Everyone’s a winner

Published 9:31 am Friday, June 26, 2009

It’s a typical afternoon at the Salvation Army’s summer day camp.

Blake Vanbeek of Hollandale scores 20 points on the Skeeball game. Coy Hoium watches an intense match of bumper pool.

Counselor Matt Schroeder knocks down some plastic ice cubes in a round of “Don’t Break the Ice,” and La Henry Gills talks about his enjoyment for playing Indiana Jones on Xbox 360.

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Now in its fourth year, this summer day camp provides a place for kids during the summer months thanks mostly to the financial support of The Hormel Foundation.

For $25 per week, per child (each additional child is $15 per week), parents can drop off their kids from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to the eight-week program that features everything from music lessons to field trips to cooking.

“It’s wonderful, and it’s a decent price too,” says Kristine Huinker of Austin, whose two daughters attend the camp and whose third daughter is a volunteer. “They do fun activities to keep them occupied, and they love it.”

The activities seem endless.

The Christian-based camp offers music lessons on instruments such as piano, guitar, bass guitar and the drums; cooking sessions on how to make snacks; a Mission Literacy Program that promotes reading; and weekly trips to the pool.

While the summer camp is open to kids ages 5 through 12 (some 4-year-olds are also accepted), Salvation Army Maj. Marlys Anderson says it’s not a babysitting service.

“It’s more of an education program,” Anderson says. “Everything we do is to help the kids grow and learn and mature and have a good time.”

Campers will also learn a “musical” through the eight weeks to perform at the end of the summer for their parents.

Last year, 120 people were in attendance.

“It was full,” says Anderson, as one parent picks up her daughters. “It lets the kids shine.”

This year’s program, which started June 15 with a theme of “Living Inside Out in an Upside Down World,” has roughly 45 kids registered, with room for about 50.

Joel Luker is the director of the camp and handles the dozens of kids with the help of Salvation Army staff and both teen and adult volunteers.

“I enjoy spending time with the kids,” he says.

In addition to the activities, those in attendance are also treated to breakfast, lunch and a snack in the afternoon.

As for Coy Hoium, he’s still keeping an eye on the bumper pool match, but when asked a question, he responds with ease.

“Coy, what are our rules here?” Anderson asks.

“Respect God, respect others and, (he pauses), respect property.”

For more information about the Salvation Army’s summer day camp, ask for Joel at 437-4566.