When I suggested to my JCL officers 25 years ago that a mythology camp might be fun , the students quietly rolled their eyes and told me that it would never work . Back then , they were probably right . I am pleased to say that is no longer the case today .
Thanks to Rick Riordan and his “ Lightning Thief ” series , my current students think a mythology camp sounds like a wonderful idea . In fact , Latin students at BASIS San Antonio look forward to the annual Camp Half-Blood , which turns out is not only fun , but also JCL ’ s biggest fundraiser of the year .
Mythology camp has become a beloved event that helps older JCLers review and strengthen their knowledge of classical mythology in the best way possible — by teaching it to others .
The younger students who come as campers get a chance to test their knowledge and learn even more about classical mythology . Camp t-shirts , snacks , and registration for the National Mythology Exam are all part of the experience .
Mythology has become more and more popular with young people in our society . That is a boon for us . It is the way to draw students into the classics . I encourage you to mention the idea of a mythology camp to your Latin club .
If students are interested , here are some ideas to get them started :
Opening Ceremony
Whether you choose Camp Half- Blood ( Greek ) or Camp Jupiter
( Roman ), an opening ceremony that sorts campers into the cabins of their Olympian parent is a great way to
begin .
Monster Drills
Monster identification drills help students recognize different mythical creatures and learn how the heroes defeated them . We use a PowerPoint for this activity , which is facilitated by two of the older students .
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