3-week Day Camp to start next Monday

By Kathy Thomson

ResourceCare Summer Day Camp staff is preparing for the upcoming three-week event that starts next Monday, July 9, and there is still room for more children to be included.

According to program coordinator Mindy Ary, the day camp targets students who are otherwise “at loose ends” during the long summer days, and local children from three years old to sixth grade are welcome to attend. 

“We are still accepting registrations,” said program assistant Ragan Riley on Tuesday. “We have 105 children registered right now.”

There were 240 students pre-registered for camp in 2017 and 211 attendees in 2016. In anticipation of continued high numbers, ResourceCare currently has around 50 workers, both paid and volunteer, signed up to help with Day Camp.

Parents who still need to register their children can go to ResourceCare to pre-register.

“If they are unable to pre-register, we will register walk-ups at camp,” said Riley. “But they must bring current vaccination records and we will need information on any food or other allergies.”

Shot Records Needed

Parents of local Resource Center day campers need to remember that all campers must have a documented immunization record to begin the first day of camp. 

“We encourage all parents to pre-register their children for camp so that we can have them ready to go the first day,” said Ary. “Shot records are also required and we are able to pull them from the state website.”

Pre-registration gives the ResourceCare staff time to help access those records through the Texas immunization registry system, ImmTrac. Updated immunization records can be brought by the center to be processed for camp paperwork.

Children without proper vaccination records will be turned away.

Swimming Skills

The camp will screen all campers for swimming competency on the first day of camp.

Strong swimmers may be in the diving, deeper end of the Webb Park pool. Those who do not pass screening will be confined to the shallower splash pad area. 

“This year the three to six-year-old children will swim at a separate time from the older children,” Riley added. 

Prescription Meds

Parents are reminded that any and all medicine to be administered to a camper while at day camp must be in a prescription bottle labeled with the child’s name. 

A staff nurse will be there each day to dispense medications, and the bottles must be correctly labeled.

Daily Activities

Attendees should be dropped off at the Youth Center on weekday mornings, and they will be served a breakfast snack, according to Riley. 

“They will swim everyday,” she added. “The little ones will swim from 11:00 to noon, and the bigger ones from 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. At the end of the day, at 3:00 p.m., the little ones should be picked up at the Youth Center, and the older group of children from the Webb Park pavilion.”

Activities planned for the first week of camp include taking the Chamber of Commerce walking tour of Albany, visits from local police and fire departments, and a visit to The Albany News.

The campers will attend the community Vacation Bible School at Friendship Baptist Church during the second week of camp.

A visit with local EMTs, a trip to the Old Jail Art Center, watching a movie at the Aztec, and going to the Courthouse to meet elected officials are some of the activities planned for the final week.

“The older children will also get to go to The Feed Store and to high school for sports,” Riley added.

Warm nutritional meals for lunch are sponsored by the Texas Department of Human Services Summer Food Program, and will be served at the Youth Center.

“Because of food program rules, outside food is not allowed at the camp, including lunches,” said Riley. 

The program assistant added that parents can notify the camp workers about any food restrictions or allergies, and they will work with the need. Alternately, parents can pick up their child and take them home for lunch, and bring them back to camp afterwards.

Donations Requested

Anyone who would like to contribute to the camp can send tax deductible donations to Resource Care Center, PO Box 2435, Albany TX 76430. Donors should designate that the funding be used for the “Day Camp.” 

“We especially need donations of sunscreen, and money or supplies for specific art and craft items,” Riley said.

For more information, contact the Resource Center at 762-2447.

To register children from age three through sixth grade, contact Ary at ResourceCare at 325-762-2447, extension 112.