Clapping breaks out. But just short of the top, Dearth suddenly lets go, gently floating back to earth on the end of her climbing harness and rope. It's not just another summer camp. For six weeks in June and July, elementary school children from Athens County's five school districts come to OU's bucolic campus for everything from intensive reading and math tutoring to lessons in swimming, rock climbing, and photography. And for a healthy breakfast and lunch.
Fifth graders sharpen their computer skills in one of the university's labs.
The university had originally hired Teske, a high-energy Ph.D., to create a retirement center there. Teske learned that summer for the county's less affluent children was anything but the rich, nurturing vacation it was supposed to be. The little girl was in charge of her three younger siblings, and no one went grocery shopping very much. Putting Together a Partnership Teske decided she needed to offer those children two meals a day during the summer. And to do it, she needed a program.