This year the Summer Fun and Science Camp played host to over 30 youngsters, which was a record in attendance for the annual camp. This camp filled up quickly and had a waiting list that the Parks and Recreation staff tried to accommodate by adding staffing, so the camp had a total of six staff members. The Lead staff included Gerrick Figueroa and Stephanie Argumedo with assistance from group leader Vanessa Argumedo and assistants Jose Lopez, Dulce Piceno, and Valorie Franco. They also had a youth volunteer Ameli Piceno that assisted with anything the staff needed.
“All the kids are having a good time,” said Figueroa. “There is something for everyone at this camp.”
The week long camp hosts a variety of activities indoors at the Teen Center and outdoors too with some time spent at the pool, which was a huge hit with the campers. With the temperatures being in the upper 90s and at times over 100, the pool was the perfect place to go for these campers. The 6- to 12-year-olds and one turning 13 at the last day of camp also participated in making an assortment of crafts and science experiments throughout the week like water bomb flower, egg geode, glow in the dark slime, strawberry DNA, elephant toothpaste, space sand, lava lamps, nature print, and a lip balm kit. Each day began with a check-in and then some free play and then would include an activity like human tic-tac-toe, giant Jenga, a hula hoop game, obstacle course, and hungry, hungry, human hippo. The kids then would indulge in a snack and more summer fun. The final day of camp included a treat for the campers at the pool for their afternoon swim. They were able to enjoy a floating obstacle course that seemed to cause some campers a challenge and others broke right through until the very end where they slid right into the drink. There were also two other floating devices in the pool where kids could climb on and float around. Campers came from throughout the area like Salida, Modesto, Oakdale, and several from Riverbank. The week long camp was a success and there is talk about having two sessions next year because of the popularity of this particular camp.
