County to offer Day Camp, tennis programs
WAYNESBURG – The official first day of summer might not be until June 20, but with school officially out and the warm weather finally making a welcome appearance, it is obvious that the summer season has unofficially begun in Greene County. As is tradition for the area, the 2013 summer season will offer a variety of recreational activities for young and old alike, including the county’s Day Camp and tennis programs.
County Day Camp to start June 17
Greene County children ages 5 to 15 years old will be able to enjoy free activities this summer when the county Day Camp program launches Monday, June 17. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until July 26.
Jake Blaker, county director of recreation, said that he is excited about this year’s Day Camp program.
“We are ready to go, and we are looking forward to another great year,” Blaker said. “The program provides a great opportunity for local youths to enjoy the summer. We’re expecting high attendance numbers, and we’re confident that those who attend this year are really going to be pleased with what’s in store for them.”
Blaker said this year’s Day Camp will celebrate a milestone.
“2013 will mark the 20th Day Camp, and we truly believe that this year will the biggest and best yet,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls from people asking about the Day Camp. We’re getting our counselors trained, and everyone on board with this year’s Day Camp is raring to go.”
Pre-registration for Day Camp will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 14, at all camp locations. Registration for day camp can be made at any time during the six-week session. This year, Day Camp locations include Jefferson Township Park in Jefferson, Lions Club Park in Waynesburg, Mon View Park in Greensboro, Ryerson Station State Park in Wind Ridge and Wana B Park in Carmichaels. Sign-ups will also be held at Bobtown Elementary School in Bobtown and Morris Township Community Center in Nineveh. The two sites will serve as drop-off and pick-up locations this year; Bobtown campers will be bussed to Mon View Park, and Nineveh campers will be bussed to Ryerson Station State Park.
Campers will have a variety of activities scheduled for them each day, including arts and crafts, games and educational programs. They may also swim at any of the three county pools for only $2 per day. All campers will receive a 2013 Day Camp T-shirt that they can color and personalize.
Lunches will be provided to campers at all sites through a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Community Foundation of Greene County. The Carmichaels Area and Central Greene school districts will prepare the meals daily as part of the Greene County Summer Food Program, an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state Department of Education.
All meals, supplies and activities are provided free of charge to campers. The Day Camp program is funded through sponsors, Greene County Commissioners and Department of Recreation fundraisers such as the Miss Greene County Pageant, held in March, and the Dock to Lock 5K Run/Walk, held in May.
Returning this year, the Washington-Greene Job Training Agency, Inc., will administer Camp Challenge with funding provided by the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation. The mission of Camp Challenge is to educate the youth of Greene County about positive lifestyles and career choices, while providing a fun interactive approach and environment.
Also returning, the Monon Center will provide Art experiences. The classes will promote creativity and imagination through the hands on experience of creating the children’s own work. Funding made possible (in part) by a grant from the Forget-Me-Not Fund of Community Foundation of Greene County.
Major sponsors of this year’s Day Camp include the Greene County Commissioners, Alpha Natural Resources, CONSOL Energy, as well as Columbia Gas of Pa, Community Bank, Energy Corporation of America, First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County, Hartman & Hartman Inc, McCracken Pharmacy, R&D Watters Septic Service, SCI-Greene, Walmart &Waynesburg University,
Providing additional support are the Girl Scouts of the Western Pa, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Greene County Human Services, Flenniken Library System and Michael’s Auto.
During the last week of Day Camp, children ages five to eight will enjoy a “Track and Field Day” at Waynesburg High School. Ages nine to 15 will enjoy a Pittsburgh field trip with Just Ducky Tours. For the Camp Challenge sponsored field trips, ages five to eight must attend one out of four sessions, and ages nine to 15 must attend three out of four sessions.
On July 26, an end of the year picnic will be held at Wana B Park. Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Waynesburg will provide funding for an Obstacle Course, Boulder Dash and Wizard Fun House from Elf Entertainment. Pizzas, sponsored by Dominos in Carmichaels, and soda are provided for all campers during the party.
Day Camp will not be held Thursday, July 4, due to the holiday. For more information on the summer Day Camp program, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.
County to offer tennis camp, lessons
The Greene County Department of Recreation will offer an all-ages week-long tennis camp, as well as private lessons, at the county’s tennis courts on Rolling Meadows Road in Waynesburg.
The tennis camp will run from Monday, July 15, through Friday, July 19. Instruction sessions are 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. for children ages 7 to 11, and 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 12 and older. The camp costs $55 and includes a T-shirt. The deadline to register for the camp is Monday, July 8. The first 12 people enrolled for each session will be accepted, and a $10 deposit is required with registration.
Camp instructors will be Ron Headlee and John Buchanan, both certified United States Tennis Association instructors.
Both men have played tennis competitively for years and have worked with young children, with Buchanan currently in charge of the Greene County tennis league.
The Department of Recreation will also offer private lessons this summer in the form of one-hour sessions. The sessions cost $25 for one person, or $40 for two or four people, and are all-ages. In addition to Headlee and Buchanan, Jessica Bazzoli, a competitive player from Fairmont State University, will teach lessons.
The tennis camp is sponsored by the Greene County Commissioners and the Department of Recreation.
For more information, or to register for the tennis camp or lessons, call 724-852-5323.