County day camps begin June 16
WAYNESBURG – Greene County children ages 5 to 15 years old will be able to enjoy free activities this summer when the county Day Camp program launches June 16. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until July 25.
Registration for Day Camp will be held from noon to 3 p.m. June 13 at all camp locations; however, anyone can register for Day Camp at any time during the six-week session.The first week of camp will feature “Chimp Pansy Adventure” with Penn State Cooperative Extension.
This year, Day Camp locations include Jefferson Township Park in Jefferson, Lions Club Park in Waynesburg, Mon View Park in Greensboro, Ryerson Station State Park in Wind Ridge and Wana B Park in Carmichaels. Sign-ups will also be held at Bobtown Elementary School in Bobtown and Morris Township Community Center in Nineveh. These two sites will serve as drop-off and pick-up locations. Bobtown campers will be bused to Mon View and Nineveh campers to Ryerson.
Campers will have a variety of activities scheduled for them each day, including arts and crafts, games and educational programs. They may also swim at any of the county pools for only $2 per day, or at the Ryerson pool for free. All campers will receive a 2014 Day Camp T-shirt that they can color and personalize.
Lunches will be provided to campers at all sites through a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Community Foundation of Greene County. Carmichaels Area, Central Greene and West Greene school districts will prepare the meals daily as part of the Greene County Summer Food Program, an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state Department of Education.
Activities returning this year include Camp Challenge, administered by the Washington Greene County Job Training Agency Inc., with funding provided by the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation. The mission of Camp Challenge is to educate the youth of Greene County about positive lifestyles and career choices, while providing a fun, interactive approach and environment.
Art classes also will return to Day Camp with instructors from the Monon Center. The classes will promote creativity and imagination through hands-on experiences in creating artwork. Funding is made possible in part through a grant from the Community Foundation of Greene County.
Other programs throughout the summer include a history lesson on “Native Americans and Pioneers of Greene County” by the Greene County Historical Society; safety messages about natural gas and carbon monoxide by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania; “Enviroscape” by Greene County Conservation District; sun safety and health education by Waynesburg University’s nursing department; and programs by Domestic Violence Services of SWPA, Flenniken Library, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, Greene County Human Services and Penn State Cooperative Extension.
“Each season, we try to improve and build on the previous programs, or create new and exciting ones,” said Pam Blaker, parks and recreation manager. “And this year, our educational and fun activities will prove to be a great conversation piece at the dinner table.”
During the last week of Day Camp, campers ages 5-8 will enjoy a “Field Day” at a local facility. Campers ages 9-15 will take a field trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. The two field trips will be offered for children who attend a minimum number of Camp Challenge sessions.
On July 25, the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Waynesburg are sponsoring an end-of-camp picnic at Wana B Park. The festivities will include a “Wizard Fun House,” obstacle course, boulder dash and snacks such as sno-cones, cotton candy and popcorn, all courtesy of Elf Entertainment. Domino’s Pizza in Carmichaels will provide pizza for the party.
All meals, supplies and activities are provided free to campers. The Day Camp program is funded through various sponsors, the Greene County commissioners, and Department of Recreation fundraisers such as the Miss Greene County Pageant held in late winter, and the Dock to Lock 5K Run/Walk, held in May.
Major sponsors of this year’s Day Camp include Alpha Natural Resources, Chevron, Consol Energy and Noble Energy, as well as Baily Insurance, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Columbia Pipeline Group, Community Bank, First Federal Savings & Loan of Greene County, McCracken Pharmacy, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, Roy Stouffer Nationwide Insurance, SCI-Greene, Walmart, Waynesburg University and Zone Construction and Excavation LLC.
Providing additional support are Chuck’s Collision, Greensboro VFW Post 6303, Michael’s Auto, Pathways of SWPA and Watter’s Enterprises Inc.
Day Camp will not be held July 4 due to the Fourth of July holiday. For more information on the summer Day Camp program, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.