Jul 15, 2018 4 min read

Officials say Greene County’s 2018 Summer Day Camp program has been a success since it began in mid-June, and there is still time for area youth, ages 5 to 15 years old, to sign up for camp’s many free activities.

The camp runs Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., through July 27.

“We’ve had great numbers so far this year, and we hope even more youths get to the camp sites and have a great time, before the 2018 season comes to a close,” said Jake Blaker, director of the county’s recreation department.

Children may sign up any day at any of the Day Camp locations – Lions Club Park in Waynesburg, Mon View Park in Greensboro and Wana B Park in Carmichaels.

For the final two weeks of Day Camp, Ryerson Station State Park in Wind Ridge will serve as another location. The park typically serves as a Day Camp location each summer but the park’s pool did not open in time for the start of this year’s camp.

Pick up/drop off sites for Day Campers include Bobtown Elementary School in Bobtown, Jefferson Township Park in Jefferson, Nemacolin Fire Hall in Nemacolin and Morris Township Community Center in Nineveh.

Bobtown campers are taken by bus to Mon View Park, and Jefferson and Nemacolin campers to Wana B Park. Nineveh campers will be taken to Ryerson.

This summer’s Day Camp is the third year for the educational program and is called “UPSTREAM,” or “YoU being Physical in Science, Technology, Recreation, Engineering, Art and Math.”

The program capitalizes on the increasing interest in the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – that have been identified as key growth areas for jobs, with the potential for kids to establish an early relationship with the fields that may turn into a career path.

As part of “UPSTREAM,” the campers spent one recent morning making “Floam,” an experiment combining bean bag packing, glue and liquid starch together. The liquid starch takes the stickiness away from the glue, creating a slime-like texture; the campers then added paint to it for a coloring effect. They were then able to take some “Floam” home.

Campers are also participating in a nutrition program titled “Lettuce Turnip the Beet” taught by Penn State Cooperative Extension. The lessons focus on healthy food and lifestyle and include discussions on the importance of fruits, vegetables and water.

The camp also includes arts and crafts, games and additional educational programs. They may also swim at any of the three county pools for only $2 per day.

The educational programs have included a presentation by Dr. Nancy Fox and Cassidy Colbert focusing on ticks and Lyme Disease health and awareness. The two women – both who were diagnosed with and infected by the tick-borne disease – shared their personal stories, focused on the dangers of ticks and presented the campers with instructional, informative coloring books and brochures.

Another program being offered in July will drive campers “buggy,” as instructor Mary Gall brings live insects to camps and discusses the different bugs at length.

Other upcoming programs will include presentations by Bowlby and Flenniken Public Libraries, Greene County Conservation District, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Greene County Human Services and Domestic Violence Services of SWPA.

On July 27, an end-of-the-year field trip will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds in the morning and at EQT Rec Center in the afternoon.

Lunches are provided each day to campers through a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Community Foundation of Greene County. The Carmichaels Area, Central Greene and West Greene School Districts are preparing 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 the Greene County Commissioners and Department of Recreation fundraisers such as the Dock to Lock 5K Run/Walk, held in May each year.

Additional sponsors of this year’s Day Camp include Amerikohl Mining Inc, Chevron, Community Bank, Community Foundation of Fayette County, Community Foundation of Greene County, First Federal of Greene County, Henry & Stewart Audiology Inc., James Farrel Post 330 American Legion, Nathanael Greene CDC, SCI Greene, State Representative Pam Snyder, UMWA, Waynesburg Loyal Order of Moose Lodge # 461, Walmart, Washington Health System Greene and Watters Pools.

For more information on the Greene County Summer Day Camp program, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.