FORT JACKSON, SC -- On-post activities for children continue throughout July as the EDGE! program celebrates its one-year anniversary. The EDGE!, which stands for Experience, Develop, Grow and Excel, is an after-school and summer program for children 6 to 18. Programs are offered within Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation partner facilities and are free for 11-18 year olds. The cost for children 6-10 is $5 per hour. Participants may attend for the entire month or selected weeks during the month.

Door-to-door transportation to and from EDGE! programs is also available. Permission slips are required and are available at Parent Central Services and the EDGE! director's office. A link is also available on webtrac for those enrolling their children online.

Call 751-3053 for information.

Programs in July are:

Art Sampler - Tuesdays, starting July 6, 1-4 p.m. in the Solomon Center. For ages 10-15. Beginning with Week One, have fun with the most popular crafting craze since...ever. Bring pictures and create pages for scrapbooks. Make jewelry to match a favorite outfit or for someone special in Week Two. What makes art look extra special' Find out in Week Three by learning basics of matting and framing and leave with a beautifully framed picture. In Week Four, learn to make cool stuff from polymer clay.

Blast Off With Rockets - Mondays, starting July 12, 4- 6 p.m. at 5955-D Parker Lane. For ages, 9-15. During Week One, learn the basics of rocket building by building a simple rocket and launcher. The following week, take on the challenge of a two-bottle rocket, with fins, a nose cone, and even a parachute! Finally, in Week Three, graduate to the big one...a five-bottle rocket. How high will it fly'

Go Cupcake Crazy - Wednesdays starting July 7, 5-6:30 p.m. at 5955-D Parker Lane. For age 11-18. Start with Cupcake 101 and learn the basics of making perfect cupcakes and then practice making two cupcakes right off the ice cream truck - orange creamsicle and pink lemonade. Make "fool the eye" cupcakes like corn on the cob, mashed potatoes or peas and carrots in Week Two. What would cupcakes be without chocolate' In Week Three, make some yummy cupcakes like "little earthquake melting surprise" or peanut butter chocolate chip to satisfy that chocolate urge. Finish up in Week Four with cupcakes that are just for fun. How about some "alien invasion" or "slumber party" cupcakes'

Be Patriotic with All-American Desserts - Fridays, starting July 2, 5-6:30 p.m. at 5955-D Parker Lane. For ages 9 -15. Celebrate July Fourth with an Americake, a flag striped cake shaped like the United States. Moving on to Week Two, make something as American as apple pie, well American as caramel apple pie. Pledge your allegiance to a fruit flag filled with berries and whipped cream in Week Three. In Week Four, celebrate with marbled red, white and blue star-shaped cookies. Love caramel popcorn' In Week Five, enjoy delicious home run pie; it tastes like caramel popcorn in pie form.

Paddle Your Boat - Wednesdays, starting July 7, 1-4 p.m. Meet at 5955-D Parker Lane at 12:40 p.m. For ages, 9-15. Start with the basics of paddling at Weston Lake. In Week Two, take it to the next level and learn to paddle a kayak on Weston Lake. Week Three brings more excitement with paddling Columbia's own Congaree River. Saving the best for the last, paddle the scenic Saluda River in Week Four.

Celebrate the Red, White and Blue - Thursdays, starting July 1, 5-6:30 p.m. at 5955-D Parker Lane. For ages 9-15. Start with a front door wreath. Make a musical tribute with favorite patriotic songs. Decorate a mat and frame with patriotic stamps to frame military family member's pictures, letters, or honors in Week Two. Create a decorated baseball cap in Week Three. In Week Four, design patriotic jewelry including loyalty rings, flag necklaces and pride pins. Week Five, keep the celebrations going by making a cool table-top display of wooden stars, painted, sanded and decorated by hand.