Rebel Quest: Summer Fun for Grades 2-7

April 1, 2009

Oxford, Miss. –– Summer should be more than watching television and punching the snooze button. The UM Division of Outreach and Continuing Education will offer Rebel Quest 2009 throughout June and July. The program consists of nine different week–long athletic and enrichment camps which are open to 2nd through 7th grade (7–13 year–old) students.

Now in its second year, Rebel Quest offers a flexible enrollment option that allows participants to enroll in each week’s theme–driven activities separately. Enrollment is limited to 40 per session and is open to the Ole Miss, Lafayette, and Oxford community.

This year’s program includes themes such as “Rookie of the Year” (sports–oriented activities), “A Bug’s Life” (nature discovery in the Oxford/Lafayette County area), “Dragonball Z” (Japanese language and games) and “Night at the Museum” (arts and crafts).

Jason Wilkins, director of pre–college programs, said Rebel Quest will not only allow children to interact with their friends, but also gives their parents a meaningful and affordable option for their children this the summer.

“Keeping children active in the summer and interested in learning are the goals of Rebel Quest,” Wilkins said. “Moreover, we provide a safe and supervised environment for the participants to achieve these goals and enjoy themselves.”

Most sessions will be held at the Turner Center, and campers will be lead by teachers as well as Heath, Exercise Science and Recreation Management majors at Ole Miss. Participants swim at the Turner Center pool and eat lunch at the Johnson Commons cafeteria daily.

Mitchell Diggs, associate director of Media and Public Relations at UM, plans to enroll his fifth grader Carter in Rebel Quest for the second time.

“I liked that there is a lot of individual attention paid to each child,” he said. “Rebel Quest offers lots of interesting and educational activities in an environment where you do not have to worry about your child.”

Diggs said there are not many summer options in Oxford for school–aged children and thinks the program has been beneficial for his son.

UM Law Librarian Julie Davis also said her son Ian benefited from the program last year.

“It was everything I had hoped it would be,” she said. “He was exposed to so many different things and liked how hands–on the activities were. I think he probably enjoyed swimming every day the best.”

Rebel Quest will begin each day, Monday through Friday, at 8 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. Lunch is included in the $125 weekly fees.

For more information, contact Jason Wilkins at 662-915-6614 or jewilkins@olemiss.edu, or visit the Web site at http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/youth/rebelquest/. A registration form and list of frequently asked questions are available online.