All kinds of options are open this summer for children looking for something to do during the summer months.

Multiple camps are being held during the day around town for those who want to stay active, spend time with their peers and maybe even learn a little along the way.

Camp Invention has already been held at a few local schools this summer and will continue through other schools before the summer is over. Open to the school’s rising first through sixth grade students, the free camp focuses on STEM based learning. Students work on projects where they create, reinvent and explore through science, technology, engineering and math.

A few students showed me the things they created throughout the week at Warrenton Elementary during their school’s Camp Invention week. I don’t particularly have math and science wired mind, and yet, what these children were doing looked fun and interesting. I don’t think any of the students minded doing school work in the summer. One teacher even said they didn’t realize they were learning.

Sometimes students forget learning is fun, but fortunately these students seemed to appreciate the time they had spent in the classroom last week. It doesn’t have to be boring or unexciting.

I’m glad Bowmar Avenue Elementary, Beechwood Elementary, Dana Road Elementary and Warren Central Intermediate will be offering this camp as well to keep the gears in students’ minds turning while still letting them have fun. Camp Invention is hosted by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and is funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center and the Army Educational Outreach Program.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center is hosting its annual Multicultural Arts Camp this week. The students study three countries each year through history, art, music, dance, food and culture. This year they will add to that list current events by looking at what important is happening in the country today. The students will have a presentation with music, costumes, dance and an art display at 11 a.m. Friday.

The SCHC will also have Cre.Activity Summer Camp For Kids Monday, June 20 through Friday June 24. This camp is more of a traditional-style camp with students doing crafty arts projects and lots of recreational activities and games for those who made not feel comfortable at an overnight camp. This is the first year SCHC has hosted Cre.Activity.

Both camps are from 8 a.m. to noon for ages 6 to 12 and cost $50. There are 60 total spaces available at each camp, and snacks are provided.

The Vicksburg National Military Park will have a free Junior Ranger Camp for 20 children ages 8 to 12 from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, June 20 through Friday, June 24 and again Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22.

Children will explore the park’s cultural resources and witness demonstrations by historians, musicians and artisans. This will be the camp’s sixth year.

It’s good to know Vicksburg takes care of students throughout the year.

Alana Norris is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. Email comments to alana.norris@vicksburgpost.com.