By: Bethany Vega
Are you stressing about what you child will do this summer? Many summer camps that are fun and educational have a cost that is associated with them. Southwest Council provides a free camp called Camp YEY, a leadership day camp on youth empowering youth. Camp YEY is packed with fun, adventure, and education.
Camp YEY is geared towards youth going into fourth grade through eighth grade in the Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. We don’t stop there though. If a youth is going in to ninth through twelfth grade, they can apply to be a Counselor Assistant and work with our team leaders on helping the youth with leadership qualities while also gaining volunteer hours. Our CAs go through a training to teach them the lessons campers will be learning, as well as the different activities campers will be participating in so they are able to help!
What will your youth do and learn while at Camp YEY? We have team time each morning that your child will work with their team members to come up with a team cheer and poster. Each day there are new leadership qualities they will learn about as well as a character education lesson (how to communicate with one another, self esteem and self image, etc.) that involves fun and games. You child will work with their team in gaining the most points during our Color Wars activities. During Color Wars there might be games where they are running around, a scavenger hunt, or using problem solving skills to reach a goal. Each camper will go with their team to learn new life skills, and team building exercises. Youth will have a chance to learn archery, do a high/low ropes course, and fly through the air on the zipline! The last day of camp is what we call Family Fun Day. Families are invited to come to the camp for the award ceremony and see the team cheers! Families are also allowed to stay to have lunch and different fun and games we put on!
There is no cost for your youth to attend the camp! Southwest Council is grant funded which allows us to put on certain programs with no cost to the participants. We love to see youth having fun and have the opportunity to attend the camp which is why we try to overcome any barriers families might have. We provide transportation, a morning snack, and lunch. Campers are welcome to bring their own lunch and be dropped off and picked up by parents and guardians if chosen to.
Camp YEY dates for 2019 will be August 5-9 for campers going into sixth through eighth grade, and August 12-16 for campers going into fourth through fifth grade. Pre-registration opens April 1st through May 31st or until all space is filled, whichever comes first. It is a first come first serve basis so if you are interested please make sure you pre-register and send in all information requested as soon as possible. If you are interested in having your youth participate in Camp YEY as a camper or CA, please visit us on facebook for all updates on pre-registration and information regarding Camp YEY at www.facebook.com/campyey or visit us on our website at www.southwestcouncil.org/campyey . Should you have questions or comments about the camp feel free to reach out to Bethany Vega who is the new camp director at campyey@southwestcouncil.org or via phone at (856)-794-1011 x 323.
