SANFORD - Photography, cooking, sewing, crime scene investigation - Central Carolina Community College Summer Youth Camps not only provide children and youth with an entertaining learning experience, but also lifetime interests and experience with a possible professional careers.

Programs are available at the college's Lee, Chatham and Harnett campuses. The offerings vary, depending on the campus and community interest, but all are available at a reasonable price.

For the first time in the history of Lee County offerings, Art Secrets for Kids (ages 11-14) brings youth together with well-known educator and artist Campbell Price to create works in acrylics and colored pencils. Price has taught many adult art classes at CCCC.

"We try to bring something new and exciting to our Summer Youth program each year," said Charlotte Baggett, CCCC's Enrichment Class coordinator for Lee County. "Campbell Price has always been a favorite of our adult students, and we think the children will love him too."

Other first-time offerings in Lee County are Photography and Crime Scene Investigation. The CSI camp, taught by a law enforcement officer, will teach children and youth (ages 10-14) how to investigate a fictitious crime scene using the techniques and methods involved in real-life investigations.

"It's a very interactive class," said Baggett. "I think it will also be interesting and exciting for kids who follow CSI programs on television."

Two camps are offered at the Chatham County Campus. The Natural Chef Youth Nutrition and Sustainability Camp is geared for economically disadvantaged children. It is supported by a grant from the Triangle Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving Wake, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties since 1983.

Spaces will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information and scholarship opportunities, visit www.cccc.edu/culinaryarts and click on "Culinary Kids Summer Camps."

The Youth Entrepreneurship Camp at Chatham County introduces youth to the process of entrepreneurship as a viable career option. They will learn how to identify small business opportunities and how to create and implement a business plan.

"Essentially what we're doing is teaching kids the basics of how to identify and start a successful business," said Carl Thompson, director of Continuing Education at the Chatham County Campus. "It's always good to get children at this age to start thinking about business and the entrepreneurial opportunities that could some day be available to them."

Barbara Avery, director of Community Services and Personal Enrichment coordinator for the Harnett County Campus, shares Thompson's belief in cultivating interests at an early age. That campus offers three summer youth camps: Cookies and Cupcakes, Beginning Crochet and Beginning Knitting for Kids.

"I think it's great that we're able to offer something for kids that they will learn as children and probably use all of their lives," Avery said. "These may only be crafts, but they could ultimately lead to a career or, at the very least, a lifetime interest."

To sign up for Youth Summer Camps, contact the CCCC Continuing Education Department in the county where the camp is being offered: Harnett County, 910-814-8823; Lee County, 919-775-2122, ext. 7793; or Chatham County, 919-545-8044.

Registration runs through May 31. Early registration is recommended.

Lee County Camps
All the Lee County Summer Youth Camps take place at the college's Lifelong Learning Center at W.B. Wicker, 900 S. Vance St., Sanford.

• Art Secrets for Kids (ages 11-14): 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, June 12-July 24. Create art using acrylic paint or colored pencils. Bring watercolor paper, art pencil and eraser to class. Cost - $39.
• CSI for Kids #2181 (ages 10-14): 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Tuesdays, June 11-25. Learn how to solve a crime using techniques of CSI investigation. Cost - $35.
• Kid's Cupcake and Cookie Camp #2137 (ages 7 and up): 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, June 10 and 12. Learn to decorate cupcakes and cookies. Cost - $19.
• Kids' Photography Camp #2130 (ages 8-10): 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, June 17 and 19. Learn how to take good photographs inside and outside. Learn photography secrets at the same time. Bring a digital camera. Cost - $29.
• Kids' Photography Camp #2131 (ages 11-13). 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, June 24 and 26. Cost - $29.
• Kids' Sewing Camp #2135 (ages 10-12): 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, June 17-19. Learn how to cut material and sew a cute pocketbook. Bring your own scissors, thread, yard of fabric and yard of lining to class. Cost - $29.

Chatham County Camps
The camps take place at the Chatham County Campus, 764 West St., Pittsboro.

• CCCC Youth Entrepreneurship Summer Camp: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., June 10-13, is designed for youth who have completed grades six through eight. They will identify small business opportunities and participate in the business planning process. Cost - $100.
• Natural Chef Youth Nutrition and Sustainability Camp: Learn to cook age appropriate, healthy snacks and dishes from Chef Gregg Hamm. Two sessions are offered. The cost for either is $301.25. Scholarship funds are available.
  Session #2729: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, July 8-11.
  Session #2730: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, July 15-18.

Harnett County Campus Camps
The camps take place at the Harnett County Campus, 1075 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd., Lillington.

• Cookies & Cupcakes #2957 (ages 7 and up): 6:45 p.m.-8:45 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, June 11 and June 13. Have lots of fun learning the basics of decorating cookies and cupcakes. Cost - $19.
• Crochet for Kids Beginning #2953 (ages 10 and up): 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 17-20. Learn basic crocheting.
• Knitting for Kids Beginning #2954 (ages 10 and up): 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, June 24-27. Learn the basic techniques of knitting. Cost - $31.25.