This summer marked the sixth year of the St. Anthony Spanish Immersion Camp, a dynamic and engaging week-long experience for elementary students held in the Drake University School of Education’s (SOE) Collier-Scripps Hall. Led by long-time language educator Sra. Marisol Guerra, with the help of Sra. Elena Nebot, the camp welcomed 25–30 K–5 students from St. Anthony Catholic School and surrounding Des Moines communities.
The annual event came together because Sra. Guerra was invited to serve as part of a Drake advisory committee and happened to teach all three of SOE Professor Tom Buckmiller’s children in her Spanish classes at St. Anthony. Sra. Guerra had the idea for a Spanish immersion camp, and Professor Buckmiller knew just the place to host it: Collier-Scripps Hall.
The camp features a full Spanish immersion environment combined with emphasis on hands-on STEM exploration. Each year features a new theme—past themes include the Olympics and outer space, and this summer students explored concepts of equilibrium, gravity, and balance. Campers constructed parachutes, experimented with weight distribution, and connected academic language to real-world applications—all in Spanish.
Held on campus at Drake University, the camp introduces young students and their families to a college environment. Parents visit campus, and Drake students—especially those studying Spanish—volunteer at the camp, gaining valuable experience while inspiring the next generation.
“We finish the end of the year with fun activities, and there’s excitement in the children, they’re thinking and planning, and when they try something and it fails, they go back and fix it,” said Sra. Guerra. “The students want to continue learning even though it’s summer, so they work with us and have fun with us.”
The St. Anthony Spanish Immersion Camp continues to be a powerful example of how education can build bridges between languages, cultures, and academic disciplines. “We love it, and we will continue loving it as long as Drake allows us,” said Sra. Guerra. “The Dean, along with Sarah and Lisa from the Governor’s STEM Council, have been very welcoming.” The partnership between the SOE and St. Anthony Catholic School highlights a shared commitment to creating inclusive, experiential learning opportunities that prepare young minds for a constantly changing world.