Attendees will be provided a nutritious breakfast and lunch served with milk, or you may pack lunch if you prefer. The days are filled with a variety of structured activities and field trips, open gym time, and daily pool time. During class times, kids can choose activities from a menu of options, such as flag football, wallyball or basketball, tumbling and trampoline skills, cheer and jump skills, cooking or science class. They can also try Spanish class, cartooning, ZumbAtomic, which is a kid-friendly exercise class, or Reader's Theater, where they will act out stories.
Summer Club Director Megan Foster, who has a degree in Music Education, says she is excited to bring some music-based activities to the program this year. In Bucket Drumming, students will learn to properly strike with sticks, create basic rhythm patters and learn to play drums with varying sized buckets. Music and Movement is another class that will engage students’ imaginations through creative movement and active learning while exploring basic elements of music.
Mat Weaving is also new this year. This class will show students how to create a plastic mat by crocheting plastic shopping bags together. It was learned from a local mat ministry that makes and distributes the mats as sleeping pads to those in need. Students can keep their mat at the end of class or donate it to the ministry.
Foster says, “I’m looking forward to having kids participate in a wider variety of activities this year. They’ll be actively engaged for a good part of the day but will still have free time to socialize or just relax.”
Many of these summer classes are also available to members and non members alike. Registration information will be sent home through the schools. If you would like to participate, get registered early, as these classes are limited in size.
Registration Packets for Summer Club are available at the front desk at the Greenville Y. Financial assistance is available. Questions can be directed to Megan Foster at 548-3777 or at mfoster@ymcadarkecounty.org.