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Summer Camps Are a Big Hit
The Boys & Girls Club was in full swing this summer with some 330 area youths taking advantage of a variety of camping opportunities. With so many different camps to choose from – Adventure, Sports, Teen Travel, Boater Education, and Camp Go (just for girls), enrollment reached record highs and required a staff of 70 counselors.
Among the counseling staff were 35 Boys & Girls Club teens that completed the Job Ready Program and were given internships as junior camp counselors.
"All of the camps were busy with new and exciting activities," notes Reggie Coleman, associate executive director. "From the new all-girl camp to unique sports activities like American Gladiator, our kids really enjoyed themselves this summer," he adds.
Adventure Camp kids learned about natural life in New Jersey through bird watching, identification of trees native to the state, trips to nature preserves, and instruction about ecosystems. Campers also enjoyed music and digital arts programming, arts and crafts, and a book club.
"This is my favorite camp in the world because we get to do art and play on the computer," exclaimed Najiyah Rush-Hagins, a five year old participant.
Sports Camp included water and boating safety, canoeing, baseball clinics, soccer, football, roller skating and swimming. The Club pool was always filled with kids both playing and learning how to swim.
"I really like coming to camp because I get to go in the pool and it’s a lot of fun to learn to swim," remarked five year old Norel Hampton.
Camp Go enrolled 32 girls, age eight to 11, who enjoyed sessions on cooking, grooming, arts and crafts, and reading about successful women. They also heard guest speakers discuss their careers, including a group from the Air Force. (See photo at right.)
Travel Camp took teens to throughout the tri-state area for educational and entertainment purposes. Among their stops were college and preparatory schools, museums, other Boys and Girls Clubs in New Jersey, and amusement parks.
"Our campers get to see more places in two months than most of their friends get to see in a lifetime," notes Drew Whitmore, teen services director.
"Teens really love coming here during the summer, and we see that every day in the smiles they have on their faces," he added.
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