With school winding down and summer on its way, the local YMCA has started preparing for an influx of children eager for some fun during their school-free afternoons.

The first step in getting ready for summer break, says Allyson Dansby, Y Recreation/Team Director, is finishing the clean-up project of Camp Grist.

The camp hosted a major clean-up a few months ago to clear the debris and damage caused by Hurricane Ivan.

There will be a second clean-up day on May 14, Dansby said, to remove any remaining debris and get the cabins ready for campers.

“The last clean-up went really well,” Dansby said. “We need a big turnout this second time to get the camp ready for the summer.”

For this second event, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers are needed to paint cabins and help with some landscaping.

“We are asking people to bring their rakes, shovels, gloves and paint brushes,” Dansby said. “We’re going to be painting the cabins and cleaning up the leaves and branches.”

Dansby said volunteers should bring a sack lunch and the Y will provide drinks for everyone.

The Y plans to have Camp Grist ready for children in time for the day camps to start in mid-June.

Camp Grist will host two day camps, June 13-17 and June 27-July 1, for children between the ages of 4-11.

Dansby said the Y is offering a “Early Bird Special” discount rate if children are registered three weeks before the camp starts.

The cost for the day camps are $95 at the discount rate and $110 at the regular rate.

There will also be an Outdoor Sportsmen camp on June 20-22 for boys between the ages of 6-12.

The price for the Outdoor Sportsmen camp is $65 at discount and $80 at the regular rate.

There will be a mini-residence camp for boys and girls between the ages of 6-11 on July 10-12.

Dansby said the price for the mini-residence camp is $80 at the reduced rate and $95 at the regular rate.

The weeklong residence camp for children between the ages of 7-12 will be held July 17-23.

The reduced rate for the residence camp is $200 and the regular rate is $230.

Dansby said both the Grist Y and Brown Y will offer childcare services beginning the first week of June.

“It’s going to be all day childcare,” Dansby said. “There will be different themes each week, and field trips are planned. We will have all kinds of fun stuff going on.”

The Y is also offering tumbling classes, taekwondo classes, a summer basketball league and swimming classes for children and adults.

Contact the Grist Y branch at 874-7476 or the Brown branch at 872-1496 for more information about the summer camps and other Y programs.