This year, summer campers at Harker Preschool enjoyed three specialty programs: art, music and movement, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Each student had the opportunity to visit the specialty classrooms and join in on fun activities there.

“We were thrilled to highlight our specialty programs during the summer sessions!” reported Kelly Espinosa, director of summer and preschool programs.

In addition to the specialty classes, preschool summer program happenings included a “wheels day,” where the youngsters brought in their own bikes and scooters to ride, and a fun “red, white and blue” party to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Harker Preschool began offering a summer camp program in summer 2014, filling its beautiful 8-acre Union Avenue campus with children after the regular school year ended. Campers enjoy the school’s large sunny cottages, spacious play yards and specialty classrooms.

The preschool’s summer camp is held in two sessions, each designed to engage and excite young children through familiar summer themes. This year the program was staffed by year-round Harker teachers, assistant teachers and aides. Students were grouped by age, with families choosing one or both sessions to match their schedules.

Session one ran for four weeks from June 22-July 17; session two began on July 20 and ended three weeks later on Aug. 7. Full and half-day options were available, with extended care offered in the early morning and late afternoon.

Last year, when it launched its summer program, the preschool joined the larger Harker community’s long-running tradition of making summer offerings open to the public. Harker Preschool’s inaugural summer program featured interactive beach and wilderness motifs.