Summer Camps: A Win-Win For All

I used to love summer break when my kids were young. I liked the slower pace, and the fact that we didn’t have to worry about routine, homework, or packing lunches. Bedtimes were more relaxed, especially when fireflies lit up the dusk sky. Those first weeks of June felt like a deep breath. But then, come July, when I began to feel like all I did was walk around my kitchen preparing meals and washing dishes, I found it was a good thing to have some activities planned for my kids so that we could all have some space from one another. Enter summer camp.

We are so fortunate to live in a community with such a vital and dynamic park service. The Centerville Washington Park District summer camp programs are such a great option for summer fun for so many adventure-seeking kids.

During many of my daily walks which find me at various nearby parks, I weave my steps around the groups of children being led through nature walks by their camp leaders. There’s nothing like exploring nature and playing outside games. The other morning, I made my way to a park near my house where I knew my 6-year-old grandson, Daniel was a camp participant. I navigated my away alongside the tree lined path. I heard the playfulness of the kids before I actually saw them. There is nothing better than hearing summer sounds of children laughing and delighting one another while simply playing together. Around the bend, I spotted my bee-bopping grandson, of course, climbing around the rocks which lined the walking path. We gave each other a quick hug, and I continued on, still delighting in the sounds of summer. Their giggles and banter with one another left me with a lingering smile.

Later, I picked Daniel up at the end of his camp day. I was given a report by the young adult camp leader in charge of dismissing the kids. He told me how delightful my grandson is (of course), and then reminded Daniel not to forget the popsicle-stick-pipe-cleaner caterpillar craft they all made earlier in the day. Daniel yelled good-bye to his camp friends, and they all, in turn, yelled back. “SEE YOU TOMORROW.”  

The Centerville Washington Park District Summer Camp Program is a well-oiled machine that has been a go-to for parents of young children for a long time. I remember when my daughter was a camp leader years ago. Each day she showed up in her khaki shorts and forest green park district t-shirt and spent her mornings with children from throughout the community reminding them to drink plenty of water in between dodge ball games.  And as a parent, I remember being grateful for the opportunity to engage my kids in a summer camp that got them out of the house and into a safe environment that, quite frankly, gave me a much needed reprieve in my  role as activity coordinator for my 4 children.

There are a multitude of reasons why I appreciate our local government services. But as we welcome July, I share a moment of appreciation for all the young high school and college aged kids who care enough about younger kids to spend the day with them playing in the park. There are most likely a multitude of young moms who share in that appreciation for our park service and their enthusiastic and energetic workers. Where in the world of summer would we be without those who bring our parks to life?