Vandalism doesn’t damper spirits of park campers

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Andrea Galabinski Park Senior Supervisor Christine Sustrich with camper Kalib Banasiak enjoys the plentiful breakfast spread at the annual parent's event.

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Youth square dancers at NFM Community Park include Kaleb Paz, Taylor Higginbotham, Kaycee Tester, Johnny Gervickas, Kaci Bell, Tanner Gill, Kailani Delise and Alex Nieves

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Mom Lissette Muse and son Alex at recent parent’s breakfast. They live in Arcadia but she works in NFM and says the facilities and program could not be better.

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The North Fort Myers Community Park annual Parent Camper Breakfast is always a highlight of the summer months.

Nearly 100 campers attended the park camp, and parents and grandparents always attend, photograph and videotape their kids doing square dance exhibitions and a talent show at the annual breakfast.

Recent vandalism in the park hasn’t dampened their spirits, and the event was more than well attended this year.

“All the parents sign up and bring food. While breakfast is eaten, they are entertained by square dancing that I teach through the summer camp,” said Christine Sustrich, senior recreation specialist for the park. “The younger group does a little more elementary type dancing and the older kids do more advanced.”

Mom Lissette Muse said she travels to make sure her son is in the local camp.

“I live in Arcadia but work in North Fort Myers and I think the camp is great. It keeps kids active and it’s very affordable. If he was home all day, I’d worry he would be sleeping or watching TV. And at $54 a week, you can’t beat the cost.”

Vandals hit the park several times in the last few months.

“We have the Sheriff’s Department here right away and paint over as soon as we get the report,” said Sustrich.

The vandalism started with graffiti in the bathrooms, especially around the bathrooms used by youth sports.

“It’s a shame they would vandalize the park when these campers are here and have to view it,” said Sustrich.

Many parents commented on the fact that the park offers so many field trips to kids. At the traditional camp, they went last week to Outback Steakhouse in Cape Coral last week, one of many outings.

“The kids were exited about it,” said Sustrich.

They toured the kitchen and were served a Blooming Onion as an appetizer and they got served lunch.

Seeing a kitchen and the deep fryers and how the Outback makes their own french fries was something the campers enjoyed.

The park also has a well received Teen Camp, where the kids kayak, sail, shop and volunteer for organizations through the summer.

North Fort Myers Community Park is located at 2021 N. Tamiami Trail, behind the NFM Library.