A New Chapter Bookstore in Lewisburg hosted 25 campers from local elementary schools on Thursday, June 27.

Campers and youth counselors each picked out a book to take home, provided by a grant from the United Way of Greenbrier Valley. Erin Hurst, United Way executive director, read aloud a book selection to the group and David Craddock, bookstore owner, was also on hand to help the students purchase their books.

For four years Reading Camp has relied on a cooperative effort with the United Way, Greenbrier County schools, local churches in Lewisburg, and various civic organizations and clubs to host a summer reading day camp. Over 30 different individuals and groups lent support to this year’s camp held at St. James’ Episcopal Church. The camps strive to include a visit to a public library and a book store whenever possible, as well as include a visit from a West Virginian children’s author. In addition to the trip to A New Chapter, the group visited the Ronceverte Public Library, and hosted a visit from authors Marc Harshman and Anna Egan Smucker to discuss their latest book on Frank Lloyd Wright’s house Fallingwater.

Reading Camp is an outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia committed to helping young readers avoid summer learning loss by providing a week-long camp with morning learning sessions and afternoon activities centered on a theme.