By Tyler Dahlgren

After a 90-minute venture from Imperial to North Platte, a Chase County school bus pulled into the parking lot of Merrick’s Ranch House last Tuesday, unloading 14 giddy (and hungry) summer campers.

Inside the eatery, a local staple, the kids excitedly conversed, giggled and looked forward to the busy day in front of them. Justen Lusk, a Title 1C Education Program service provider, has had a hand in ESU 15’s Migrant Summer Camps for years. There’s a full day of learning and exploring the town ahead, but these little moments are significant in their own right.

“We just hope that they get new experiences that they might not otherwise have,” Lusk said. “Something as simple as coming and eating together as a large group, that’s memorable for a lot of the kids.”

ESU 15’s Title 1C Education Program, which is funded through the Nebraska Department of Education, offers supplemental education services for its nine public school districts throughout the year. The summer camps have become a cherished tradition and a tremendous opportunity.

“For a lot of them, it provides some confidence,” said Janet Shaeffer, who has taught in Imperial for 36 years. “For the kids learning English, it’s a safe place for them to speak English without being afraid anybody’s going to make fun of them. It gives us some really important one-on-one time. It’s always amazing, from the beginning of the year to when we do this summer camp, the difference that you see in the kids.”

The camps are always jam-packed with curricular-themed activities. This year’s theme, as a steady rain fell most of last Tuesday morning in North Platte, was, fittingly, weather. After lunch at Merrick’s, the kids rotated from station to station at the public library. Then, it was off to the National Weather Service offices, where they watched the launching of a weather balloon.

“The intent is always for it to be fun for the kids,” Lusk said of striking the perfect balance between learning and flat-out summertime fun. “We’re always looking for activities that are engaging and field trips that are interactive.”

The day ended at the NEBRASKALand Days Kids Fun Fest, but the week had more in store for the students from Chase County. Two days later, they boarded a bus bound for the shores of Lake McConaughy to learn about the Ogallala Aquifer.

“This camp is always a neat experience,” said Shaeffer. “Many of the kids haven’t been able to experience a lot of the things that we get to do, so it’s a chance for them to see new things and to do new things.”

Shaeffer said she appreciates the ESU 15 team and their efforts. They always put on a memorable camp for the kids, and it’s taken a lot off her shoulders. For years, she and another teacher organized summer programming in Imperial.

“Having ESU 15 to work with has really helped,” Shaeffer said. “They know about different things, can make all the arrangements, and they’re just so nice to work with.”

The schools play a big role in the summer camp’s success too, said Title 1C program recruiter Jean Isom. To qualify for the camp, a student must have a parent working in the agriculture field and they have to have moved at least once in the last three years. Isom relies on ESU 15’s member districts for referrals, and she also visits agribusinesses in the ESU 15 map area to do some old-fashioned recruiting as well.

“The community partnerships we’ve developed are a big part of our program too,” Isom said. “I think of HOPE-Esperanza, a local place here in North Platte. They hold events and we’ll have a booth. It’s a great way to form connections. And then even today, with the library and their willingness to host us. We have so many great partnerships.”

ESU 15’s Title 1C Education Program holds a yearly “Parents Night,” which is always highly-attended. That’s always encouraging for the team to see, and it validates the very reason their program exists.

“It shows the value they put on their kids’ education,” Lust said. “They show up, and they thank us for what we’re doing. They’ve seen the growth in their education and their academics. We just want to help give those families the resources they might not be able to find elsewhere. We want to support them that way.”

After such a busy day, you’d think Shaeffer’s 14 students would be tapped out. Think again, the veteran teacher said with a laugh.

“I kind of thought by the end of the day they’d be tired, but they’re still so excited,” Shaeffer explained. “They’re excited to be here. They’re happy. They want to learn and they appreciate having the people here to help them.”

Years down the road, hopefully they’ll look back on these summer field trips to North Platte and Lake Mac as core memories. That’s the goal, anyway. 

“And I think they will,” Shaeffer said. “Being in a small school, you keep in touch with the students and you talk about the things that we did. It’s really neat when you hear a high-schooler talking about the trips they went on in second-grade. It’s exciting.”