Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

It’s that time of year again when the kids say good-bye to school and hello to summertime.
If some parents are wondering what their children are going to do with all that free time, think no further than the Tyrone YMCA’s Camp Sun-N-Fun for children ages three to 15. This fun-filled ten week summer day camp offers a variety of activities to keep children entertained all summer long.
Camp Sun-N-Fun is held at the Bellwood-Antis Community Park and Pool. It offers a different theme each week so the children never get bored, and weekly field trips add to the festivities of the camp.
Arts and crafts, sports activities, group games, and recreational swimming are combined with progressive swimming lessons taught by trained staff to make each day at camp exciting and new for the kids.
Children are divided into age groups, three to five; six to eight and nine to fifteen with different camp counselors assigned to each group in order to provide the children with the instruction and support they need, depending on the age level.
A typical day at Camp Sun-N-Fun consists of the children arriving at the Bellwood Recreation Park by 9 a.m. and then playing on the newly refurbished playground equipment. Then an arts and crafts activity is carried out, and group games are played until 10:45 a.m. when the children all go to the pool.
Children are instructed in swimming lessons for an hour. Then the kids eat lunch inside the pool area where there are picnic tables and a volleyball net. After lunch, the children have free time in the pool for an hour. After that, the kids travel back to the pavilions and play games and do arts and crafts and are back at the YMCA by 3 p.m.
The camp counselors are certified in CPR and First Aid, and they have also received training in order to provide the best quality of care for the children. This year’s staff include: Andrea Genesi, Danny Coho, Samantha McAllister, Lindera Nale and Kendra Blaska. Also, there is a part-time staff member, Melissa Anders and camp director, Linda Klesius.
Children can sign up for all ten weeks of camp, or they can choose one week to attend. The cost per week depends on if the child is a member or non-member of the YMCA. Also, morning and afternoon care is available but is not included in the price of camp.
Cost per week: base camp, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., member $67, non-member $85; a.m. ext. care, 6 a.m. – 9 a.m., member $22.50; non-member $37.50; p.m. ext. care, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., member $22.50; non-member $37.50 and ext. care deal a.m. and p.m., member $39 and non-member $55.
There is a one time fee of $7 for a camp shirt which must be purchased and worn on designated field trip days. There is a three day minimum requirement to all camp weeks.
The camp weeks and field trips are scheduled as followed. Field trips are subject to change.
June 9 – 13: Crazy Sports Week. The field trip will be bowling and then a trip to Legion Park in Hollidaysburg;
June 16-20: Crazy Critter Week. The field trip will be to the bug museum at Penn State University and then to the Creamery;
June 23 – 27: Exploring the Arts Week. The field trip will be going to a movie at the theaters;
June 30 – July 4: Crazy Sports Week. The field trip will be to Legion Park and then to Slinky Action Zone;
July 7 – 11: Discovering the Outdoors Week. The field trip will be to Shaver’s Creek;
July 14 – 18: Water Week. The field trip will be to DelGrosso Water Park;
July 21 -25: Safari Week. The field trip will be to Penns Cave with a safari and tour through the caves;
July 28 – Aug. 1: YMCA Week. The field trip will be YMCA Day at DelGrosso’s Park with the kids riding the rides and playing games at the park;
Aug. 4 – 8: Crazy Sports Week. The field trip will be announced;
Aug. 11 – 15: Wet Week. The field trip will be to Lakemont Park water park and riding the rides at the park.
“This way the kids are outside everyday, making new friends,” said Klesius. “We have kids from Tyrone, Bellwood and Altoona coming to our camp, and they make lasting friendships.”
Anyone interested in obtaining a camp booklet can pick it up at the front desk of the YMCA or call 684-2740 for more information about Camp Sun-N-Fun.

By Rick