A new opportunity for students in Natchitoches Parish was unveiled during the June 3 School Board committee meeting, as community leaders introduced a summer STEAM Camp designed to inspire, educate, and empower local youth. The program, which will be hosted at L.P. Vaughn Elementary, is a collaborative effort between the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation and the Emma Robinson Williams Education Foundation.
School Board President Reba Phelps welcomed Harold Bayonne, chairman of the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation, and Dr. Ross Williams of the Emma Robinson Williams Foundation to present their shared vision for the camp. Bayonne thanked the board, and the community for their support, emphasizing the urgent need for youth programming focused on character development, drug awareness, anti-violence education, and educational enrichment.
Bayonne spoke passionately about the importance of helping students build a foundation for a stronger future and noted that the foundation views itself as a proud partner of the Natchitoches Parish School Board. He invited board members and the public to visit the camp once it is underway and witness the positive impact the initiative aims to have on students and the community at large.
Dr. Ross Williams followed with additional details about the program, which will serve approximately 50 students in grades 4-8. He explained that this summer’s camp will serve as a pilot initiative, with the goal of collecting data to inform future programming. In addition to providing students with hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, the camp will also include instruction in financial literacy through a partnership with BOM Bank. Students will explore topics such as drone technology, coding, and entrepreneurship—skills Dr. Williams hopes will spark interest in future careers and business ventures.
The Emma Robinson Williams Foundation, named in honor of Dr. Williams’ late mother, a longtime employee of the Natchitoches Parish School Board, was founded with a mission to give back to the community through high-impact educational programming.
When asked about enrollment, Dr. Williams shared that there is already a waiting list.
President Phelps expressed excitement about the program’s potential and commended the organizations for working together to bring innovative, student-centered learning to Natchitoches Parish. With strong interest already in place, the STEAM Camp for Explorers is poised to become a meaningful and impactful summer initiative for years to come.
