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Jumping into summer
By SUSAN THURSTON © St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2001 For a lot of children this summer, time off from school will be anything but boring. Summer camps across northern Tampa are offering a variety of activities aimed at keeping any child active and entertained. Programs focus on everything from digging for bugs to acting out Biblical characters. All center on having a good time. "We want them to have fun," said Courtney Schwarten, head of education at the Lowry Park Zoo. "If they aren't having fun, you're not doing a good summer camp." For the first time, the zoo is offering satellite camps at Lettuce Lake Park on Fletcher Avenue. Children entering grades two through seven can hike through forests and swamps, look for birds or wade for water creatures. The weeklong camps at Lettuce Lake start June 4 and run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The cost is $150 for zoo members and $180 for nonmembers. Each class has up to 15 students perinstructor. To register, call (813) 935-8552. In all, the zoo on Sligh Avenue has 150 camps, which vary in price. That's up from 20 camps two years ago and 120 camps last year. The growing popularity stems from the zoo's new $2-million classroom facility and the public's desire to know more about the environment. "I think parents want their kids to have a good time, but they also want them to have something extra," Schwarten said. "People are very interested in what's going on in their own back yard." For many parents, summer camps offer their children a chance to broaden their horizons outdoors rather than inside a classroom. Stacy Washburn enrolled her 8-year-old daughter, Lindsey, in Equestrian Alternatives in Citrus Park so she can learn about horses and gain such lifelong skills as confidence and responsibility. "The program teaches them to be the best person they can be, not the best rider," she said. "(Lindsey's) more outgoing and she's more of a risk-taker." Marti Vitulli started the camp late last summer to expose children to horses and improve their self-esteem. A longtime riding instructor, she has seen many youngsters excel from interacting with the animals, including those children with learning disabilities. "They learn about responsibility and respect and boundaries. The horses are just the aides," she said. "You can't fail out here." Her camp begins June 4 and goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in one-week sessions throughout the summer. Participants learn how to care for a horse, go on trail rides and take part in shows. The cost is $175 a week. For information, call (813) 814-7512. Several area churches are offering vacation Bible school. Grace Episcopal Church and the Joyful Servants Lutheran Church in New Tampa have teamed up for SonCreek Junction, a western-themed program that incorporates Bible stories in a gold-mining town. Participants will sing songs, play games and make crafts. "I hope that they can look at the Bible as a wonderful source of stories and life goals to help them in their relationships with God and their community, family and friends," said co-director Anne Costello. "It helps us be nicer people." The school runs from 9 a.m. to noon June 11-15 at Grace Episcopal, 15102 Amberly Drive. It costs $10 and is open to any child from any church. To register, call (813) 632-3778. "They will have some brain stimulation instead of sitting in front of the television saying it's too hot," said Costello, a mother of two from Tampa Palms. Many children will spend their summer vacation boning up on their favorite sport. Wharton High School in New Tampa is hosting basketball camp for students entering grades three through 12. The weeklong sessions, which start June 18, focus on basic dribbling, passing and team-working skills. "I want them to have fun and enjoy the experience of playing," said basketball coach Tommy Tonelli, who directs the camp. "We always talk to them about showing good sportsmanship." The 4-year-old camp is open to boys and girls from any school. Participants play games, practice drills and compete in individual shooting contests. Many are repeat campers, who aspire to play basketball for Wharton, Tonelli said. Sessions cost $90 each and $80 for additional weeks. Each player receives a T-shirt and basketball. Enrollment is limited to 70 to 90 people weekly. To sign up, call (813) 631-4710, ext. 234. In Carrollwood Village, the Country Club of Carrollwood is holding nine one-week tennis camps for players ages 4 to 17. Camp goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays and includes tennis instruction in a fun format, lunch and supervised swim breaks. The cost for each session is $115 for club members and $140 for nonmembers. For information, call (813) 961-1366. The soon-to-open YMCA in New Tampa has summer camp at Tampa Palms Elementary School for children ages 6 to 15, featuring field trips to the Museum of Science and Industry and Chuck E. Cheese's. Participants can take part in sports camps or day camps, which focus on a different theme each week, like the Wild Wild West or the Olympics. There is also a leadership camp for teens interested in becoming camp counselors. Activities will center on character development, said branch manager Debbie Metzger. Campers will get colored beads for demonstrating qualities such as honesty or respect; their parents will get a letter. "We're really concentrating on building kids' self-esteem," she said. The camps, which run from June 4 to July 27, cost $75 to $90 for YMCA members and $100 to $110 for nonmembers, not including a trip to Islands of Adventure in Orlando. To register, call (813) 866-9622. Parents said they hoped summer camp would be a rewarding experience, regardless of the activity. It will definitely beat sitting around looking for something to do, said Glenn Jarvis, whose daughter, Lindsey, signed up for the horse-back riding camp. "I'd rather be here than at the mall," said Jarvis, as his daughter rode around the rink. "It keeps them occupied and well-watched. I wish I could spend my summer like this." - Susan Thurston can be reached at (813) 226-3463.
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