By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The YMCA of Selma-Dallas County is opening its doors to give children a place to have fun during the week of Thanksgiving.

The YMCA will hold its Thanksgiving Camp on Nov. 21-23.

Kasey Burton, fitness and program director for the YMCA, said the camp gives children a safe place to go while parents are working during the week of the upcoming holiday.

“It’s being held because I know there’s a need for it,” Burton said. “I know a lot of parents have to work the week of Thanksgiving and the kids are out of school for the whole week. It’s always been a tradition of the YMCA to do this, so we’re just trying to recreate the programs here and give the kids a safe place to come during the week.”

The camp is designed for children ages 4-10 years old.

Fees for the camp are $70 for members and $85 for non-members.

Those interested can go to the YMCA and fill out a registration form. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 18 and space is limited.

Along with being open on Nov. 21-23, the YMCA will close on Thanksgiving Day, but reopen on Nov. 25.

Burton said the camp will run all day during the week and kids will be provided with activities.

“7 a.m. is drop off time and 6 p.m. is pick up time,” Burton said. “We have activities planned throughout the day. Of course, they’ll swim every day and we have arts and crafts, and stuff like that planned for them.”

Burton said the camp has been held every year in the five years that she’s been at the YMCA except last year, and this year the YMCA is looking to bring back camp programs like this one.

Burton added that the number of children in the camp will be limited.

“We’re starting off small and limiting it to 40 campers,” Burton said. “The reason we’re doing that is to ensure that the kids have a good time and they’re not overcrowded and just to have a good staff-to-camper ratio.”

Along with giving parents a safe place to send their children while they’re away at work, Burton said the camp will help children develop a number of positive skills.

“They help them build social skills, for one,” Burton said.

“They help them interact with kids outside of their school that are of the same age. They show them that they can come into a YMCA place like this and build character.”