Every day a blast at Sun Youth summer camp

Sun Youth day campers enjoying a ride on the Garden Train at Exporail

Nicolas Carpentier

What a summer it's been at Sun Youth, especially for the children at our day camp.

Despite the poor weather conditions, every day was a blast for the 80 kids. Throughout the summer, our friendly counselors organized many activities to put smiles on the faces of the young campers.

This year, day camp started June 23. As usual, parents registered their children months in advance to be sure to get a spot. Parents appreciate that for a very reasonable cost, their children are busy all summer long and fed breakfast and a hot lunch, plus a snack in the afternoon, enough for plenty of energy. Children are grouped by ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12, with 18 counselors supervising.

Day camp is a great place to make new friends. Kids come from very different backgrounds, both socially and culturally. Special financial arrangements are made with parents living on limited incomes. The maximum fee for the full 8 weeks is $500.

Outings included a day at the waterslides, fun in the sun at Sablon Beach and Parc Jean-Drapeau beach, a Jungle Adventure trip at the Laval resort for the two younger groups, and bowling trips every other week. At Sun Youth, they took part in photo club activities and arts & crafts on alternating weeks. Big thanks go to Wayne Oliver (photo club) and Carlos Anglarill (arts & crafts) for organizing these activities.

One of the most popular activities this summer was the visit to Exporail at the Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant. On July 25, eleven enthusiastic nine-to-ten-year-olds enjoyed a day of fun and activities, riding the streetcar and the Garden Train, driving miniature trains and climbing aboard locomotives. The visit was organized by Exporail and CIT Roussillon, the South Shore transit company that recently inaugurated regular daily service to the museum, to celebrate Exporail's new door-to-door accessibility from downtown Montreal, providing lunch and transportation and a conductor's hat for every camper.

Camp ended August 15 with the traditional talent show for parents. After a day at the waterslides, the children returned to Sun Youth for a dinner with their parents. There were prizes for campers, such as Best Smile and Most Helpful. For every group there was also a ÒSuper CamperÓ chosen. These four lucky kids won brand new bicycles.

Campers displayed their skills on stage, ending with a video montage showcasing the summer's highlights.

Registration for next year's Sun Youth Day Camp begins March 2009.

Info: 514-842-6822