April 2023 Newsletter
Hey, Highlanders! Congrats on making it through another semester! You studied and worked hard, and now there are just a few finals between you and a well-deserved break. Make sure you rest before jumping into whatever the summer holds—whether that’s an internship, job, summer courses, or anything else!
This is the last resource newsletter this semester, but we still want to support you when you might not be on campus as much. So be on the lookout for more resources, recipes, and self-care tips all summer long!
Reminder: If you were dropped from Medicaid this year, there’s a special re-enrollment period until 7/31. Reach out to crew@mclennan.edu for assistance.
Spotlight: On-Campus Resource
Did you know that MCC offers fun learning opportunities for kids all year long? It’s called Kids College !! If you’re looking for a high quality camp where your kids (or younger siblings) can learn a new skill and make new friends, then check out the options on MCC’s Continuing Education page ! [click on ‘Community Programs,’ then select ‘Kids College’]
Camp/course options are typically a week long and start as early as May 22! Options include: fine + creative arts, swim lessons, sports, music, dog training, Lego, gaming, digital media, entrepreneurship, culinary arts, language immersion, STEM, and more! Take a scroll through the link above and find some fun learning activities for the kids in your life this summer!
Spotlight: Off-Campus Resource
There are also lots of options in Waco for summer entertainment! Here’s an abbreviated list:
- Dates & Times: June 5, 2023 – August 11, 2023, 7:30am – 5:30pm
- Location: 1300 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701.
- Ages: K – 6th Grade
- Fee: Registration fee – $50; K – 6th $130 / week
- Features:
- Field Trips – Field trip every Friday to places like Cameron Park Zoo, West Pool, Hawaiian Falls Waco, and many more.
- Swimming – Campers get to swim every day in the indoor pool.
- Organized Games – Camp staff will plan organized games for the campers in the gym, racquetball court, aerobics room, and other areas at the center.
- Dates & Times: May 30, 2023 – August 4, 2023, from 7am – 6pm for full-day
- Location: 6800 Harvey Drive, Waco TX 76710
- Ages: Entering K – 6th Grade
- Fee: $150 Members / $170 Non-Members for full-day camps
- Features: Kids have the opportunity to find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories. Of course, it’s fun, too. Few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a community as they learn how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social, and educational activities.
- Dates & Times: July 24, 2023 – July 28, 2023, from 9am – 4pm
- Location: 3014 Maple Ave Waco, TX 76707
- Ages: Upcoming 1st – 6th graders
- Fee: $339
- Features: Your kids will be jumping, cheering, and singing each and every day, Monday through Friday, in the most incredible week of your their summer. From amazing counselors and hilarious skits to thrilling activities and awesome Bible studies, upcoming 1st-6th grade Highland Baptist campers are sure to have a blast!
Waco Community Center Summer Camps
- Dates & Times: Monday through Friday, 7:30am – 5:30pm, on selected dates: Session 1 — June 5–30; Session 2 — July 3–28; Session 3 — July 31–Aug 11
- Location: Bledsoe-Miller (254-750-8684); Dewey (254-750-8677); or South Waco (254-750-8650). Sign up by contacting each center directly. Space is limited.
- Ages: 5–13
- Fee: Registration fee – $90 per child, per camp. || Session 1 – $300 || Session 2 – $300 || Session 3 – $150
- Features: The camps allow children to make new friends, explore new interests and create lasting memories. With a wide range of activities, children will have the opportunity to develop their skills and interests in a fun and supportive environment.
- Location: Art Center Waco (701 S. Eighth St.)
- Dates & Times, Ages, Fees:
- Full-day camps are scheduled June 12–16 and July 17–21 for students entering grades 4–6 and cost $250.
- Half-day camps are scheduled June 20–23 and July 10–14 for students entering grades 1–6 and cost $100. Mornings and afternoons are available.
- Full-day camps are also scheduled July 24–28 and July 31–Aug. 4 for students entering grades 7 and up and cost $250.
- For more information, email info@artcenterwaco.org .
Read more: The Waco Moms ; The Mentoring Alliance
Shout-out!
We’re super grateful for Greater Waco Legal Services and their diligence in spending time on campus EVERY WEEK offering free legal guidance for students (on Thursdays from 1-4 in the SLC). Also, shoutout to the Title V Grant Team for helping make this partnership happen! We love the ways y’all care for ALL our students’ needs!
