YMCA CAMP EXTRAVAGANZA Prepare For The Summer
GARY S. HATRICK
Camp at the YMCA is a lot more than just keeping the kids busy.
The East Pasco YMCA in Zephyrhills held Camp Extravaganza on April 26 to promote health and wellness among children and to showcase the YMCA Summer Camp.
Camp at the YMCA is more than just keeping the kids busy. “There are sports and games,” said YMCA Program Director Nicole Bennett, “but we do STEM activities as well. We have a reading literacy program where they come in-house and sit down with the kids according to their different grade levels, so they are actively reading throughout the summer. We’re essentially preparing the kids for when they go back to school.”
YMCA Summer Camp began June 2 and runs to August 9 this year. It’s held in 10, one-week increments. Kids can attend as many as they like. The cost for each week is $192 per week for YMCA members and $242 per week for non-members. For an additional charge of $52, parents have the option for their children to receive swimming lessons.
“We have an amazing financial assistance program to help support families who can’t afford the cost,” Bennett said.
There will be a variety of themes for Summer Camp. Week One will kick off with a Red Carpet theme where kids can feel like stars. It will be followed by Arcade week, Magic School Bus Week, Anime Week, Water Wars Week, Olympics Week, Shipwreck Week, Master Chef Jr. Week, Mystery Time Machine Week, and Color Wars Week.
Camp is held in-house at the YMCA site. Local organizations come in with programs and activities, along with local firefighters and police. “We don’t do any field trips, we bring the field trips to us,” Bennett explained.
A camp day lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but registration includes pre-care time and post-care time at no additional charge. Pre-care is available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and post-care from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. “During pre- and post-care this summer, we’re doing clubs,” Bennett explained. “We have an art club, a swim club, or a sports club that the kids get to choose from.”
Registration is open right now and can be done until the first week of camp. Registration is available to five-year-olds who have completed kindergarten up to 12 years old.
The East Pasco Family YMCA is located at 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills, FL 33542. For more information call (813) 780-9622 or visit tampaymca.org and click on the “Locations” tab to be directed to the East Pasco Family YMCA website. ©
