MCLB-Albany hosting Teen C.A.R.R.O.L.L. University Summer Camp

MCLB-ALBANY — The school liaison officer at Marine Corps Community Services and base education officials at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany are hosting the first Teen C.A.R.R.O.L.L. University Summer Camp this week as a way to keep youngsters engaged during their summer break.

The camp kicked off with a welcome by Col. James C. Carroll III, MCLB-Albany commanding officer and the camp’s namesake, on Monday morning.

“His vision was also to have something like this so we ran with it,” said School Liaison Officer Latreesa Perryman.

The acronym C.A.R.R.O.L.L. stands for “Caring, Aspiring, Revolutionary, Radiant, Outstanding, Lively, Learning.” The camp was open to students ages 12-17 who are children of active-duty military, retired military or employees of the Department of Defense.

Twenty-seven participants took part in camp activities on Tuesday, most the children of active-duty service members.

The purpose of the weeklong summer camp is for youths and teens to have an opportunity to advance in lifelong learning skills that will enhance their self-confidence and promote personal initiatives and personal fitness.

The camp is meant to continue, in some form, the teen expo that had been hosted while the Youth and Teen Center was still operating on the base.

Some of the facilitated workshops so far have included topics such as financial management, entrepreneurship, work ethics, building of positive relationships and healthy lifestyles, with physical activities including bowling and swimming. Through Thursday, participants will be engaged in workshops regarding Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, and interact with active-duty Marines, view a movie and do more swimming, among other activities.

They have interacted with Boys & Girls Club of Albany officials as well as some officials at the installation. A toastmaster is coming in today to help with public speaking instruction, and tours of Albany State University and Darton State College on Thursday will be taken to help give them a look at college life.

Pre-teen and teenage groups left idle can have unpleasant consequences. Aside from life-skill learning and socialization opportunities, that is another motivator to give the youngsters something to do for a week at the camp.

“If they are not left idle, that prevents other things from happening,” Perryman said.

Natalie Tomblin, base education officer at MCLB-Albany, said the goal is to help the campers plan a roadmap for their lives and what to do after high school. Some initiatives include guidance on financial independence and developing connections with the right people.

On the first day, most of the participants were shy and hesitant to interact with each other. As one workshop builds on another, and campers overcome the obstacle of working outside the box, a significant difference is expected by Friday, Tomblin said.

“By Thursday afternoon, we will have met our goal,” she said. “We will have achieved that.”

Sierra Soliz, one of the Teen C.A.R.R.O.L.L. campers, said she has learned some lessons about communicating with others and being more social. Lessons on how to get a fresh start after high school have been a particular eye-opener for her.

“(I hope to) learn to be more social with other people I don’t know,” Sierra said on Tuesday.

In the future, Perryman said, the expectation might be for the camp to last longer than a week.

The camp concludes Friday with a trip to Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta. The camp is running from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. through Thursday, and from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Friday.