Self-Care Tip
So your kids/siblings are having fun at camp this summer. But what about you? Classes, work, internship, etc…. Is there time for you to have the fun and whimsical summer you remember from your youth?
YES!
You might feel super overwhelmed, but I would argue that this means it’s even more important to prioritize play and fun. And before you tune me out, here’s why it’s important for adults to practice play.
For children , play helps with development, creative thinking, problem solving, and more. For adults, play is just as important—improving our creative thinking, reducing stress, boosting mood, strengthening relationships, and cultivating a sense of humor. Sounds great, right??
But for adults, play doesn’t necessarily look like the make-believe whimsy or tree-climbing adventures we see in kids (though CosPlay and extreme sports are great for some!). Rather, we have different ‘ play personalities ’ that inform what activities bring us joy. Maybe you enjoy planning things and want to coordinate all the birthday parties and holiday get-togethers for the summer. Maybe improv is more your jam. Or like me, maybe exercising is your happy place and you prioritize time in the gym, hiking, or swimming. And if you have younger humans in your life, be sure to play with them too ;)
ANYTHING that brings you joy or excitement counts as play, and you should absolutely build time for these hobbies, activities, or practices into your summer schedule. You’ll feel more rested, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle your immediate responsibilities over the summer and the fall semester in a few months.
Read more: Play archetypes ; Ways to Play ; Testimonies of Play
Easy Recipe
With warmer weather coming in the summer months, I wanted to share a light yet nutritious meal idea. This stir fry recipe works well to either feed your whole family or prep in advance for a week of meals for yourself.
Need any ingredients? Swing by Paulanne’s for some non-perishable goods, frozen meat, fresh fruit, cheese, and/or milk! There’s a good chance we’ll have most of the ingredients for this meal when you stop by to shop the pantry!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 4 (1.5 cups per serving)
INGREDIENTS
STIR FRY SAUCE
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sriracha*
- 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
STIR FRY
- 1/2 head green cabbage
- 2 carrots
- 3 green onions
- 1/2 Tbsp neutral cooking oil
- 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
- Pinch of salt and pepper
GARNISHES (optional)
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sriracha
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the stir fry sauce first. In a small bowl stir together the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sriracha, and brown sugar. Set the sauce aside.
- Shred the vegetables so they are ready to go when you need them. Cut one small cabbage in half, remove the core, and then finely shred the leaves of one half the cabbage (4-6 cups once shredded, save the other half for another recipe). Peel two carrots, then use a cheese grater to shred them (1 cup shredded). Slice three green onions. Mince two cloves of garlic. Peel a knob of ginger using either a vegetable peeler or by scraping with the side of a spoon, then grate it using a small-holed cheese grater.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot add the cooking oil, ground beef, garlic, ginger, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the beef until browned (about five minutes).
- Add the cabbage and carrots to the skillet and continue to stir and cook until the cabbage is slightly wilted (or fully wilted, if you prefer). Stir in the prepared sauce and the green onions. Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a drizzle of sriracha, then serve.
NOTES
* 1 Tbsp sriracha makes a medium-spicy stir fry. If you don't like spicy, I'd start with 1 tsp. The sriracha adds flavor as well as heat, so I don't suggest skipping it all together.
NUTRITION (per 1 serving)
Calories: 195 kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 756mg | Fiber: 4g
Stats
- Shepherd’s Heart: One distribution that served 216 families in McLennan County
- Waco Transit: 1,526 rides using the free transit cards provided by MCC
CREW This Month
Every Thursday, 1–5 pm @ SLC || Greater Waco Legal Services
Reach out for FREE legal advice that’s open to all students!
Friday, 4/28, 12–1 pm on Zoom || Peer Support Group for Stress (VIRTUAL)
Reach out to DEI for more information on this support group that’s open to all students!
Saturday, 4/29, 8 am @ Jubilee Park || 5K Race & 1 mile fun run to support Mission Waco
Visit www.missionwaco.org/raceone to learn more and register for this race and great opportunity to support a local organization!
More events are available on the CREW calendar ! Be sure to save the calendar so you never miss an event!
View past newsletters here: https://www.mclennan.edu/campus-resource-guide/newsletter.html
*Composed by Emma Cartisano*
