From staff reports
The YMCA summer day camp will provide plenty of opportunities for area youths during the 12 weeks of summer.
The program is operated by the Oil City YMCA and Clarion County YMCA at YMCA Camp Coffman, located just off Route 322 in Cranberry. Bus transportation is provided.
Children will be grouped by age and will make friends, ride horses, explore nature, and create lifelong memories all under the guidance of camp counselors.
“Our goal is to make camp even more fun,” said Jennifer Cooper, camp and child care director at the Y.
“We’ve added more horseback riding to camp this year, and the older kids will go on extended staff-led trail rides. The younger kids will still ride horses, but the rides will be shorter and led by counselors,” Cooper said.
Other major draws to camp include walking trails, climbing tower and zip-line, archery and field trips.
YMCA Summer Day Camp is for children ages 6 to 12.
Summer Day Camp is held weekly throughout the summer. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended care available beginning at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m.
Campers will be given a healthy breakfast and lunch each day.
The themes for the weekly camp include:
June 5 – Aloha Week
June 12 – Bug’s Life
June 19 – Game Show Week
June 26 – Captain Y & Superheros
July 3 – Jurassic World
July 10 – Summer Fiesta
July 17 – On the Ball
July 24 – Splashtopia
July 31 – Outdoor Explorers
Aug. 7 – Food Frenzy
Aug. 14 – Drama-o-rama
Aug. 21 – Camp Pride Week
Field trips are held every Friday. Destinations include Waldameer, Seneca Lanes, Two Mile Run County Park, Limestone fire hall, Pymatuning, Hasson Heights dek hockey and swimming, Asbury Woods, Pizza Hut and The Rink.
Cost is $115 for a five-day week or $90 for a three-day week. Scholarships and financial aid is available based on income, plus there is an essay contest that will award a full-week scholarship to two campers, one from Venango County and one from Clarion County.
The contest is open to any child ages 6 to 12. Essays should not be longer than 600 words. Children should write why they think a week at summer camp would benefit them. Drawn pictures are also encouraged.
Essay contest forms are available online at www.campcoffman.com.
Completed forms can be mailed or taken to the Oil City YMCA at 7 Petroleum St.
The deadline to submit an essay is Friday, May 19.
More information about camp and registration materials are available online at www.campcoffman.com.