Last week, Johnson City hosted to the Tennessee Press Association’s summer convention. As usual the convention attendees brought their children along. However, this year there was something special for the children to do. 

"I wanted this to be something fun and educational for the children to do, not just a babysitting service where you drop of your kids and pick them up at the end of the day," said Phil Hensley, the man who brought the camp together.

The children were invited attend to Press Camp while their parents were participating in classes and other events. About 28 children were signed up to attend the camp, although not all of them showed up for the camp. Each child was assigned a job. Some were journalists, photographers or editors.

The children, ages 5 to 14 years,  visited the Hands On! Museum,  East Tennessee State University’s  Center for Physical Activity, and the Gray Fossil Site. At the CPA the young reporters , photographers and editors were able to climb the wall,  play basketball and play outside.

“My favorite part (at Hands On!) was the thing you jump in front of and it takes your picture and freezes it on the way,” said Tess Fryar.
The planning for the camp started about eight months ago according to Phil Hensley. 

“It grew out of a need,” said Hensley. Attendees have always brought their children, but there was very little for the children to do while their parents were busy during the day.

At the end of the convention, a mock newspaper was handed out to the attendees with all of the stories the children wrote and the pictures they took. On the back page of the paper there was a montage of photographs from throughout the two-day event.

“There is already talk about a Press Camp at next year’s convention in Chattanooga,” said Hensley.