City day camp gives kids a time to learn and play

Mahoning Valley Sanitary District Park is the only site that is offering sign language lessons.
By VANESSA SCHUTZ
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Richard Koker lives down the street from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District Park in Youngstown.
Two days a week he spends his time inside the park's fence teaching children the importance of learning sign language and understanding the world of the deaf.
"It teaches them to interact with their schoolmates and that there are deaf people out there," Koker said.
The volunteer, who taught himself sign language, is sharing his knowledge with 88 registered campers at MVSD Park as part of education time during the free City of Youngstown Park and Recreation Commission Summer Day Camp.
The camp, which has been in existence for more than 25 years, is running at 11 different park sites in the Youngstown area, including MVSD, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday from June 16 through Aug. 19. The camp is for youngsters up to age 18.
What's offered
Campers participate in recreational programs such as baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and swimming once a week. The campers also take playful and educational field trips to such places as Skate Zone, Chuck E. Cheese, bowling lanes and the Butler Institute of American Art.
The children are nourished with breakfast and lunch during their seven-hour day.
Each site is monitored by a supervisor and managed by several directors per site, depending on the size of the park and number of campers, according to the Youngstown Park and Recreation Department.
Children can register all summer for the camp at the Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership, at 101 Federal Plaza.
I think it's nice to have programs like this to rebuild our city," Koker said. "There are children from different cultures and different backgrounds that can come together and enjoy themselves through recreation and learning."
But learning at the camp knows no age.
Learned from children
MVSD Park camp director Samantha Shepard, 21, of Youngstown credits her plans to her leadership with the children at camp.
Previously an accounting major at Youngstown State University, Shepard learned she would be better suited in early childhood education after being involved as a director for the past four years.
"I started working at the camp because I was away at school and needed a summer job," Shepard said. "It made me aware that I really do like working with kids."
She helps administer an Ohio Reads program through the camp, where participants are required to read either 20 books or complete 20 hours of reading throughout the course of the summer.
The camp also sponsors visits from Heartreach Ministry to speak to children about life lessons and a sporting competition once a week at the sports complex on Erie Street against teams from all campsites.
With so much activity going on, Koker feels keeping the children's attention is not a problem.
"The children think that summertime is all play and games, but something like this they're total interested in," he said. "Their attention span is usually only about a half-hour, but they don't mind this camp."
vschutz@vindy.com