Come read & hear stories with Wilson, a specially trained and certified ADI (Assistance Dogs International) dog.

Start the school year off right with new skills for studying, time management, and organization. Students will participate in hands-on activities and real-life simulations to help them understand how to implement tools that will help them succeed with a demanding schedule (personal, academic and extracurricular). Students will explore tools that fit their personality and personal needs.

The Saluki Opportunities Awareness Residency (SOAR) program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale is an innovative career development program designed specifically for minority students who are entering their junior and senior years in high school. Its primary objective is to increase the number of high school students from under-represented ethnic groups to attend college and major in accounting.

Start the school year off right with new skills for studying, time management, and organization. Students will participate in hands-on activities and real-life simulations to help them understand how to implement tools that will help them succeed with a demanding schedule (personal, academic and extracurricular). Students will explore tools that fit their personality and personal needs.

Are you interested in working with kids and wondering what it takes to get started? Join us for two weeks of exploring what it means to be an instructor with Community Ed. Week one takes place at Crestview Middle School and focuses on leadership skills, teambuilding, and understanding common traits of elementary-age students. In week two, participants will be assigned to different elementary schools and work under the guidance of our lead instructors to gain hands-on experience with our participants. Instructor: Community Ed Staff

Kids of all ages can visit the library on the second Thursday of every month to practice reading with a touch therapy dog! Our furry friend lends a nonjudgmental ear so kids can improve their focus, word recognition, and reading comprehension in an accepting, calming environment. All Ages.

Come read & hear stories with Wilson, a specially trained and certified ADI (Assistance Dogs International) dog.

July 8 – Hensley Park July 15 – Turner Park July 22 – Stroup Park July 29 – Oakhaven Park Join us in the beautiful Rock Hill parks for active, engaging storytimes!

Set your child up for a strong, confident start to the school year with our Executive Functioning Intensive Summer Series—a targeted, small-group program designed to build the skills students need to thrive both academically and personally. This series focuses on strengthening organization, time management, task initiation, planning, working memory, and self-advocacy—skills that are critical for school success but often underdeveloped in growing learners. Students will meet in a supportive, structured small-group setting twice per week for three weeks, participating in interactive lessons, guided practice, and real-life application strategies they can immediately use at home and school.

The Counselor in Training (CIT) Program is an intense look into what it takes to become a counselor at our summer camp. During this three-week program, CITs will work alongside our camp counselors to lead activities that they have prepared while still receiving more hands-on training. This is a highly rigorous program and all interested teens must meet with the Recreation Specialist for an interview and have at least two letters of recommendation, one must be from a teacher, prior to registration. All CITs must attend a CIT Training the first week in June. If you have an interested teen, please contact Emma Brown at ebrown@desperesmo.org to schedule an interview.

Ages 2 and up

Students get a jump start on college applications as they will work with Chaminade's College Counselors to complete the Common Application for College Admission, including getting a good start on the essay portion of the application.

You are the “live studio audience” – test your dino knowledge!

Come learn basic concepts in heat transfer, chemistry, physics and how those are used to generate cold air. (Ages 13-18)

Train Your Brain has curriculum and staff to support your camper. Run by a licensed occupational therapist and doctoral-level graduate student, child's individual learning needs can easily be supported, and activities are designed to stimulate many areas of the brain. At the end of the week, children will take home a planning kit and workbook that they can use at home. Parents will also receive their own version of the Train Your Brain workbook with all the strategies that were covered during the week as well as additional strategies you can use at any time. We look forward to working with your child this summer!