Photo courtesy of Foster Park Elementary School A mountain top educational experience If our goal is to help students learn more about the environment in which we live, then Camp Greenville’s YMCA Environmental Education Program is the perfect field trip according to teachers and students at Foster Park Elementary School. Foster Park Elementary 5th grade students experienced nature through hands-on exploration at Camp Greenville. Foster Park 5th grade teachers (Mrs. Inman, Mrs. Hodges and Mr. Hickson) found the experience to be an outstanding complement to classroom learning and our standard based curriculum. The natural resources made a great classroom! At Camp Greenville students explored a 1,600 acre classroom high in the Blue Ridge Mountains and spend the night in cabins. Camp Greenville has many natural ecosystems to explore — from hardwood forests to lakes and streams. In these natural settings terms like “caddis-fly larvae,” “folded mountains,” and “community” take on immediate significance as the students experience their meaning firsthand. The students also participate in activities such as “group dynamics.” They learn the importance of supporting each other and teamwork during this three day program. Here the students take part in a team building exercise in a covered shed at Camp Greenville.

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TODAY

THE UNION COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT is seeking vendors for the annual Independence Celebration at Foster Park, July 3, 2012. Each vendor must pay a vending fee and have a city permit. One-day permits may be purchase at the City of Union Municipal Building. Limited spaces are available. Please register at the Union County Recreation Department by Wednesday June 27. The recreation department is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. For more information contact Union County Recreation Department Program Director Jessica Gallman at 429-1670.

THE UNION COUNTY DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS will have their monthly meeting at noon. The meeting will be held at 226 S. Gadberry St. Lunch will be provided.

JUNE 28

THE NAACP meeting scheduled for June 26 has been moved to June 28 at 6 p.m. at the Housing Authority Community Center, 201 Porter St. Union.

JUNE 30

TROOP 332 will hold a hash and barbecue sale at Pye Ward’s Hash House at the junction of 215 Beltline and Monarch Highway beginning at 6 a.m. Cooking will begin June 29. The proceeds will go to support Troop 332 activities and advancement expenses. For more information call 427-5739 or 426-0157.

JULY 4

THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY’S ANNUAL PARTY AT THE POND will be held at the Buffalo Mill Pond beginning at 6 p.m. with music and karaoke. Fireworks will be displayed at dark. This year’s event will kickoff with a Golf Cart Parade. For more information about the event and to enter the parade please call the Buffalo Festivals Committee at 864-426-4457.

JULY 5

“JAM WITH LUNCH” will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Any type of music and all musicians welcome. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JULY 10

THE UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1987 will hold a planning meeting for its upcoming 25th class reunion at Bantam Chef at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in helping may come to the meeting. For more information contact Beth Walker Lancaster at 864-426-3438.

JULY 16

“JAM WITH SUPPER” will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Any type of music and all musicians welcome. Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

JULY 23

A YOUTH SUMMER ART CAMP will be held at the Union County Arts Council on Main Street in Union. It will run daily through July 27 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The camp will be led by Angie Craft and will introduce the campers to the art of gourding (making objects of art from the common gourd). Don’t miss this unique art camp. Registrations are being taken at this time Call 864-429-2817 for more information.

ONGOING

A VETERANS ADVOCATE is in Union every third Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the One Stop, 440 Duncan Hwy., to discuss eligibility for health care, pension, disability and more.

THE NEW EMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH has opened a free clothes closet in the back of the Municipal Building in Jonesville. Hours of operation will be Tuesday and Friday 9:30 a.m.-noon.

SIMS HIGH CLASS OF 1965 is planning a reunion Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1. For information contact Queen Henderson, 4427-6219; Fannie Means, 674-5805 or Ben Johnson, 426-1399. The class is trying to locate Shirley Dawkins, formerly of Carlisle and John D. Whitmire, formerly of Union. If you have information, please call Queen Henderson.

UNION COUNTY ACTION NETWORK ORGANIZATION (WATCHDOG GROUP) meets weekly on Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at 103 Main St., Union. The public is invited.

THE TOWN OF CARLISLE is holding a free summer lunch and activities program for children ages 2-18 at the Carlisle Town Hall, Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. through Aug. 2. The program will be closed for the week of Fourth of July. Volunteers are needed to assist with the children. For more information and/or to volunteer call 427-1505.