The Stillwater YMCA is in the middle of its annual summer day camp for children.
The day camp provides a safe and positive atmosphere for campers, so they may enjoy new experiences while having fun.
So far this summer, the children have been on several field trips to places like the Helmrich Park in Tulsa, Skate World in Ponca City and Splash Zone in Enid. The YMCA works with Stillwater Public Schools to provide transportation to all these events.
The YMCA still has several more field trips planned throughout the rest of the summer, including a trip to Sun-n-Fun in Ponca City on July 3, Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City on July 17 and Pelican Bay in Edmond on August 7.
The day camp is available to anyone in the Stillwater community, whether they are a member of the YMCA or not. Dan Carman, executive director for the Stillwater YMCA, said that on average the YMCA has 90 to 100 children, ages 5 to 12, who attend the day camp on a daily basis. Over the past five years enrollment has increased in camp by 10 percent each year. The YMCA expects a total of 250 kids to attend over the 11 weeks of the camp.
Camille Spears, child care director, said, “[Camp] goes pretty well because we’ve been doing this for years and we have gotten the groove down and know what to expect.”
Campers enjoy daily activities such as camping, fishing, survivor challenges, arts and crafts, sports, swimming, library visits and snacks, which are all overseen by camp counselors. There are about 20 counselors on staff, Spears said.
“They [counselors] are all OSU students or students who recently graduated,” Spears said. “I look for students with prior experience with children and have a major related to child care or early education. They are required to go through hardcore training to make them aware of our policies and to also prepare them for any situation that may occur.”
Playground safety, first aid and CPR are just a few of the things counselors are taught during training, Spears said.
One of the goals of the day camp is to help keep the kids on the move.
“Obesity in children is on the rise and one of our goals is to keep the kids active through out the day,” Spears said.
Summer Olympics, swimming and different sports are some of the ways the children are kept active while at camp. We also try to make sure the field trip activities are also active, Spears said.
The children at the day camp said they enjoyed the activities they participate in.
“I really like day camp,” said Haden Gill, an 8-year-old camper, said. “I like playing dodge ball and going to the water parks.”
Christian Lindley, a 7-year-old camper, said she also enjoys day camp.
“My favorite thing to do is go swimming,” Lindley said. “’Cause when you’re hot, swimming cools you down and its fun!”
The cost of summer camp is $95 per week if one is a YMCA member. If one is not a YMCA member the cost is $105 per week. However, parents can purchase a youth summer membership for $65 to reduce the overall cost of summer camp. Family summer memberships are also available for $130.
Camp is Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anyone wanting more information should call the YMCA at 405-372-5833.
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