COUNTY DAY CAMP PROGRAM TO START JUNE 20 News Release: June 2, 2011 Contact: Elizabeth Menhart, Communications Director/Tourism (724-852-5210)
WAYNESBURG, PA — 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 20. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until July 29.
Registration for Day Camp will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 17, at all camp locations. 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 2011 Day Camp T-shirt that they can color and personalize.
New to Day Camp this year will be programs presented by Penn State Cooperative Extension and Creative Industries of Greene County. Penn State Cooperative Extension will lead programs on geocaching, a scavenger hunt that utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
Creative Industries will provide art classes taught by two instructors, Sarah Rizzi and Dara Puskarich, who will lead classes for children ages 5-8 and ages 9-13. The classes will run each week for one hour and will focus on promoting creativity and imagination. The art classes are made possible in part through grants from the Community Foundation of Greene County, Creative Industries of Greene County, Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation and the Monon Center, Inc.
Camp Challenge, administered by the Washington Greene County Job Training Agency, Inc., will return to Day Camp this year. 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.
For campers ages 9-15 who attend the required number of Camp Challenge program days, a field trip to Pittsburgh is being planned. Campers ages 5-8 will take a field trip to the Greene County Historical Museum. Activities there will include a tour, family tree lesson, scavenger hunt, history-related art, storytelling and music. Camp Challenge and the two field trips are being funded by the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Waynesburg are also sponsoring an end-of-camp picnic, planned for July 29 at Wana B Park. The festivities will include food and a “4 in 1 Fun House,” obstacle course and wrecking ball, courtesy of Elf Entertainment.
Lunches will be provided to campers at all sites through a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The Carmichaels Area, Central Greene and West 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. Throughout Day Camp, Vocelli Pizza will also provide one free pizza party at each camp site.
All meals, supplies and activities are provided free of charge to campers. The Day Camp program is funded through sponsors and Department of Recreation fundraisers such as the Miss Greene County Pageant, held in March, and the Dock to Lock 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run, held in May.
Major sponsors of this year’s Day Camp include the Greene County Commissioners, Alpha Natural Resources and CONSOL Energy, as well as Community Bank, Cornerstone Care, First Federal Savings & Loan of Greene County, Greene Alliance for Development, Greene Waste Services LLC, Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania, SCI-Greene and Waynesburg University.
Providing additional support are the American Judo-Hapkido Institute, Girl Scouts of the USA, Greene County Human Services, Greene County Library System, Michael’s Auto/Lewis Limousine and Rohanna’s Golf Course & Restaurant.
Day Camp will not be held Monday, July 4, due to the Fourth of July holiday. For more information on the summer Day Camp program, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
