- December 26, 2024
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Ormond Beach Historical Society campers make molasses cookies at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Historical Society campers make molasses cookies at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A volunteer helps a camper during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Summer camp "Super Discoverer" Savannah has fun helping campers make molasses cookies. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Campers make dioramas of sugar mills during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Campers make dioramas of sugar mills during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Aiden makes a dioramas of a sugar mill with the help of camp volunteer Nancy Ruscitti during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Campers learn about sugar mills and plantation life during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A campers works on her diorama during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Lilly Lucent makes a diorama of a sugar mill during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Campers make dioramas of sugar mills during the inaugural OBHS summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Campers made molasses cookies in the kitchen of the Anderson-Price Memorial Building. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Camp leaders Jayne Fifer and Mary Smith, who is also the president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nova Neumann was at Fortunato Park with his mother when he first heard about the Ormond Beach Historical Society's first summer day camp.
The 11-year-old knew immediately he wanted to be a part of it.
"This summer camp has just been amazing so far," Nova said.
The historical society's "Discover and Explore Ormond Beach Summer Camp" started on Monday, June 10, and runs through Friday, June 14. A total of 19 children enrolled for the inaugural camp, which is aimed at educating the campers about Ormond Beach's history — the people, places and events that shaped the town.
It's an initiative that had long been a dream of Erlene Turner, who serves as the education chair for OBHS. When Jayne Fifer — who retired from her position as president and CEO of the Volusia Manufacturers Association in December 2023 — became part of the OBHS board, she was asked to find ways to enhance the organization's children's program.
Fifer suggested a summer camp, and when OBHS President Mary Smith heard about it, she was onboard right away.
"They came to me and I'm like, 'That's the best idea I've ever heard,'" Smith said.
Fifer has worked with boards for many years. She said she has never seen support for a volunteer initiative like this one.
"I have never, in my 40 professional years, have I ever worked with a volunteer team as committed and enthusiastic and engaged as the core group, the planning group, that put this together," Fifer said.
The summer camp has 30 volunteers in total, many of whom were teachers.
The mission has always been the education and preservation of Ormond Beach history and surrounding areas, Turner said.
"It has always been my mindset and my understanding that when we teach a skill at a young age, they remember it more and then it becomes a part of them," Turner said.
When children get excited about learning, she said, they share their knowledge with their parents and their peers.
"Then, they'll take this history out to the community," she added.
The summer camp taught students about the Timicua Indians on the first day, which included a field trip down the street from the Anderson-Price Memorial Building to see the Ormond Beach Indian Mound and making their own mounds out of clay. On the second day, campers learned about plantations, the Three Chimneys Sugar Mill, important early settlers and made molasses cookies.
For Nova, baking the cookies was the highlight of the camp so far.
"The most super cool thing about the cookies is – not just how they tasted — it's just because we put molasses inside of the cookies," Nova said.
