By Mary Stewart  | The Selma Times-Journal

The Selma and Dallas County YMCA has something for all ages this summer. The staff is ready to welcome anyone who wants to make the most of their summer.v

“I always want to say that the Y is a happy place for everyone in Selma, we have a very diverse group of people who come here and everyone is happy,” said Ann Murray, CEO of the YMCA.

She and her staff are very excited to start the summer. Vanessa Felts, co-leader of summer programs, has high expectations for this year’s programs.

“The kids will see that the Y is a fun place, it’s not just somewhere you go to work out. When they come for the summer program, I want this to be the best summer,” Felts said.

The Y will be offering two programs for children this summer, Power Scholars Academy and Summer Day Camp.

“It is important for these programs to give kids something to do,” Felts said.

Power Scholars is an academic and enrichment camp for first through fifth graders looking to stay up to date with their skills while having loads of fun. Campers will work on their language and reading skills as well as their math in the morning. There will also be fun activities in the afternoon.

“[The program] is for the children whose parents or teachers may think they are struggling with math and reading so this will help them improve so that next school year they aren’t falling behind. They are right there with everyone else,” she said.

Power Scholars will be offered to 120 children at two locations. The YMCA will host 60 children and Sophia P. Kingston Elementary will host 60 more. The cost at the Y is $50 a week for five weeks. Kingston elementary will offer the same program for an upfront cost of $20. Campers will need to be at all five weeks of the program because they will be taking a test at the beginning and end of the summer to show their improvement.

Another program offered for children is the Summer Day Camp, which will take place at the end of the summer. Children will do fun activities like swimming, arts and crafts, and field trips, while getting to meet new people.

“You see children who are a little bit nervous when they come in, they don’t know very many people, and by the end they are totally knit together,” Murray said. “I see the transformation in them, when they walk in that first day till the end of the summer.”

The cost for members is $88 and nonmembers will pay $99 a week, and there will be a mandatory parent meeting this Friday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m.

During both programs, children will be taught safety around the water, a totally new program. The YMCA has three newly certified swim lesson instructors who are excited to teach children the basics of safety around the water.

The YMCA truly has something for every age. Younger children will be able to play on the new Imagination Playground, which is made up of foam pieces so children can build their playground exactly how they want it. Also, Patrick Haskell will be doing a day camp for sixth through eighth graders where they will be learning to kayak in the pool along with other fun activities.

The YMCA will also be offering tons of workout classes for adults. They are bringing new classes, such as a barre class, kick boxing and total toning to insure there is something for everyone.

“One thing people don’t know about the Y, is that we have student memberships and they are only $20 a month,” Murray said.

To learn more about this summer’s programs, visit the Y at their website, ymcaofselma.org.