BISMARCK, ND - University of Mary Student North Dakota Education Association (SNDEA) pre-service teachers are holding a free one-day family camp for students in grades K-3. The camp is called Camp Ready Child. The first 50 students registered will be admitted into the camp. The focus of Camp Ready Child is on providing a fun and educational day for local K-3 grade students as well as on educating parents about the North Dakota Education Association (NDEA) Ready Child Initiative and the importance of literacy.

University of Mary pre-service teachers will lead the camp students in fun and educational activities and experiments. Parents will attend sessions with informational speakers on literacy and the NDEA Ready Child Initiative and participate in activities with their children.

"This will be a fun and educational day for all participants," Theresa Ell, University of Mary SNDEA president, said. "We have a big day planned with a lot of resources for students and their families who will attend."

Ell applied for and received a $500 Seed Grant from DoSomething.org to assist in funding Camp Ready Child. The Seed Grant will fund activities, meals, books and supplies for campers and the adults who attend the camp. Several other sponsors have donated supplies for the camp. All sponsors are listed on the Camp Ready Child Web site.

Camp Ready Child will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the AMVETS Post 9 Club in Bismarck, ND. The event is free to all participants. The registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. Registered students will receive a free Camp Ready Child T-shirt and other school and learning materials. All campers and family members will receive a free lunch and snack as part of the camp day. Interested parents and children can visit http://campreadychild.weebly.com/ for more information and to register for Camp Ready Child.

For more information, contact Theresa Ell, University of Mary SNDEA president, (701) 426-8872.