Summer Spectrum Program Brings Campus to Life

Ever wonder what it's like on the Tandem campus over the summer? The first word that comes to mind is quiet. However, for four weeks every summer, Tandem's campus comes back to life with the joyful sounds of children learning and creating. Our Spectrum Summer Program, which has been a celebrated community summer day camp option for over 40 years, welcomed 161 young students to campus during two two-week sessions in June and July. Jocelyn Camarata, Tandem's Dean of Student Life for the Upper School, also serves as our Spectrum Summer Program director, assisted by Tandem tutor Sophie Gore. Jocelyn shares, "I love that we have a wide variety of age levels on campus, from rising 1st to rising 9th graders, being creative and having a great time." To make that magic happen, Spectrum brings in talented and creative area teachers, including some of Tandem's own faculty/staff. This summer's program featured 13 teachers, including: counselor Chloe Wilson teaching an Art & Nature class; tutor Heidi Passino offering Goat Farming; music teacher Mark Goldstein with a Screenwriting class; tutor Sophie Gore teaching Fiber Arts, and with Jocelyn, a Fairy Houses class for the youngest campers; and Chef Lisa Stevens and her daughter teaching Baking. This year's course offerings were widely varying, offering students lots of creative options for engaging, hands-on summertime fun and learning. Spectrum helps children tap into their creativity on so many levels! Tandem students also help make Spectrum happen - Tandem alum Jenk L (TFS '24) and current seniors Sin F and Jack M served as three of the four camp counselors, bringing their 'kindness and wisdom' to the youngest of our learners. The four weeks of Spectrum seem to come and go in a flash but the memories made by our young campers last a lifetime and keep people coming back. In fact, Tina Goode, Tandem's new librarian and a Tandem past parent, recently shared that she attended Spectrum Summer Programs here as a youngster! Congratulations and thanks to Jocelyn and her talented Spectrum team on another great year of summer offerings and memories.