Journey Henderson, left, slides down the Slip NƵ Slide with Marshall University womenƵs basketball player Emily Bratton at Spring Hill ElementaryƵs Water Day on Friday, June 27, 2025.
ABOVE: McKenna Maness squeezes out a sponge during a relay race at Water Day at Spring Hill Elementary on Friday, June 27, 2025. RIGHT: AaƵniyah Stevens hits water at the end of the Slip NƵ Slide at Water Day at Spring Hill Elementary on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Marshall University womenƵs basketball player Kassie Ingram flies in the air at the end of the Slip NƵ Slide at Spring Hill ElementaryƵs Water Day on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Journey Henderson, left, slides down the Slip NƵ Slide with Marshall University womenƵs basketball player Emily Bratton at Spring Hill ElementaryƵs Water Day on Friday, June 27, 2025.
ABOVE: McKenna Maness squeezes out a sponge during a relay race at Water Day at Spring Hill Elementary on Friday, June 27, 2025. RIGHT: AaƵniyah Stevens hits water at the end of the Slip NƵ Slide at Water Day at Spring Hill Elementary on Friday, June 27, 2025.
Marshall University womenƵs basketball player Kassie Ingram flies in the air at the end of the Slip NƵ Slide at Spring Hill ElementaryƵs Water Day on Friday, June 27, 2025.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ Students at Spring Hill Elementary SchoolƵs Full STEM Ahead Camp played with water shooters and a Slip NƵ Slide and participated in several other outdoor activities during Water Day with the Marshall University womenƵs basketball team Friday.
The camp, which is meant for rising kindergarten through fifth graders, began at Spring Hill on June 5 and will conclude on June 30.
According to school counselor Beth Pettry, Full STEM Ahead is a summer boost enrichment program where students have participated in experiments and other hands-on learning activities since the camp was introduced in 2013.
She said besides spending time with the womenƵs basketball team, the students also visited the Clay Center and Heritage Farm and made ice cream with employees at AustinƵs Homemade Ice Cream, among other activities.
ƵThey donƵt get this Ƶsummer slideƵ if youƵre here, youƵre getting reading, math, youƵre getting hands-on learning, and itƵs fun. ItƵs not as rigorous as the regular school day, but weƵre still learning, and theyƵre getting education throughout the year,Ƶ she said.
On Friday, students, with the help of members of the womenƵs basketball team, were creating human-size bubbles, writing with sidewalk chalk, throwing water balloons and using sponges to transfer water from bucket to bucket in a course organized by the physical education teacher.
ƵAt the end of the day, we want our players to be involved in the community, and they have a passion for kids and being a good example,Ƶ head coach Juli Fulks said. ƵItƵs hard to say whoƵs having more fun, the kids or the players.Ƶ
She said this was the second time the team came to Spring Hill to engage with students, and they hosted a basketball camp that was open to the community.
Guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey said she enjoyed going to Water Day, Ƶbecause I was one of these kids once. I was dreaming of being in this position. I honestly didnƵt think it was possible.Ƶ
ƵBut I just like to come out here and encourage the kids and just let them know that anythingƵs possible, and be a leader, and just have fun and interact with them and have a good summer. I mean, they help me just as much as we help them, so I love coming out here.Ƶ she said.
Incoming fifth grader AaƵniyah Stevens, 10, said sheƵs participated in the STEM camp since she was in kindergarten, but her favorite part was hanging out with the teammates.
ƵItƵs an amazing camp. ItƵs so much fun,Ƶ she said.
Another incoming fifth grader, Isaiah Sarver, 10, said this was his first year attending camp, and his favorite part was also hanging out with the team.
ƵTheyƵre just really like, they have a lot of emotion, and theyƵre fun,Ƶ he said.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
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