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Mississippi College Summer Camps Respond to Heat Wave


FUGE campers on their way to activities on the Mississippi College campus Thursday.

Trey Roberson says he’s praying more and drinking more water to battle the June heat wave as a FUGE camper at Mississippi College.

“The heat is boiling on you,” says Roberson, 14, a camper from Woodmont Baptist Church in Florence, Alabama.

An 8th grader, Trey says he tries to drink a little water every five minutes when he’s outside in the broiling sun on the Clinton campus. “It helps me cool down,” he said outside the B.C. Rogers Student Center. “I drink a lot of water.”

Despite the sizzling temperatures, Trey says he loves the faith-based church camp at MC that combines Bible study with worship services, fellowship time and athletic events. “I’m learning more about Christ.”

About 650 boys and girls in FUGE camps are visiting MC for their first week of summer camp. Coming from churches in Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana, and other Southern states, the children are used to experiencing sultry weather. Still, temperatures rising to the mid-90s this week seem to be a little hotter than usual, forecasters say. And there’s no relief in sight.

“We have coolers at every outdoor event,” says Holly Allen, assistant director of the FUGE camps. The camp leader says they are well-stocked with cold packs, and are keeping more on hand than ever during MC’s summer camp season that runs through late July.

A resident of Kilbourne, Louisiana, Allen says she’s also practicing what she preaches. She drinks one Coke during the morning, and refreshes herself with an ample supply of Gatorade and water the rest of the day.

On another part of the Mississippi College campus, girls basketball teams from across the state are playing their hearts out in camps directed by MC Lady Choctaws Coach Paul Duke, his assistant coaches and players.

At his first day of hoops camp, Jim Hill High Lady Tigers head basketball coach Charles Moore knows the drill when it comes to players dealing with hot weather.

“The main thing is get enough Gatorade,” Moore said as his girls entered the Baptist Healthplex for a series of games on Thursday afternoon. He’s also telling his players to avoid fried foods. And he’s urging them to drink water over and over, and remember to take their vitamins.

Moore says he’s also trying to keep the girls from getting too tired by switching out his players. Then it’s back to the business at hand. “Ladies, let’s go!”

Teams from Pearl High, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Jackson and a number of schools around the region are squaring off on Mississippi College courts at the A.E. Wood Coliseum and other spots through Saturday. “The facilities are great- this is a great camp,” Moore said.