Reconnect Southeast Idaho Gears Up for Summer Constitution Camp in Pocatello, Celebrating 250 Years of American Independence
POCATELLO, Idaho — A beloved summer tradition is returning to the Gate City this June, as Reconnect Southeast Idaho prepares to host its annual Constitution Camp for area children. This year carries special significance: the camp coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, prompting organizers to expand both the scope of the program and the number of campers it can serve.
The camp is scheduled for June 15–19, running from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. On the final day, Friday, June 19, campers will return at 6 p.m. for a community performance at Calvary Chapel in Pocatello. The event is free and open to the entire community, giving families and neighbors a chance to see firsthand what the children have learned throughout the week.
A Week of Hands-On American History
Constitution Camp is far more than a classroom exercise. Campers rotate through interactive stations designed to bring American history to life through experience rather than rote memorization. Volunteers — more than 60 in total — help make that possible, including teachers from the community and others who don costumes to portray historical figures.
“They rotate through stations and they do really fun activities like they march through the icy river with rags tied on their feet with George Washington,” said Michele Holyoak, Camp Director. “They learn what it’s like to live like a 17th century kid by feeding chickens and making bread and root beer.”
Throughout the week, campers also memorize foundational American documents, including the Preamble to the Constitution, and participate in crafts such as sewing stars. Daily practice sessions build toward Friday’s public performance, which showcases the history knowledge students have absorbed during the week.
The goal, Holyoak emphasized, is not to drill children on specific dates or historical minutiae, but to foster a deep and lasting connection to the country’s founding principles.
“The point is to get them to have an associated feeling with this country of patriotism and love and courage and freedom,” Holyoak said. “So that when they go out into their lives and into adulthood, that they remember that spirit of freedom and spirit of patriotism and love of country, and having these true heroes in their pockets.”
Expanded Curriculum Marks the Nation’s 250th Birthday
In honor of the semiquincentennial of American independence, Reconnect Southeast Idaho has broadened this year’s curriculum to cover a wider sweep of the nation’s history. Rather than focusing solely on the Revolutionary War era, the camp will guide children through a journey beginning with the early colonists who arrived on the Mayflower and continuing all the way through World War I and World War II.
“This year, we decided that we wanted to celebrate as much of the 250 years as we could,” Holyoak said. “So, instead of just learning about the revolution, we are going to take them on a journey through the early colonists from the Mayflower all the way up to World War I and World War II.”
The expanded curriculum reflects the organization’s commitment to giving Southeast Idaho children a comprehensive appreciation of American heritage — and the sacrifices made across generations to preserve the freedoms the nation holds dear.
To accommodate growing interest, the camp has expanded its enrollment to 100 campers this year. As of the time of reporting, fewer than 30 spots remain available.
What Comes Next
Families interested in enrolling their children in Constitution Camp are encouraged to act quickly, both to secure a spot and to guarantee a camp T-shirt with registration. The T-shirt registration deadline is April 30. The camp itself runs June 15–19 at no cost to participants, with the community performance on the evening of June 19 also offered free of charge at Calvary Chapel in Pocatello.
For registration information and additional details, visit reconnectsoutheastidaho.org. With fewer than 30 spots remaining and a historically themed curriculum celebrating 250 years of American independence, organizers expect enrollment to fill quickly.