About 70 Beaufort County students from John Small Elementary, P.S. Jones Middle and Chocowinity Middle schools are keeping their minds sharp and ready to learn, even during the summer months.

Beaufort County Schools and Cornerstone Family Worship Center have partnered to create a four-week summer camp program from July 13 to Aug. 6, where economically and academically disadvantaged students can avoid the “summer slide” as part of the Cornerstone Community Learning Center.

During the four weeks, students spend six-hour days participating in a variety of activities involving art, math, LEGO robotics, physical education, cooking and character education. Cornerstone Family Worship Center houses the participants.

The summer camp is an offshoot of an afterschool tutoring program held during the school year, which is funded by the Afterschool Quality Improvement Grant and awarded by the state’s Department of Public Instruction based on academic performance, economic need and the absence of an afterschool program.

“The reason we wrote the grant is to help students with their academic needs,” said Alida Sawyer, who is involved with the grant. “The middle-school kids were the ones who were lacking in afterschool programs.”

In order to use grant money, Beaufort County Schools enlisted Cornerstone’s help because the school system was required to partner with a nonprofit organization of choice.

Sawyer said the idea for the camp is to help kids avoid falling back academically during the summer months and keep their minds active. She said the students attending the camp were selected from the afterschool program.

Sawyer said the campers rotate between five classes, and the schedule is meant to give the kids the right mixture of academics and fun activities.

This week the campers had a visit from Belhaven’s Spoon River Artworks and Market and learned how to make corn on the cob.

Sawyer said Spoon River owners Theresa and Mark Van Staalduinen brought a stalk of corn and showed the students how to shuck the ears by hand. After boiling the ears, herbs and butter were added for flavor. The Van Staalduinens also brought cantaloupes and watermelons.

“We’re bringing in a bunch of people to help us with the cooking and the nutrition aspect,” Sawyer said. “The kids have really enjoyed it.”

Next week the campers will tour East Carolina University and a have family snack night.

“I’ve had kids call me because their friends are there and they want to come,” Sawyer said. “I’m trying to bring in a more caring and loving attitude with the kids.”