Summer Fun In Inglewood!

By Kim Firston.

As I rushed to help supervise the kids on their walk back from craft class it struck me - didn't I say, way back in January when Ellen Polegato approached both myself and Barbara Zimmerman about starting a community summer day camp, "I will help organize it but I don't want to run it."? Luckily, I changed my mind and was privileged to watch the kids in Sports Camp learn tennis, martial arts, trampoline, gymnastics, multi-sports, as well as join them for a mid-morning swim at the Inglewood pool.

Kids enjoy summer day camp in Inglewood. Photo courtesy of Barbara Zimmermann

Multi-sport was a class we put together for the kids seven and under as a replacement to tennis. Under the guidance of Bill Firmston and myself, we played all kinds of sports and even witched the schedule to include ball hockey - at the request of one young camper. Tennis skills were taught under the enthusiastic guidance of Spencer Laird and Erica Watters, a parent who filled in at the last minute to lend her knowledge and assistance to the camp so that the children would get the most out of their tennis class. Wayne Loftus, from the Dragon's Den, worked hard teaching the kids not only martial arts but the philosophy of respect and self worth that goes along with it. Would be kidnappers and bullies had better beware as the kids from this camp have learned how to defend themselves! Darlene Traviss, of Fit Kids and The Flip Factory fame, signed on to teach trampoline and gymnastics. She played some amazing games that taught both skills and control. Swim time was a favorite all around - especially on the first day of camp when the temperature reached thirty degrees. Because our younger campers needed direct supervision, Lia Hagel, Sandy Stead, Bill Firmston, Darlene Traviss, Barbara Zimmerman and myself all volunteered to jump into the water.

Wayne Loftus teaches some martial arts. Photo courtesy of Barbara Zimmermann

A busy Arts Camp arrived two weeks later. The kids were bustled from Story Telling class to Puppetry then from Theatre to Craft Class, with trips to the park throughout. Interesting smells of medicine, strawberry and molasses drifted out the door of Kim Firmston's Story Telling class as the kids explored their senses and invented fantastic tales. Puppetry was no less interactive. Taught by Xstine Cook of CAOS (Calgary Animated Objects Society) the kids brought home, among other things, a fuzzy sweet little caterpillar stick puppet. Mary Jean Uszy led the kids through a very active theatre class. On the very first day, the younger class had a wild rumpus in the manner of Where the Wild Things Are and let me tell you, when they roared their terrible roars - you knew about it! In the afternoon we walked to Nostalgic Expressions for our craft class. Once there the kids, covered head to toe in paint, made assorted crafts and even created a beautiful pastoral picture of sunset over a prairie landscape. Our child care providers, Kenn Oryniak, Farhaan Zaidi, Melanie Pike, Sharon Pike and Cheryl Tatomir did an outstanding job of making sure everyone had a good time.

The Inglewood 2006 Summer Camp Kids!. Photo courtesy of Barbara Zimmermann

So we send a great big thank you out to everyone who put their effort into this camp. Without the support of the board and staff of the Inglewood Community Centre, as well as the assistance of all the providers, child care staff and volunteers, we wouldn't have been able to pull it off!

As I put away the last of the camp stuff the question arises - will we do it all again next year? Well… maybe… but not on our own. Let us know if you're interested in helping create a day camp or two for next summer. Just e-mail inglewood-daycamp@hotmail.com and we can talk. I promise you it will be the most rewarding summer you will ever have.