Newark Middle School welcomed back the Tims Camps In Community facilitators for a five‑session winter program designed to help sixth graders build confidence, practice teamwork, and strengthen social‑emotional skills.
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Tims Camps In Community brings the spirit and values of Tims Camps directly into local schools, helping youth develop character, leadership, and life skills through structured, relationship‑based learning experiences.
Sponsored by the Tim Horton Foundation, the program aims to empower students to discover their strengths and make positive contributions within their school and community.
Tims Camp Trainers came to NMS and worked with each class once a week for a period of six weeks between January 5th and February 13th.
The program had previously connected with these same students during sixth grade orientation in June 2025, laying the groundwork for a positive and supportive transition into Middle School, NMS Principal Melanie Meyer explained.
“This winter’s program offered students a deeper and more interactive experience,” she said. “Over the course of five, one‑hour sessions, sixth graders participated in hands‑on activities that encouraged collaboration, problem‑solving, communication, and leadership.
“Facilitators guided students through discussions and challenges that helped them explore their strengths, understand their role within a team, and practice strategies for handling real‑life situations both inside and outside the classroom.”
Rebecca Battle, NMS school psychologist, praised the program for its energy, student engagement, and impact. Battle explained, "that it also gave students and their classroom teachers a unique shared experience to deepen their connection."
“Tim Hortons Camp gave students opportunities to work together and try new challenges,” said sixth grade teacher Kim Saccardi. “Activities like the hacky-sack challenge and team‑building, LEGO maze design challenge helped students practice communication and problem‑solving skills. Many students enjoyed the challenges and felt comfortable working with peers and were eager to talk about what they learned.”
Lindsay Dibble, sixth grade teacher said: “Students learned about the true meaning of "teamwork" and what is required of them to make a team successful. Students collaborated with peers, not of their choosing, and had to work together to accomplish different tasks, while maintaining kindness and respect towards each other. I think it helped them understand the importance of patience with one another along with how to encourage someone who was struggling to be a part of a team. Tim's Camp was very beneficial, in that it provided our students more understanding on the importance of our class "community."