Published: August 22, 2007 10:47 am      

LYNDONVILLE: YMCA summer program moves to Camp Rainbow with good results

Children who attend the Lake Plains YMCA Summer Camp program have a lot of energy and plenty of space to expend it this year.

Fewer participants and a shortened schedule have added up to the summer program moving into Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville.

The YMCA’s camp usually runs for 10 weeks during the summer, but there weren’t enough kids signed up to attend the program; so organizers decided to shorten it to the three weeks leading up to the youngsters returning to school, according to camp counselor Kathy Gardner. Since the program was shortened by so many weeks, the decision was made to try to find an outdoor day camp setting.

“(YMCA Executive Director) Brian Payne made some calls and wound up getting in contact with the Arc of Orleans, who owns the site,” Gardner said. “They had just finished their five-week program and said they were willing to rent Camp Rainbow to us for a great price.”

Gardner said the extra space, which is almost entirely outdoors and includes a 4-foot-deep swimming pool, has been great for the kids who signed up.

“It’s nice how this camp fit in so nice,” she said. “The kids love coming to camp and they want to keep coming back.”

Program Director Taryn Moyle said she thinks the idea to rent an outdoor site was a good move.

“I think the kids are having a wonderful time,” she said. “I hope we can find a camp site for next year.”

The energy level of the children is a true testimony to Moyle’s observation. Gardner and fellow counselor Kim Swanson planned each day of the program around the theme designated to each week so the kids would never be bored while at the camp, Gardner said. At any one time, the kids might be making crafts, playing games or learning new things through interactive activities.

Last week, which was the first, was themed around nature, and the children played a game of bingo in which they had to find the things on their cards. Payne came to camp and taught the youngsters basic survival techniques, and Gardner borrowed a tip from television chef Rachael Ray to help the kids make their own First Aid ice packs.

This week’s theme is “Wet and Wild,” but they could not do the activities they had planned due to the rain. Rather than waiting around for the rain to stop, as most people do at home, the counselors took the kids into the John Daly building on the site and let them play games or make crafts, showing that the kids have some choice within the plans.

“If there’s something some of the kids don’t want to do – which does happen with young kids – we give them the option of doing another activity,” Gardner said. “We try to keep them busy and happy.”

Madie Callara, who is attending the camp for the first time, said she has made a lot of new friends at camp, while having more fun than she would otherwise.

“It’s a lot better than my house,” she said. “I’m coming back next year.”

Since Camp Rainbow includes a swimming pool, the program required the help of counselors who could watch the kids in the water. YMCA lifeguards Justine DiCureia and Troy Callard help out at the camp every day by playing with the kids and making sure they’re always safe within their environment.

Swanson graduated from high school this year and works for the YMCA at its after-school programs in Medina. She said she will be attending college in the fall with the hopes of becoming a teacher in the future.

“I’m thinking second grade,” she said. “I like younger kids because they don’t judge you. They just want to have fun.”

Gardner, who has been with the YMCA for about a year, said she feels very lucky that the kids in the camp get along so well.

“We haven’t had any bullying or fights,” she said. “I think next year will be great because the kids have gotten a taste of the real camp.”