Kentucky students gather at WKU SCATS for lessons on clowning, other creative interests

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Summer camps are in full swing across the area, and Friday we found a few campers clowning around on the Western Kentucky University campus.

The Summer Camp for Academically Talented Students, or SCATS, offers sixth, seventh and eighth graders an opportunity to explore acting, clowning, music and other interests for two weeks each summer.

The program, now in its 40th year, prides itself on minds-on, hand-on learning.

‘It’s just a wonderful time and a great positive attitude for these children to basically come out of their shell, you know, by putting on a clown suit and conveying their creativity,” Class clown Everett Leach says. “Mr. Wilkins’ class, which is the clowning class, is probably the funniest class I’ve ever had. I would love to be a clown. I would love to take his class again.”

Clown campers have tested their hand at magic, juggling, unicycle rising and the clown car this summer. The 120 campers come from all over Kentucky and eight states.