Summer brings with it heat, trips to the lake, baseball, apple pie and the Fourth of July. As we enter the second half of June, summer is officially in full swing, as are the traditions it brings along. While the hot, school-less summer months are known for many things, one of the more consistent and iconic summer offerings across the county and country remains the tradition of summer camp.

One such summer camp took place in LaGrange this past week, as children from all across the community and surrounding area gathered at First Baptist Church on the Square to take part in the sixth annual WinShape Camps for Communities. Youth from grades one through nine gathered to take part in archery, musical theater and much more at the local church for a week of fun and adventure.

WinShape Camps for Communities has been holding a camp in LaGrange for the past six years, but the camp is not limited to LaGrange. The first camp was established in 1985 just outside of nearby Rome, Ga when Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy bought property close to Berry College. Since that time, the camp has expanded to five overnight locations in north Georgia, along with more than 90-day camp locations across the country, stretching from Washington DC to Austin, Texas.

Summer camps are an iconic part of Americana, and the WinShape Camp this past week in LaGrange proved this once again. The WinShape Camp brought children in from all parts of the LaGrange and Troup County area, welcoming all who wanted to attend. Churches from all across the community as well join forces during this week to help put on the camp.

The camp does cost a fee to attend, but churches and people within the community have made it a point to ensure no child that wants to attend the event is turned away due to lack of funds. There has been an aggressive attempt to raise money to allow children who might not otherwise be able to attend the chance to do just that.

The churches and people within the community who made it possible for a group of children to experience an important sliver of American culture deserve our thanks and appreciation, even though they do not take part in events like this for the recognition it deserves.