After a year of absence, the YMCA popular summer camp is set to begin on Monday
By Andrew Coakley
FN Sports Editor
The YMCA may still be a long way off from bouncing back, in terms of its physical structure, but the upcoming launch of its Summer programme is an indication that the YMCA is quickly reclaiming its place within the community.
The Summer programme is set to begin this Monday, June 26 on the YMCA grounds and will run for six weeks.
The Programme had to be put on hold last year because of the hurricanes that passed through Grand Bahama, but this year, Executive Director, Karon Johnson, said that she's happy to have the programme back this year.
"I'm excited to be able to announce that we will be having the YMCA Summer Camp this year," said Karon, in an interview with The Freeport News.
"For so long, this programme has been a big part of the Grand Bahama community and when it was stopped due to the hurricanes, people have been wondering if we were going to bring it back.
"Well, it's back and promises to be even more exciting."
The last time the programme was held was in 2004 and then over 150 kids were participants. However, Johnson said that space at this year's camp will be limited.
The Summer Camp will be held Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Unlike summer camps in the past, this year, more activities have been added to the programme.
Some of the activities planned for kids at this year's camp include swimming, golf lessons, track and field, arts & crafts, field trips and social games.
Karon says that one of the main focuses at this year's camp, in addition to providing wholesome activities for kids, is a focus on safety.
She said that the camp will have a number of Counsellors (Senior and Junior) to ensure the safety of each child.
"The Counsellors is a diverse group of people, inclusive of teachers, college students and some high school kids," noted Johnson.
"We want to ensure safety for the kids while they're taking part in the summer programme."
The senior Counsellors will be responsible for arts & crafts, ensuring that the kids get to the different activities on time, keeping order among the kids and will be with the kids during all activities.
Junior Counsellors will assist senior Counsellors, with their main focus on keeping each child in their care safe during all activities. Johnson said that all of the Counsellors underwent First Aid training and have been certified.
The camp will also cater to kids between the ages of three-13, with a "Baby-Bug" camp, specifically designed for kids ages three to four.
"We wanted to include something for the youngest kids because we know that their needs will be much different than the older kids," said Johnson.
"Those kids will participate in swim lessons, arts & craft, story time, play time and nap time.
"The programmes have been designed for 30-minute activities, because we know that kids around that age, their attention span is very limited, and we don't want to overwhelm them."
Registration for the camp can be completed at a temporary YMCA office out of the Brian Hanna Law Firm until Monday, when the office will be relocated back to the YMCA premises.
The cost of the summer camp will be $50 per child, with a special discount for a second and third child.
"We try to keep the rate as low as possible because there is no big profit in it for the 'Y', because it's more geared to building character in our young people," said Johnson.
"We feel that prevention is better than cure and if we can implement positive values in our children at an early age, it will filter into their adult life.
"If you can help change an adult, then that adult will affect a family. A family can affect a neighbourhood.
"A neighbourhood can in turn affect a community. And that's where we want to start."
Johnson noted that the beauty of the YMCA Summer Camp is the fact that the kids will get to learn a variety of things, including various sporting disciplines.
She noted that the summer camp is unique in its approach and she believes that all participants will leave benefitting from the camp.
"I'm excited, the Board of Directors are excited about this camp and we believe that this year will be very successful," added Johnson.
GIVING BACK - Mario Pickstock, son of former vice-president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, stepped forward to lend a hand to the Charlie "Softly" Robins' Summer basketball Camp, being held at the Jack Hayward gym. Above, Mario (fourth from right) hands a cheque to one of the campers during a special session of the camp on Wednesday morning. Mario, who is founder and owner of Omak Recycling in Nassau, said that because he loves the game of basketball, he wants to do what he can to assist young people of The Bahamas, and when he was called upon by "Softly" (right) he didn't hesitate to do what he could to assist. Third from left is Coach Norris Bain, special guest speaker at the camp on Wednesday morning.
