BELLOWS FALLS — With a solid foundation of 51 summers of camp and over 12,000 area youth served, leaders of Meeting Waters YMCA are excited about some community-responsive changes they're making this year.
The regional Y is adding a ninth week of camp, one more than in the past. They'll also be offering before- and after-camp programs for the first time to provide greater supports for working parents.
The regional Y offers four different camp experiences. It's Y Day Camp for 6-13 year-olds offers nine one-week sessions between June 20th and August 19th. The Y's Leader-in-Training program provides a week of leadership development (June 27-31) with youth leadership author and consultant Steve Fortier, followed by three weeks working alongside camp staff. Family Camp takes place on Saturday July 23rd. KinderCamp provides children entering kindergarten in the fall with a confidence-building experience from August 15th through 19th.
All camps are based at the regional Y's 52-acre Lewis Day Camp facility, located on Route 5 in Springfield, just off I-91. Bus service is provided to and from camp each day from Brattleboro, Putney, Westminster, Bellows Falls, and five other VT and NH towns.
The regional Y's camps participate in the federal Summer Food Program. All campers-regardless of town of residence or family income-qualify for a free healthy lunch each day.
Registration for the upcoming camp season has begun. To ensure that all youth have the chance to experience camp, the regional Y offers financial assistance from donations to its Reach Out to Youth fundraising campaign and accepts state child care financial assistance from both NH and VT.
A Camp Open House will be held on Saturday, May 21st from 1-3pm at the Y's Lewis Day Camp facility on Missing Link Road/Route 5 in Springfield.