Lyman Ward Summer School Program Combines Academics, Structure, Fun

CAMP HILL, AL -- Just mention the words "summer school," and most of us conjure up dreadful images of boring, seemingly endless days of remedial instruction in a hot, stale classroom while everybody else is out having "fun."

Such is certainly not the case at Lyman Ward Military Academy in Camp Hill, AL, according to School Counselor MAJ Jeff Damron, who directs the summer program.  Lyman Ward's 2009 Summer School session is scheduled for June 14 through July 10 at its bucolic Camp Hill campus.

Summer School 2009 will include young men who board on campus, as well as male and female day students in grades 6 - 12.

"This isn't your parents' summer school," Damron says with a smile.  "Lyman Ward's summer session affords an unusual opportunity for students to earn academic credit in a structured environment that is both rigorous and relaxed.  It isn't oppressive and it isn't boring."

Several of LWMA's currently enrolled cadets started as Summer School students to "learn the ropes" and become acclimated to life in a single-sex military boarding school.  They say they profited greatly from the small classes, personal attention, and exciting activities program.

"Our Summer School students tell us they learn a lot and have fun doing it," Damron said.  "They experience education in a military boarding school setting that is increasingly rare in our society.  We attend to their character development and spiritual needs while making sure they're having lots of clean, wholesome fun."

The Academy offers core academic and elective subjects so that a student can make up a credit she or he needs to graduate from high school, or explore a new area of interest for personal enrichment.

"Our Summer School faculty members are relatively young, vigorous, and energetic," Damron says.  "They take a personal interest in each student, and do whatever it takes to help students master the subject matter."

After school, all students participate in a variety of supervised sports activities, ranging from indoor swimming and basketball to flag football, weight training, and the ever-popular Summer School favorite, flickerball.  Fishing in the Academy's two lakes is a favorite of summer school students, as is playing golf on our three-hole golf course. Twice a week they learn cadences and  march the Ranger Trail, the same as LWMA cadets do during the regular school year.

Weekend outings include field trips to area educational, historical, and recreational sites, including the United States Army Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA; the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA; the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus; a tour of Auburn University; a Montgomery Biscuits AA minor league baseball game; and the popular (and crowded) Surfside Water Park in Auburn, AL.

"What makes our program unique is our commitment to providing a total living/learning experience in a four-week summer session," Damron says.  "Each year we host students from across the United States who experience summer school in a way they never expected.  We invite you to join us this summer for another productive session."

For more information about Lyman Ward Military Academy's Summer School program, please feel free to contact MAJ Jeff Damron at (256) 896-2907.

Click here to download the application for LWMA's 2009 Summer School

	Summer school cadets on weekend outing trip to watch local double AA baseball game.
	Summer school cadets playing flag football.
	Summer school cadets navigating school's Ranger Trail Obstacle Course.
	Summer school cadets waiting to go inside mess hall.