Daniels County Library’s Camp Helps Learners Start School with Confidence
For many children, the transition to kindergarten brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. To help ease those first-day jitters, the Daniels County Library hosts its annual Kindergarten Camp, a free program designed to prepare incoming students for a successful start to the school year.
This year’s camp was held July 27–31, giving incoming kindergarten students a week of hands-on learning, social interaction and classroom preparation before the start of the school year. Held each summer for the past eight to 10 years, the camp introduces children to classroom routines while helping them build confidence in a fun, welcoming environment. This year, 13 children participated in either the morning session from 10 a.m. to noon or the afternoon session from 2 to 4 p.m. With 14 students enrolled in kindergarten at Scobey School this fall, the camp once again reached nearly the entire incoming class.
“Our main goal is to prepare the students for a successful year teaching skills in sharing and cooperating with others, in addition to skills and concepts for learning,” said Stephanie McGowan, who oversees the library’s children’s programs.
Throughout the week, students practiced many of the skills they’ll use every day in the classroom. Activities focused on writing their names, recognizing the alphabet and numbers one through 20, using scissors, managing coats and zippers, standing in line, and following classroom routines. McGowan said many children arrive feeling nervous about starting kindergarten, although one concern stood out above the rest.
“Most were concerned about recess time,” she said.
While academic readiness has improved thanks in part to preschool programs, McGowan noted many campers already knew how to write their names and had a solid understanding of letters and numbers. Instead, some of the greatest challenges involved classroom behavior. “I found that students struggled most with sitting still and lining up,” McGowan said.
One of the week’s favorite activities combined creativity with valuable fine motor practice. Students worked together to create colorful paper chains while learning to use scissors and glue.
“Use a dot, not a lot,” McGowan reminded students as they applied glue to each paper strip.
To make the project even more exciting, the morning and afternoon groups competed to see who could build the longest paper chain.
“The students were very proud of their paper chains, which now hang in the library for them to enjoy,” McGowan said.
The camp is offered at no cost to families thanks to support from the Friends of the Library, which provides materials and school supplies. At the conclusion of the program, every child receives a backpack filled with school supplies to help them begin the school year prepared.
The final day of camp includes a visit to Scobey School, where students tour the kindergarten classroom and become familiar with their new surroundings before the first day of school.
In addition to Kindergarten Camp, McGowan coordinates the Daniels County Library’s regular story time programs, featuring stories, songs, and crafts. Story time is offered Mondays at 3 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., providing young children and their families with opportunities to build early literacy skills throughout the year.
By combining hands-on learning, social development, and a familiar introduction to school routines, the Daniels County Library’s Kindergarten Camp continues to give Scobey’s youngest students a confident first step toward academic success.
