YMCA Camps Put Emphasis on Variety--Sports, Trips, Crafts

It may be months until the fall football season kicks off, but Justin Gudgeon, 11, will be tossing long bombs all summer.

He will spend his school vacation at camps offered by the West Valley Family YMCA. He’ll do arts and crafts, go on field trips and play sports, especially football.

“This is where I want to be,” Justin said, “because people are friendly here and they don’t yell.”

Although some sports activities get a little competitive, Justin said he likes the relaxed atmosphere at the camps where everyone has fun.

The West Valley Family YMCA offers two summer day camps--Sports Camp for first- through sixth-graders, and Discovery Camp for kindergartners through sixth-graders--for $105 a week.

The Discovery Camp, held at Chaparral, Bay Laurel, Lupin Hill, Round Meadow, Vanalden Avenue, Justice Street and Woodlake elementary schools, offers three days of field trips and two days of crafts, sports, cooking and other themed activities each week.

The Sports Camp, held at Lupin Hill Elementary, offers participants two days of field trips, filling the rest of the week with sports.

There’s also a teen camp at a location to be announced, which will offer a variety of activities and teach campers about goal setting, teamwork and planning.

And, new this year, the West Valley Y will offer two weekly and monthly programs beginning in July. Summer Dayz offers programs ranging from parent/child arts and crafts to teen fitness. The Summer Sports clubs offer in-depth instruction in a variety of sports, including golf and basketball.

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WISH LIST

West Valley Family YMCA

(818) 345-7393

* Children’s books: $4 each

* Board games: $10 each

* Hockey sticks, pucks: $50

* Tennis rackets: $15 each

* T-Ball sets: $20 each

* Baseball mitts: $13 each