EARLY YEARS: Kirk Family YMCA preparing for busy summer camp

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - There are only about two more weeks of school left for Roanoke City Public Schools students. And all too often, the so-called “summer slide” in learning happens during summer break.

But summer camp organizers at the Y are working to prevent that, planning activities to promote literacy and STEM subjects.

“Rockets and robotics and magnets and things like that. The literacy is more about identifying a popular book and having our counselors read a chapter, and then they have some discussion around that,” says Kirk Family YMCA Executive Director Alicia Kindred.

Kindred says it’s all about making camp fun and engaging, and a bit messy.

“They’re going to get messy. We’re going to have some water play. They’re going to go swimming. We do a lot of field trips, a lot of outdoor activities,” she says.

The Kirk Family YMCA is expecting about 180 kids at its camp.

New this summer-- enrichment add-ons.

“With an extra charge on their accounts, they can get swim lessons during camp hours, so parents don’t have to do that after work. We’re also incorporating dance add-ons, so they can get some dance instruction from certified dance instructors here at the Y,” says Kindred.

Camp is available for kids ages 3 to 12.

WDBJ7 chatted with Kindred in the room where preschool camp will be happening, with a special play house that’ll encourage life and job skills.

“Behind me, this clubhouse here, we change out the themes. So, one month, it might be a grocery store. The next month, it might be a library, where they can start thinking about some career opportunities at a very young age also,” says Kindred.

To register your child for camp, click this link.

As for the costs, youth camp is $190 per week for Y members. For non-members, camp is $205 per week.