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Happy Campers Enjoy Week Of Summer Fun
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These three happy campers made a wind sock during the recent weeklong event. - photo by Photo By Virginia Still
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Youngsters were given a fly fishing demonstration last week during camp at Jacob Myers Park. Photo Contributed

The summer can be boring for some kids and parents can be looking for things for them to do. This was not the case for the participants of Happy Camper Summer Camp last week, however, as local youngsters engaged in a variety of activities, crafts, and demonstrations.

“It was a wonderful week,” stated Parks and Recreation Supervisor Julia Petit. “We also had a few more demonstrations than we have had in the past.”

The 20 campers were given a camp T-shirt that was designed by Petit. They had to bring snacks, a sack lunch, swim suit, and sunscreen. The kids were between the ages of 6 and 13. On Monday they had an introduction to crafts and they made name tags, water bottle pouches and had a scavenger hunt.

On Tuesday the campers were treated to a Red Hawk Tail demonstration by local falconers and they took a hike where they found some rocks for a rock painting craft. They also planted flowers in pots with seeds.

The campers started their Wednesday with a craft, making wind socks with toilet paper rolls, construction paper, and tissue. They also made grasshoppers out of clothing pins and later in the afternoon saw a wildlife presentation by Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center that was held at the Teen Center. They were shown a crow, a king snake, a ground squirrel, and an owl during the demonstration.

Program specialist Dulce Piceno expressed that the kids seemed to really enjoy the squirrel in the ball portion of the presentation.

A Fly Fishing demonstration by the Amador Fly Fishers was enjoyable for the kids on Thursday where they also got to learn about some of the gear necessary.

The waterslide on Friday was probably a camp favorite, according to staff, where the kids got to enjoy some fun in the sun. Parks and Rec staff had Bouncing Bins bring in the 16 foot water slide at Jacob Myers Park.

“I think the kids had a lot of fun with that (waterslide),” expressed Petit. “Overall, I thought the week went great. The Recreation staff did a wonderful job of keeping the kids engaged throughout the whole week and they all seemed to have a lot of fun.”

This week Myth Busters Summer Camp is happening, the final camp of the summer being offered through the City of Riverbank.

“I think the camp was successful,” added Sue Fitzpatrick, Parks and Recreation Director, of the Happy Campers event. “The wildlife presentation went well as well as the fly fishing demo. The kids enjoyed the hikes, crafts, going to the pool and the hit was probably the waterslide on the last day.”