Kids Get Into The Swing Of Summer Camp

By Kendra Bobowick

At last school has finished and thoughts of ice cream, games, swing sets, and summer camp cross children’s minds. Dickinson Day Camp Site Director Alison Mitchell sat quietly in the shade under the gazebo and cut shapes of stars and triangles from construction paper. Looking up she smiled as she saw several counselors and counselors in training puzzling over a chessboard or passing a kickball in a circle with campers.

Across the footbridge and in the open fields at Dickinson a water slide waited for the slick, laughing bodies of young residents to slip from one end to the other, then line up for another ride. Despite the games, slide, and playground, the camp was quieter than it has been in past years since the Dickinson Pond was closed and filled in before the start of last year’s camp. In its second season without a pool, Ms Mitchell agreed that enrollment is down.

“In some ways it’s nice because you can do more,” she said, but her voice faded as she shrugged her shoulders.

Counselor in training Colin Smith made his chess moves against William Ferris as the two spent their morning over game strategy. Colin intends to come back as a full counselor next year.

Kicking her legs and asking for a push, Megan Riccardi, 4, learned the dynamics of the swing set as she tossed her hair and tried to pump her legs. Behind her, as soft sprays of water wet the slide, another group of campers left their clothes in heaps, and wearing their swimsuits, smeared sunscreen along their shoulders and got ready for a trip down the slide. Near the gazebo Jillian Reilly swirled her towel, and counselors Lauren Bucci and Jill Tanner crouched down beside 5-year-old Jessica Andreotta, who had kicked an inflated ball across the field then stopped to rest in the shade.

On Tuesday morning Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian, who was out shopping for camp supplies, said that the pool closing was probably the reason registration has dropped at Dickinson. “We only have about half of last year’s enrollment,” she said. Thoughts of canceling Dickinson or combining those campers with Treadwell Park’s camp did not cross her mind, however.

“I didn’t want to cancel, the kids are enjoying it,” she said. Ms Kasbarian said that parents of the children at Dickinson don’t mind that there is no swimming. “We have no plans not to have it.”

Treadwell has seen a slight increase in campers, with roughly 150 sign-ups, which is not counting the grades 5 and 6 students enjoying their own camp this year. The middle school camp has also thriving. The recreation department also offers a variety of sport and specialty camps. For many families, humid days filled with games, snacks, and friends who attend camp is an experienced passed from parents to their children.

Is it a tradition?

“Yes, it is,” Ms Kasbarian said.