Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by Lisa Staff

Summer is almost here, and if you’re a parent, you already know what that means. The “I’m bored” chorus is just around the corner.

Even with Beaufort County School District’s move to a year-round calendar, there is still plenty of time for kids to run out of things to do. Fortunately, there is an easy fix for those summertime blues.

All across the Lowcountry, a wide range of summer camps is ready to keep kids engaged, inspired and happily worn out. Whether your child loves nature, golf, the arts or a little of everything, there is a camp designed to spark their curiosity and keep them active.

We spoke with three local leaders who are running some of the season’s most exciting programs. From muddy marsh adventures to golf, with life lessons and hands-on creativity in art and theater, these camps offer more than just a way to pass the time. They are helping shape young minds and build lasting memories, one camper at a time.

Jessica Kochman

This naturalist and camp leader brings science to life, one muddy adventure at a time.

Long before she set foot on the grounds of the Port Royal Sound Foundation, where she now leads the Pluff Mudder Summer Camp, Jessica Kochman was already a seasoned camp leader.

“I had worked at a summer camp for years as an education coordinator, doing similar stuff there,” she said. “We were a traditional summer camp in the summer months. Camp is all-consuming, and you work a lot, so I was looking to find something new.”

That “something new” presented itself when she discovered the Foundation and learned about its mission. Its focus on environmental education mirrored much of what Kochman had been teaching at camp. And, as luck would have it, they needed someone who could not only guide students through field trips but also lead their Pluff Mudder camp.

“Pluff Mudder started before I got here, but it was a little different. I was able to bring a lot of my camp background to it,” she said. “One thing I was able to add was shark dissection for the older kids. That’s a lot of fun. Stinky, but fun.”

In addition to hands-on experiences like that, Pluff Mudder campers get a deep dive into the ecology of the Lowcountry. Activities include fishing off the dock, kayaking in local waters and learning about the “animal of the day,” which can include live encounters with native species like snakes.

“Sometimes it’s their first time holding a snake, and just seeing their facial expression is really cool,” Kochman said. “We’ve had a few kids catch their first fish off our dock, and that’s amazing, and a few kayakers who have never been out on the water before.”

The Pluff Mudder camp essentially expands on what students experience during field trips to the Port Royal Sound Foundation, blending real-world interaction with the Lowcountry’s flora and fauna with educational lessons in wildlife biology and environmental science. But through camp, Kochman has the opportunity to take it further, giving kids a deeper and more lasting experience with the natural world around them.

“For me it’s different than field trips because we only have those kids for a few hours, and then they leave,” she said. “With summer camp you really get to know the campers and their personalities, especially when they come back summer after summer. That’s a lot of fun, building those relationships with the campers and their families.”

Tales from the mud

As the naturalist and education coordinator at the Port Royal Sound Foundation, Jessica Kochman’s job is to share her love of the outdoors with kids across the Lowcountry. Through the Pluff Mudder camps during the summer and field trips year-round, she gets to incorporate lessons from her years working in traditional summer camps and, sometimes, a bit of personality management.

 “We hire interns to help us during the summer, and I always tell them, ‘It’s controlled chaos, but within the chaos, it’s just a ball.’ Even though it’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of fun.”

And sometimes, she gets to witness a child’s life trajectory shift in real time.

“It happens a lot; when someone gets a chance to hold an animal, they’ll decide that this is what they want to do.”

At press time, the Junior Pluff Mudder camp was full, but spots remained for rising 5th-7th graders in the Pluff Mudder sessions running July 14-18. Visit portroyalsoundfoundation.org for more information.

Aaron Immel

This youth leader blends life lessons and long drives to help kids grow on and off the course.

The programs that First Tee — The Lowcountry has introduced to our region since its founding in 2014 likely need no introduction, especially if you have children. Over the past 11 years, including eight at its state-of-the-art facility on Gumtree Road, the organization has become deeply embedded in the community. Beginning with outreach in local schools, volunteers have crisscrossed the Lowcountry, lifting up the next generation through the game of golf.

Because what they offer goes far beyond the course. Yes, they teach kids the fundamentals of the game, many of whom would otherwise never be exposed to it. But more importantly, they help students grow far beyond a better swing. Their nine core values—honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment — are the foundation of a curriculum designed to build strong character, alongside a solid approach shot.

“We start off on the golf course, showing kids how to be respectful on the course, then we branch that out into their daily lives,” said program director Aaron Immel. “Things like how to show respect to their classmates, how to be responsible for something outside themselves, like a pet. We seamlessly integrate golf skills and life skills to create something really special.”

Immel has long been an advocate for the unique approach First Tee takes to youth development. He began his journey with First Tee of Central Carolina and has now been part of the organization for six years.

“I’ve always been a huge lover of golf, so it starts with that,” he said. “And I’ve always enjoyed being around kids. I was the baby in my family, so it’s something I really value since I never had a little brother or sister.”

