Spring is finally here, which means the end of the school year is right around the corner. And, as the school year winds down, you may find yourself thinking about the longest, impending break in the academic year—summer. If you’re looking for a fun, safe place to send your children this summer, consider enrolling them in YMCA summer camp. Summer camp is a great way for children to make friends and have a blast trying new things.
Enrolling your child in a summer camp will help him or her grow in many ways throughout the summer. Here are a few unique benefits of summer camp for youth:
Learn New Skills
Y camp offers children in grades K-8 the opportunity to participate in activities they may have never experienced before. From STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities to gardening and everything in between, camp participants have the chance to explore and learn new skills through adventure-filled experiences.
Did you know the Y offers specialty camps?
With help from the Grundy Area Vocational Center (GAVC), the Morris Community YMCA offers children in grades 5-9 a variety of specialty camps that focus on agriculture, automotive repair skills, computer maintenance, graphic design and cooking. These exciting camps will be held on the GAVC campus located adjacent to Morris High School.
And, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in downtown Plainfield offers children, ages 6-10, a wide variety of specialty camps focused on arts, LEGO Adventures, gardening and so much more!
Nurture Independence
Throughout the summer, children can continue to discover and grow their independence. The summer camp environment gives children the opportunity to understand the thought process behind making good decisions for themselves with the help of our dedicated YMCA staff.
Build Self-Confidence
Camp participants are able to build their self-confidence by setting and achieving milestones through the many activities at Y camp. From trying a new sport to creating their first work of art, your child can learn the importance of hard work and success.
Improve Health and Well-being
YMCA summer camp encourages participants to practice healthy eating and physical activity habits. At camps in Plainfield and Morris, for example, children have the option to try healthy foods grown in the Y’s very own garden and take home healthy recipes to share with their friends and families. To incorporate the right amount of physical activity, camp participants have the opportunity to partake in a variety of physical activities during sports camps and swim time.
Registration for Y camp is underway! To learn more about our summer camp opportunities, visit www.jolietymca.org or speak with your local Y’s Youth and Family Director during your next visit.
To learn more about the benefits of sending your child to summer camp, click here.
On July 12, Pat Sullivan will bring his famous one-day basketball clinic to the Smith Family YMCA in his hometown of Joliet. Sullivan is a Hall of Famer and former University of St. Francis basketball coach who has more than 500 victories under his belt. We recently had a chance to catch up with Sully and ask him a few things about his camp: 
It’s been about 13 years since Dominique Dunn was first introduced to the Y. His mother, Natalie—who comes from a family of athletes—signed him up for the Y’s Youth Basketball League to coincide with Dominique’s growing love for basketball. From then on, the Y was Dominique’s palace—where he would spend each Saturday at open gym, playing the game he loved, fostering relationships and receiving mentorship from staff.