Day camps keep kids busy

By JILLIAN E. KESNER / Journal Staff Writer

Children hang from the monkey bars at War Memorial Park on Tuesday afternoon during a playground program sponsored by United Way and the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation board.

MARTINSBURG — The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation board is hosting events around the county to give kids out of school plenty of ways to stay busy, social and educated this summer, all while having fun.

Monday was the first day for the playground program, which offers low-income families an opportunity to let their kids participate in activities they wouldn’t be able to participate in otherwise, such as swimming, roller skating and mini-golf, organizers say. Although the price is kept low to allow anyone of any income to attend, it is open to all area residents.

The playground program takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day through Aug. 3 at Mill Creek Intermediate School, Valley View Elementary, War Memorial Park, Opequon Elementary, Potomack Intermediate and Hedgesville Elementary.

The program is open to a maximum of 70, which allows Parks & Rec to provide transportation to events. Children pay a fee of $1 plus an additional fee for transportation (50 cents) for the daily activity.

According to recreation coordinator Allie Benton, children must bring a packed lunch. Pre-registration is not required and the program is open to children ages 6 to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.

On-site activities, such as four-square and board games, are played in the morning. In the afternoon, children are shuttled to a different location each day for skating, movies at the Recreation Center or swimming at Lambert or War Memorial park pools.

Fees for all activities are kept low through discounts provided by area businesses. Benton said that Parks & Recreation tries to keep the cost for the day below $6.

Director Steve Catlett said area children have participated in the playground program for 40 years. The program’s been funded by the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle for 10 years.

This year, United Way donated $30,000 to help offset costs.

“We couldn’t have the program without them,” Benton said.

Parks & Recreation uses any profits from the program to buy supplies, such as basketballs, board games and First Aid materials, for the following year.

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation program also hosts 2007 Summer Day Camp, based at Eagle School Intermediate for children ages 6 to 12. The camp operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the Parks and Recreation Web site, and there is a fee of $90 per child for a one-week session. Before and after care is also provided at $4 per hour per child.

Themes for the weeks are now through Friday, Sports; June 25-29, West Virginia Kids in Action; July 2-6, Safety, (no camp July 4); July 9-13, Splishy Splashy; July 16-20, Adventure; July 23-27, History; July 30-Aug. 3, The Arts; Aug. 6-10, Outdoor & Nature; and Aug. 13-17, Water Sports.

Berkeley Summer Day Camp offers educational and recreational activities centered on weekly themes that include sports and games, the arts, field trips and nature-oriented activities. Campers will also enjoy arts and crafts, swimming, roller skating and trips to local attractions. Campers provide their own lunches and drinks.

Parks and Recreation also offers swimming lessons. For more information, visit the Web site at www.mbcparks-rec.org or call (304) 264-4842.