Servus Credit Union Place is looking to add another 100 or more kids to its summer camp totals this year.
In 2012 the facility counted almost 1,200 kids who took part in one of its half, three-quarter or full-day camps and Jack Ballash, manager of programs and services, is optimistic they can add to that total, despite the number of camps available in the city.
“The one thing with camps we’re finding is if you speak to a lot of other providers of camps, there is such a wide variety of opportunities for everyone now,” Ballash said. “From residential camps to church camps to commercial and for-profit organizations doing it to municipalities to universities. There is such a wide variety of camps to get their children into.”
Ballash is optimistic some of the newer camps will help draw in another 100 to 200 kids for the summer. Specifically the facility has added camps aimed at pre-school-aged children, such as Kings & Queens & Dragons & Things.
“Those are great for ratios of pre-school students to instructors. It’s one instructor for eight children,” Ballash said.
The facility has also introduced a golf program for kids aged 6 to 12 that even includes instruction from a certified golf pro.
Ballash said new camps can take a year or two to become popular but he expects the new additions will gain some traction.
“They can take a while to get going.”
All of the sports camps offered at Servus Place focus on fundamentals, Ballash said, which is important for young children.
“Those fundamental building blocks, we think children should have. If they are oriented to them at an earlier age, it gives them greater levels of confidence to take on other activities at an older age.”
But Servus Place will be offering one draw that many camps don’t – bouncy things. For the fourth consecutive year Servus will erect inflatables for children to play on. They will be located at the leisure ice surface, which has been removed for the summer.
Ballash said the inflatables are used for camps, but there will be times during the week when they will be open to the public. The inflatables are also supervised by Servus staff.
“We only offered it three times a week year, so now we're up to five out of seven days.”
The inflatables will be open to the public on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 1:30 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
For more information on summer camps, visit www.servusplace.ca.
