Camps, schools, community groups offer summer activities

Excerpt from Standard Speaker article published June 6, 2025

Written by: Kent Jackson

Camp Orchard Hill near Dallas in Franklin Twp. offers an inclusive day camp for Hazleton-area children that begins Monday and runs weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Aug. 15.

The day camp will meet most weeks on at the grounds of Ferrwood Music Camp, 257 Middle Road, Drums, in Butler Twp. where there is a new sensory room and where a dinosaur display, inflatable planetarium and petting zoo will be set up.

Executive Director Jim Payne expects campers will take field trips to HARP and to swim, visit a park, go bowling and get ice cream.

During the two weeks that Ferrwood opens for music and art camp, Orchard Hill day campers will meet at Drums Elementary/Middle School.

At Ferrwood, registration is open for the historic music camp that will convene on July 6 to 11 and July 13 to 18. Ferrwood also offers art camp on the same dates. Art and music campers share meals and other activities. Campers grades 4 to 12 can stay overnight or leave after programs each evening. Music campers perform a concert for the public at 6 p.m. on the Fridays of both weeks. Ferrwood also is starting a pilot program through Bright Beginnings Early Learning Academy for children in kindergarten through third grade, who will be at camp from 9 a.m. to noon each day.