Some area children looking for a way to keep busy during the summer months have chosen to participate in the Eastern Lycoming YMCA's day camp.
Attie Segraves, sports director, said the camp gives students the ability to have an outdoors experience but without having to go away to an overnight camp.
She said the camp also gets kids up and active.
Article Photos
JOSEPH STENDER/Sun-Gazette
Students in the Eastern Lycoming YMCA day camp are exposed to a variety of activities, including canoeing at Indian Park, Montoursville, shown above, and arts and crafts, shown at top.
"The main purpose of the camp is to provide a positive alternative to sitting at home and watching TV," Segraves said.
Brooke Houseknecht, site supervisor, agreed that the children are staying active.
"We keep them moving. Hopefully, they're getting some physical activity," she said.
The camp offers its services to children who have completed kindergarten and up to age 16.
Participants in the camp do a variety of activities, including canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, and pond exploration.
Houseknecht said each week has a theme and activities are planned around it.
She said one week was superhero week so students made capes during the arts-and-crafts period.
The students also met some local heroes, as firefighters and police officers visited and talked with the children.
"On Friday, the kids that want to will come in costume as their favorite superhero," Houseknecht said.
The camp provides children with the ability to explore the outdoors and do things they wouldn't get to do on a normal day.
With so many new and outdoor activities, Segraves believes the students receive unique experiences and memories.
"Most kids don't get that experience unless they go to sleep-away camp," she said. "I think it's a great opportunity to do something they don't normally do."
The camp also incorporates educational things to do to help with the "summer slide," Segraves said.
The program started 4 years ago and wanted to provide an option for families to be less of a child-care setting and more of a camp setting.
Segraves said the camp has been a success, thanks to the counselors who come up with the activities and work with the participants.
"Lead counselors make up the activities," Segraves said. "They really do a great job. They come up with some crazy crafts."
Since the counselors are with the students through out the day, Segraves said it takes dedication on their part.
"(A counselor is) someone that has not only the patience to be with children, but also ... they have a desire to want to work with kids," Segraves said.
Kelsea Ranch, a counselor, said the besides the actual activities, the camp gives participants a chance to work together as they come from different schools and backgrounds.
"I think they learn how to do things for themselves and cooperatively with each other," she said.
Alicia Artley, who is a substitute teacher during the school year and counselor in the summer, said the camp also lets the kids be kids.
"I like being with the kids and it's a way of doing fun things instead of having them sit in the classroom," she said.
Segraves said she hopes the experiences will give them lasting memories.
"Our goal is to provide them with an experience that they'll remember favorably," she said.
