NATCHEZ — Summer might be over, but the fun was still going at Zion Chapel AME Church this weekend.

The church hosted its “Back to School” Jamboree Saturday, giving children one last chance to enjoy the summer before school starts Monday in the Natchez-Adams School District.

“This is our district fun day,” Beverly Raines, lay president at Zion Chapel, said.

Every year, Raines, who was the event’s chief planner, said the entire AME church district comes together to host a fun day for children. This year, Zion Chapel was the host.

The event combined educational activities, like speakers, with games, such as musical chairs and a water slide.

However, Raines said the event wasn’t just for children from the church. All children were invited.

Raines said the entire event was paid for through donations collected by all of the AME churches in the area.

“We’re investing in our youth,” Raines said.

One of the speakers at the event was Criminal Investigator Stanley Searcy Jr. from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Searcy was there to talk about what people should do if a law enforcement officer wants to talk to them.

In most cases, Searcy said, officers will tell people what to do. Searcy said people should remain calm and have a conversation with the officer.

“We’re not the boogeyman,” Searcy said. “We’re here to serve and protect.”

After the talk, attendees were able to grab free hotdogs, hamburgers and nachos. A table in the back served as a candy buffet, displaying cupcakes and other sweet treats.

However, one table held items which were probably more tantalizing to parents than children: free school supplies.

The entire table was covered with tubs filled with folders, buckets full of pens, and other supplies.

“That normally goes fast,” Raines said.

It certainly proved a lure to Paula Lewis and her two children, Markayla Brown-Lewis, 11, and Tyreek Lewis, 12.

“I needed one of those,” Brown-Lewis said as she grabbed a calculator.

Brown-Lewis said she is excited for school to start, unlike her brother, who said he heard enough about it during the summer.

“She’s been talking about school the whole time,” Lewis said, referring to his sister.

The two will start school at Robert Lewis Magnet School tomorrow. However, for now, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the summer.