org.