43
Carnival is climax for YMCA camps
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Neehi camper Christian Bonacci was all smiles when he thought about all the fun activities and lessons he experienced during his time at camp this summer.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During the Davis facility's Aug. 18 day camp, carnival festivities began with a camp counselor hot dog eating contest. Counselor Seth Westfall (right) worked hard and chewed rapidly, as he heard exclamations of support from his campers who surrounded him during the contest.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .To celebrate an eventful summer in the Neehi, Curiosity, and Day Camps at the Davis YMCA, the facility offered two full days of fun to each camp. On Aug. 18, to entertain the kids of her Neehi camp, counselor Jennifer Frank (right) teamed up with Jocko the Clown, also known as Steve Blasko (left) to show the students a live transformation into a clown.
By SARAH FOOR
For 10 weeks this summer, the Neehi and Day Camps at Davis YMCA provided local youth with plenty of fun, friendship and learning. To say goodbye to another eventful summer, the YMCA hosted an Aug. 18-19 carnival to show gratitude to their happy campers.
For the 3 to 5-year-olds at Camp Neehi, counselors and campers enjoyed a cookout and presentation on Aug. 18. Steve Blasko, a local Grotto clown who calls himself Yo-Yo, offered to show the campers his transformation from man into clown. Adding some fun to the demonstration was camp counselor Jennifer Frank by creating her own clown persona and entertaining her campers with her ensemble.
“The Neehi campers worked hard this summer, but we shared a lot of laughs,” said coordinator Jennifer Pasavanis. “I hope they made lots of new friends and learned to be helpful and thoughtful of others this summer.”
Over at Day Camp, carnival festivities cemented lasting relationships and stressed self-improvement.
“Our last few weeks at camp have focused on ‘Reach Your Full Potential’ activities. Each camper has created a positive and fun game that can be played by every age group in Day Camp. Working on the games is all about being considerate of others, taking advice and always improving. And today, each kid runs and manages their own games,” explained camp counselor Seth Westfall.
Along with the activities, Day Camp provided an inflatable castle, dunk tank and counselor hot dog eating contest.
Austintown camper Alyssa Lynch said her summer was very well spent.
“I met lots of new people and I loved all the ‘Reach Your Full Potential’ stuff. I think I did exactly that this summer.”