Spanish Camp Offered Again This Summer

April 26, 2025

ELKINS--The Kump Education Center will again host an exciting, week-long summer Spanish language camp, providing fun and educational opportunities for area youth. The Costa Rican Adventure-themed Spanish Camp is designed for children ages 4-12 and will immerse participants in Costa Rican culture.

​Spanish Camp is scheduled for July 14-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, and is under the direction of Leah Devine. This is the third year she has led this popular summer camp at the KEC.

Devine currently teaches Spanish at Elkins High School. Her 19 years of Spanish teaching experience include middle and high school, as well as Spanish summer camps, ranging from lower elementary at The Arts Center to week-long Spanish Immersion camps for high schoolers. She also directed a Spanish camp for elementary and middle school-age youth in coordination with Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative (MLLC) in Tucker County.

“Campers will learn about the geography, flora, and fauna of Costa Rica and compare these to our WV mountains, plants, and wildlife,” said Devine. The wetlands at Kump Education Center offer camp participants an excellent opportunity to explore native West Virginia plants and trees for comparison.

​“Camp participants will prepare and sample foods and beverages eaten in Costa Rica,” said Devine. This allows campers to learn about the types of food their peers in Costa Rica might eat for lunch or a snack. “Through art, music, cooking, and games, camp participants will acquire Spanish vocabulary and communication skills,” said Devine. Repetition of vocabulary will help the students increase their comprehension of the Spanish language.

​“I am looking forward to creating a fun and engaging experience with a second language. I am excited to welcome new and returning campers. No prior knowledge of Spanish is needed, just an excitement for learning through cooking, art, and play,” said Devine.

​Spanish Camp will take place at the Gov. Kump House in Elkins. Enrollment is limited to sixteen, so registration before May 23 is suggested. Tuition for the week-long camp is $300, which includes lunch and snacks.

For more information about tuition fees and to access registration materials, visit www.kumpeducationcenter.org or email kumpec@gmail.com.

Elbows Up! Canada Conversation

The Kump Education Center will be hosting a presentation on Canada and comedy at the historic Kump House Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. The interactive lecture titled "Elbows Up, Eh?!? A Conversation on Canada," will focus on comedy and culture, as well as some key historical moments linking Canada and the U.S. (think: Dan Ackroyd, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Mike Myers, the War of 1812, etc.).  

Randolph County-born West Virginian and Fulbright Scholar Deborah Stiles will give the talk on Canadian culture and history. Stiles, a poet and farmer now iving in Tucker County, spent most of her career in Canada, and became a Canadian citizen in 2004. She is excited to share her experience and will provide Canadian snacks. Come prepared to laugh and learn!

The Kump Education Center is located at 401 Randolph Ave., Elkins (across from Kroger). Parking is located behind the Kump House with easy access off Seneca Road. The event is free and open to the public.  

Final Tree Talk Deals With Tree Stress

ELKINS-The Tree Talks Lecture Series sponsored by the Elkins Tree Board and Kump Education Center, Elkins, continues Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. This series gathers experts to explore the vital role of trees in West Virginia’s changing environment.

This final lecture will feature Ken Beezley, Instructor of Sustainable Resource Management, Davis and Elkins College, discussing “Stress, Strain, and Trees.” His presentation will highlight external stresses placed on trees and how that strain can increase the likelihood of tree failure and the potential damage to people and property.

“From the single tree in your backyard, to street trees in an urban setting and trees found in a campground, a basic understanding of tree risk assessment can assist tree owners and managers,” Beezley said.

This informal and interactive presentation will cover topics related to how trees manage stress from climate change, pruning, and land development while considering acceptable levels of human risk and mitigation.

All lectures in the series are free and open to the public and take place in the historic Kump House located at 401 Randolph Ave., Elkins (across from Kroger). Parking is available in the back accessible by Seneca Road.

For more information about the event, visit kumpeducationcenter.org. For information about the Elkins Tree Board, visit cityofelkinswv.com/city-government/boards-commissions/tree-board/.