Steve Fortier, Executive Director, Meeting Waters YMCA asked me to share this information with you. – Lil

Over the past 49 summers, Meeting Waters YMCA has helped more than 12,000 area youth learn, grow and thrive in the summer months. This year marks the 50^th consecutive summer they’ll keep kids moving, learning, and exploring during the summer months when all too many children are experiencing summer learning loss and summer weight gain.

To give youth an adventurous, active and healthy summer, Meeting Waters YMCA is offering its camps for 5-15 year olds from throughout southeastern Vermont and southwestern NH. All camps are based at the regional Y’s 52-acre Lewis Day Camp facility, located on Route 5 in Springfield, just off I-91. The camp property is bordered by the Springfield Town Forest and the Black River, creating a unique natural setting for the programs. Bus service is provided to and from camp each day from Brattleboro, Putney, Westminster, Bellows Falls, Chester, Springfield, Walpole, North Walpole and Charlestown.

In addition, the regional Y’s camps participate in the federal Summer Food Program through a partnership with Springfield Family Center. All campers—regardless of town of residence or family income—qualify for a free healthy lunch each day.

Meeting Waters YMCA offers four different camp experiences. It’s Y Day Camp for 6-13 year-olds offers eight one-week and four two-week sessions. Y Day Camp features canoeing, archery, swim lessons, sports and adventure games, arts and crafts, nature and education. KinderCamp provides children entering kindergarten in the fall these same experiences as they transition from child care to school. Family Camp provides an opportunity for parents to join their children in enjoying various camp activities. And, the Y’s Leader-in-Training program provides a week of leadership development with youth leadership author and consultant Steve Fortier, followed by three weeks working alongside camp staff to practice the leadership, group management and facilitation skills they have honed during the week-long training.

“Meeting Waters YMCA’s camps provide a variety of opportunities to help ensure that youth are learning and being physically active in the summer, a time of exploration,” says Susan Fortier, Meeting Waters Y’s Program Director. “Campers also learn how to be responsible and resourceful, work in groups, solve problems and make decisions that will help them grow as individuals – all while having lots of fun.”

Registration for the upcoming camp season has begun. Meeting Waters YMCA encourages parents to give their kids the gift of camp. And, to ensure that all youth have the chance to experience camp, the regional Y offers financial assistance and accepts child care subsidy from both NH and VT.

Camp Open Houses will be held on Saturday, May 17^th from 10-noon; Monday, June 9^th from 5-7 and Thursday, June 19^th from 5-7.

For more information, visit http://www.meetingwatersymca.org or call the Y at their office nearest you—Brattleboro area: 246-1036; Springfield area: 885-8131; or BF and Fall Mountain area: 463-4769.

Meeting Waters YMCA is a charitable, social service organization founded in 1895. Its programs and services focus on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility and family strengthening throughout the the Fall Mountain, Bellows Falls, Springfield and Brattleboro regions.