For seven weeks every summer, Lynnfield Community Schools hosts Summer of Fun Activities (SOFA) camps at Lynnfield High School for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, and this is the final week of this summer’s SOFA camps.
Morgan Festa, coordinator of Lynnfield Community Schools, has been in her current role for almost two years now, but her first taste of the SOFA camps was in 2011 when she began as a counselor. She said she spent almost 15 years as a counselor at the SOFA camps and spent some time teaching before her current job had an opening.
There have been roughly 250-350 campers this summer, according to Festa, but that number fluctuates on a weekly basis since kids do not have to sign up for all seven weeks.
Festa said a highlight of the SOFA camps is that “kids get to choose what they’re interested and engaged in, and if they like something, they can continue to do it week after week, or if they want to change it up depending on their interests, they can change.” For example, a kid might choose to be in the All-Star Sports camp one week, but they could always switch to another camp, like Kids’ Test Kitchen camp, later in the summer.
“I also think a highlight is the fact that we have almost every age group here,” Festa said. “We start from age 2.9, and we have kids all the way up to high school counselors and middle school counselors in training, so it’s really like the whole community is involved, which is great.”
Festa added, “We have a lot of Lynnfield Public Schools teachers who work, too, so kids … can meet some of the teachers they may have, which is great for transitioning back to school. I feel like every summer we have a lot of fun, so it’s been great.”
Monica Barbati, a freelance makeup artist in her second week of teaching this summer’s Makeup Fun 101 SOFA camp, said there is a theme for each day the kids are in her care.
Monday’s theme was basic, natural makeup. Tuesday’s is color pop and glitter. On Wednesday, the kids will do a look inspired by music, movies and more. Thursday’s makeup will be based on the campers’ moods, and Friday’s makeup is a chance for them to pick their favorite look of the week and choose a partner to practice it on.
Barbati eagerly said she will be leading a makeup class at next year’s SOFA camps, too.
“It’s just so fun,” Barbati said. “The guidance counselor in me came out in July (during a different week of camp) because it was such an uplifting and motivating group of girls, and I was like, ‘This is what girlhood is all about. I hope you always uplift each other — no matter anybody’s different vision or what they like for makeup. Just always stay positive and encourage one another,’ and this is another great group, so it’s really fun.”
Cameron Munion, a rising senior at Lynnfield High who has volunteered as a SOFA camp counselor since her freshman year of high school, said she keeps volunteering because “it’s something fun to do over the summer.” She said she liked that the kids “look at us as their role models.”
Madison Yang, a rising third grader, chose to participate in four different SOFA camps over the course of this summer. For the seventh and final week, Madison is in the Pirates of the Caribbean camp which features a treasure hunt and many arts and crafts opportunities that center ships, eye patches and swords.
She said the Pirates camp reminded her of her cousins Parker, Charlie and Jack Green, who have a tree house with a steering wheel so they can play pirates at home.
“I really like being here every summer,” Madison said. She added that she has been having lots of fun this summer thanks to the SOFA camps.
Anne Billings is reflected in Emily Larochelle’s makeup mirror as the two of them design natural makeup looks for themselves during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Anne Billings comes up with her natural makeup look during the Summer of Fun Activities camp in Lynnfield on Monday.
Emily Larochelle works on her natural makeup look during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Councilor Lindsay Squadrito helps Melina Mitchell put on eye shadow in the makeup group of the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Charlotte Hartsog, left, and Yanyan Sun cook up Solstice Pasta, which features summer squash, peas, cherry tomatoes, and lemon juice during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Charlotte Hartsog stirs up the base for Solstice pasta that she is learning to make during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
From left, Charlotte Hartsog, Avery Rueckel, and Anna Cooper cook up Solstice Pasta, which features summer squash, peas, cherry tomatoes, and lemon juice during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Teams of four try to be the first to score as they play World Cup in the soccer group during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Christian Barden shoots and scores for team Brazil in the soccer group during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Parker Beal shoots and scores for team Brazil in the soccer group during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Parker Beal celebrates his goal.
Christian Collins wears a pirate hat and eye patch as he enjoys the Pirates of the Caribbean group during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
The Pirates of the Caribbean group was a very popular choice for kids during the Summer of Fun Activities camp at Lynnfield High School.
Pirates of the Caribbean group members, from left, Leo Collins, Massimo Wheeler, and Cooper Hansen dig through a treasure chest.
