A program spearheaded by the Southern Cultural Heritage Center is giving underprivileged children in the community a unique — and cost-free — activity this summer.

Spectrum, a five-week summer course available for children ages 10-16, has a concentration on the arts — writing, music, art, drama and photography. About 60 students are participating in the fun classes, which use teachers, assistant teachers and volunteers to instruct the children. It’s community involvement at its best.

It also should be seen as a boon to the children. In summertime, after nine months of school, there is a tendency to use “summer vacation” to hone video game skills. Although games are popular, exposure to a wide-array of the arts will have longer-lasting effects.

The first two weeks of the program concentrated on photography, then writing.

During the first week, students learned the basics of photography and put together a portfolio of their work. Vicksburg’s historical place in United States history makes it full of photo opportunities.

In the second, students were encouraged simply to think, then write, with some focus on technique. Mainly, though, the children were exposed — maybe for the first time in their lives — to the idea that writing can be an outlet and fun.

Whoa! Already, the children are stacking up a bevy of exceptional work, and three weeks remain for more proof the talent pot is ready for the stirring. It’s also only three weeks until the public may go to the SCHC in the former St. Francis Xavier complex to view the children’s work.

The program is funded through a $10,000 National Endowment of the Arts grant, which had to be matched by the SCHC. Most of the match comes from volunteers giving time and supplies. Through those volunteers, the community is better because of those efforts.

Vicksburg children have a unique opportunity this summer.

We should be proud, embracing the fact that these kinds of opportunities don’t come along every day.