Albany Winter Camp Turns School Break into Learning Adventure

Downtown program offers educational field trips to fire department, police station, and Flint RiverQuarium

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The city of Albany, Georgia is hosting a winter camp during students' school break, providing educational field trips to various downtown locations including the fire department, police department, and Flint RiverQuarium. The camp aims to expose children to the community around them and help them build connections with places downtown.

Why it matters

Many children in the area only know a small radius around where they live, so this camp gives them a chance to explore and learn more about their city. It also provides a structured environment for kids while their parents are at work.

The details

The downtown winter camp runs from February 16 to February 20 and allows children to interact with and learn about different city institutions and attractions. Clifford Johnson, a recreation supervisor with the city, said the camp was inspired because many kids don't know what downtown has to offer. Jonya McKinney, the downtown event coordinator, said the camp gives kids a safe and educational environment while their parents work.

  • The winter camp runs from February 16 to February 20, 2026.
  • The camp was inspired after city officials noticed many kids only knew about a small radius around where they lived.

The players

Clifford Johnson

A recreation supervisor with the city of Albany who said the camp was inspired because many kids don't know what downtown has to offer.

Jonya McKinney

The downtown event coordinator for Albany who said the camp provides a structured environment for children while their parents are at work.

Desmond Edwards

A parent who is looking forward to his child gaining a deeper understanding of the community through the winter camp.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This idea came about because we had some kids that only knew about a three block radius of where they actually lived at in Albany. And so partnering with downtown Albany— They said, 'Okay, this is a great idea.'”

— Clifford Johnson, Recreation Supervisor (WALB)

“Their parents are at work. I mean, we have kids at home. We don't know what they're doing, what they're exposed to. If we bring them out to our camp, we have a structure, very educational camp for them to visit.”

— Jonya McKinney, Downtown Event Coordinator (WALB)

“It's exciting, you know, to get a chance to learn the city itself. You know, even at a small age, we can understand as much as we can in the capacity that they do. Of course, the city itself is well represented, and we love our city, so we want the kids to get to know it.”

— Desmond Edwards, Parent (WALB)

What’s next

Officials said the camp helps children experience the city in a positive light while learning about downtown Albany during winter break.

The takeaway

This winter camp provides an educational and engaging opportunity for children in Albany to explore their city beyond their immediate neighborhoods, fostering a deeper connection to the community.