Summer camp kicks off at rec center
If you haven’t enrolled your child into summer camp at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, you may want to do so quickly.
The first week of camp was sold out and nearly sold out this week for both the traditional and teen camps, which kicked off last Monday.
Campers had the chance to do many things both inside and outside (when weather permitted) from playing kickball to running relay races to watching movies, led by a bevy of camp instructors who spent the week before camp in training.
James Pittro, traditional camp director, said he had a full load of 90 campers as opposed to last year when it had a little more than 60, with many of them coming from outside the area.
“Things are going real smooth. We have a lot of new kids moving into the area. We’ve pulled in a lot of kids from over the bridge and even Cape Coral,” Pittro said. “I think people see the rec center and there’s so much to do. It drew in a lot of people.”
The rec center provides so much to do indoors with its gym and game room and place to sit down and watch a movie. And with the numerous fields outside, it provides the perfect location, Pittro said.
Pittro anticipated this week to be sold out. Beyond that it’s hard to tell since many people sign up at the last minute. Pittro said parents have been calling and asking, with some signing their kids up for all nine weeks.
“The numbers filled up quicker because as the numbers got up there, parents got nervous. They seem to be getting their kids in early because they’re on the ball,” Pittro said.
Jennifer Sites, who runs the teen camp, said things were pretty much the same on her end. There were only four slots out of the available 40 available for the first week, with the second week also close to a sellout.
“We have a great staff that does real well with the kids and they keep them busy,” Sites said. “People are looking for more things to do with their kids as opposed to staying home. This summer we’re going to do a cardboard boat race. We do things more oriented toward their age.”
The community has gotten involved. Pittro said the Fraternal Order of Orioles helped bring in 16 campers through its charity drive. The Rotary Club of North Fort Myers has also contributed a pizza and ice cream party and will send some kids to Zoomers.
Donations to the summer camp program are always welcome.
Summer camp will provide opportunities for field trips and other activities. Kids will go bowling, take frequent visits to the county pool and the local movie theater for special showings.
The big field trips will include Zoomers, Sun Splash and Sun & Fun Lagoon for all camps throughout Lee County. There will also be trips to other parks, library programs and other activities.
The kids seem to like it. Blake Stygstra has been coming to camp for five years and it beats staying home.
“I come for most of the weeks. I love seeing my friends who come here and playing kickball,” Stygstra said.
Savannah Davis, who will attend North High this year, said it was something her parents thought might be good for kids her age.
“They thought I would meet people from North and I have met a lot of new friends,” Davis said. “I like going outside and burning off some energy. We were playing Jedi and it was a lot of fun.”
Summer camps are open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you plan to register for camp at North Fort Myers Recreation Center, you need to obtain a family membership first.
Weekly camp is $75, with a $5 discount if you register two weeks in advance. For more information, call 533-7200. Or go online at www.leegov.com/parks/programs/summer