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Model robots stand on display at PGMA's Summer Camp

June 21, 2010 marked the fifth year Prince Georges Muslim Association’s (PGMA) organized it’s An-Nur Academy Summer Camp.

The An-Nur Academy is two summer camps in one. The first being an intensive hifz program where students not only learn the Quran but also Islamic studies, as well as lessons on the Salah. The second half of the camp consists of all other subjects such as languages arts, math, science, visual arts, and sports.

An-Nur Academy does something not common among area Muslim summer camps – they have a theme for every summer; this year the theme is Robotics. The six week camp is divided into three, two week sessions: Challenger Rocketry, Recycling for Robots, and Design Squad. The cost of a single session is  $200 and $500 for them all. Approximately 60 students are enrolled ranging from ages of four to eighteen. It would seem an estimated eight teachers would not be sufficient. However, many of the high school youth, about 15, have devoted their summer break  until the final day July 30th to helping the Summer Camp succeed by offering a helping hand wherever and whenever needed.

The CIT (Counselor in Training) Program is open to high school juniors who want to take on the role of leading the younger campers. They are trained to assist both the campers and the staff with activities, interacting one-on-one with the campers and being a role model. While learning how to properly interact with the children is one of the main responsibilities of a CIT, they are also trained on how to cooperate with other youth leaders and their elder staff, as well.

The An-Nur Academy summer camp strives to improve every year. “We do our best to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions,” said Br. Abdul Hakeem Leveille. “We take the feedback we get from the community and use that to make improvements for the following year.” he explained.

“PGMA summer camp has gone through many changes to get where it is now.  I am happy to be here helping these kids who don’t get much Islamic education during the rest of the year, and to be honest I learn a lot from them, as well,” commented 16 year-old Fatma Abukar, a Counselor in Training. 

When asked what camp staff are trying to achieve, director of the Hifz program Br. Abdul-Hakeem Leveille told The Muslim Link, “personally, this summer camp is our attempt at giving students a crash course in Islam, and to give them as much basic information [as we can] about their religion in six weeks.”

To learn more about PGMA and An-Nur Academy visit www.pgmamd.org.

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