Spring break at Southern Cultural Heritage Center’s (SCHC) Southern Exposure Camp program is more than just art class, as students are exposed to gardening, history, performing arts, nature and more.

This year’s class included 30 students ages four to 12, two teachers, one assistant and several teenage volunteers. Karen and Herman Biedenharn lead the class, taking turns teaching the children different subjects. Karen focuses on art, gardening, history and music, while Herman focuses on science, games and additional history lessons.

“About every hour, we’re in a different location,” Karen said. “No matter what we do or where we go, that was one of the pluses we have over daycare. There’s a lot of research that shows the more square footage kids have at a younger age  the more intelligent they are, because they have to map it. We start in the auditorium with history, then we do show and tell, then we go to the garden and they garden. Then we come in (the art room) for an hour, and then they have snack and then we go to the
exercise room.

“It’s art, gardening, physical activities in the gym, camp games, public speaking — we focus a lot on utilizing the auditorium for
them to practice performing. We tell jokes, do karaoke and mike work. We project, we slow down and we articulate. They don’t have to (be on stage). They can be in the audience or they can try. Each time we go into an area, this is the activity — I’ll say, ‘Look at the activity; try the activity. If you don’t want to do that, it’s fine.’”

Karen said much of the camp’s activities are based around the principles that guided the Sisters of Mercy, the Civil War-era group to whom the SCHC can trace its roots.

“The main mission is to get outside and to do the gardening, to do some art and physical activity, and public speaking. Those are our four main things we like to do,” she said. “It all goes back to the Sisters of Mercy, when they first started. If you look at their mission statement when they opened, it’s all the same, with liberal arts, dance and movement and art, that serves as inspiration. We teach being kind to each other and taking turns.”

During the art session, the children made paper crowns. As the Biedenharns asked them what they wanted their crowns to be, the resounding theme seemed to be dragons. Several children chose wizards and others chose pets, butterflies, princesses and sea creatures. Crayons, stickers, scissors and glue were put to use as each child designed a unique crown, displaying them upon completion. After snacks were served, the children participated in a question-and-answer session about Civil War history. This was followed by singing in the auditorium, complete with a microphone and spotlights.

SCHC Executive Director Stacey M. Mahoney said it’s important the camp covers a wide array of topics and projects.

“The kids learn about Southern music, art, gardening, manners and other camp activities,” Mahoney said. “We’ve got them going inside, outside; we keep them moving. They do so many different activities. There’s lots to experience.”

Although the Spring Break camp has ended, applications for the Summer Camp, which runs for nine weeks beginning in June, will open soon. Anyone interested in enrolling their child in summer camp should contact the SCHC at 601-631-2997.