A little over three years ago, Immel made his way to Hilton Head Island to serve with First Tee — The Lowcountry, where he now facilitates several of their programs, including their highly popular summer camps. These camps, one for ages 7–11 and another for ages 12 and up, offer a fun, expanded version of the life-changing instruction First Tee is known for.

“The classes are a little more intensive and golf-focused. The camp is a bit more laid back,” he said. “It is very difficult to transform a swing in just four days, but we start kids off with the basics and make sure they have lots of fun doing it.” 

That fun takes many forms, from putting, driving and chipping to water balloon fights and the occasional game of golf baseball. Through it all runs a common thread: helping children improve both their golf game and their character.

“I like to call it a three-part camp. We golf, we practice life skills, and we have fun,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff we don’t normally get to do in the classroom, and the kids love it.”

Tee time meets playtime

Because First Tee — The Lowcountry’s camps combine the mentorship and skill-building of their regular programming with a few extra weeks of fun and flexibility, Aaron Immel is able to add some light-hearted touches.

Sometimes that means a water balloon fight. Other times, it means taking the kids off the course for a fast-paced hybrid game of golf baseball.

“If anyone has ever played kickball, they can pick up the rules pretty quickly. You have one team in the field and one team hitting,” he said. “It’s just that the hitting aspect is a little different.”

Instead of a bat, players use an oversized plastic golf club. From their home-plate tee, hitters drive a tennis ball into the outfield and round the bases, combining the fun of golf with the energy of a playground game.

“For a program built on making golf fun, it’s a match made in heaven,” Immel said. “I haven’t had a single kid come to camp who didn’t love that game.”

Camps are held on Hilton Head Island June 9-14 and in Bluffton July 21-31. Costs range from $120 to $160 per week, and scholarships are available. Visit firstteelowcountry.org for more information.

Alana Adams

This art teacher blends science and self-expression to spark young minds.

Alana Adams is, at heart, an art teacher. And like any art teacher, she is so much more than that.

“My brain is very two-sided. I have the creative side, but I’m also very organized when it comes to budgets and planning,” she said. “Being a teaching artist means I’m not stuck at a desk all day. I’m making an impact, but I’m also getting my hands dirty with the kids — seeing them create and watching the satisfaction that brings them.”

As the senior director of education outreach for the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, she oversees all of the organization’s educational programs while continuing to serve as a teaching artist, allowing her to exercise both sides of her brain. And when she’s in a classroom setting — like she will be during the Arts Center’s upcoming summer camps — she gets to witness the joy of a child’s creativity run wild while delivering a little left-brain education at the same time.

“During Kids N Clay, we’re not just making ashtrays or mugs. I’m teaching them about the firing process and the science behind the chemical makeup of clay — how when it’s dry, the physical water is gone, but the chemical water is still there. Then, when you heat it to 2,000 degrees, the H’s and O’s break apart,” she explained. “Everything I do is arts-integrated in some way, especially with kids with disabilities.”

Those particular kids hold a special place in her heart. Through the Arts Center she works in schools across Beaufort County, helping special-needs children discover their own creativity. It’s a left-brain/right-brain approach — teaching art while adapting to their capabilities. One nonverbal student, who lacked fine motor skills, was finally able to paint, thanks to Adams, and the moment deeply moved her.

“She was able to make some marks on the paper, and you could tell she was focused and trying so hard. When I came back to check on her, she had written on her tablet, ‘I am an artist and I’m proud of myself,’” Adams recalled. “It showed how art can truly make a difference in her life.”

Adams is thrilled to be teaching the Art Around the World Camp in an inclusive setting. She will be joined this summer by a passionate group of teachers who share her love for the arts. Fellow art teacher Treva Kent will lead Creative Explorers and Mixed-Up Masterpieces, while an all-star lineup of working actors will guide the theater camps.

“We’re super excited for the theater camps this year because we have an all-new staff,” she said. That includes actress Brooke Procida teaching the Create a Play camp, Broadway veterans Meredith Inglesby and Steve Blanchard leading the Technical Acting Skills Intensive and Beth Herring directing Take the Stage! — joined by a cast member from the Arts Center’s upcoming summer show.

“It’s the first time we’ve had actual working actors who are still active in the industry teaching at these camps,” Adams said. “It gives the kids exposure to professionals and shows them that being an actor or artist isn’t just something we do for fun — it’s a real career path.”

Behind the curtain

One of the unique aspects of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s Create a Play camp is that it lets students explore every element of putting on a production — from writing the script to designing sets and costumes. And this year they’ll do it all under the guidance of professional actress Brooke Procida. With stage and screen credits, as well as two original off-Broadway musicals (Reddi High and Sally Six String), Procida brings real-world experience to the role.

“The students come in with their ideas, and there’s no preconceived notion of what the play will be about. They work together as a team to create a play by Friday, then perform it in the black box theater for their parents,” said senior director of education outreach Alana Adams. “I’m always a little nervous on Monday about whether they’ll pull it off. But they always do. The kids are so creative — they’ve never put on a bad show in all my years here.”