Council unanimously approved a proposal that will see the popular YMCA Summer Day Camp return to Elliot Lake this summer.
The city will supply the Collins Hall facilities at no cost and kick in $2,000 toward program supplies.
YMCA summer day camp in Elliot Lake began in 2023 and has been growing in popularity. New programs have been added for 2025 with sessions running throughout July and August.
Program director Kendra MacIssac presented to Elliot Lake city council by Zoom at the Monday council meeting.
MacIsaac shared a short visual presentation on the success of the 2024 camp and what's to come in 2025.
“Last summer, we saw a total of 166 campers. The average age of campers was between eight and nine years old,” MacIsaac said before describing the programs proposed for 2025.
Create and Innovate is a new camp this year. “That will be a bit of a combination between our art and craft camp as well as our science camp.”
MacIsaac also explained, “we were chatting with [Ms. Kluke] earlier this year in planning camps, and we'll be able to use the kitchen and introduce Adventures in Cooking.”
Adventures in Cooking is a program “helping kids learn proper cooking techniques as well as how to make healthy snacks.”
The two camps that were very highly attended – All Sorts of Sports and Nature Arts- are back. Another new one is Performing Arts and Outdoor Explorers.
The summer day camps will run throughout July and August.
A financial assistance program was introduced last summer. This year, the Y is working with a local high school to promote the financial assistance program, Fill A Bus.
“And we're actually in our campaign right now … where we raise money to send kids to camp who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it. I'm really excited to share that we are working with the high school in Elliot Lake on some fundraising initiatives.”
To learn more about the camps and registration information, visit the Y webpage here, and select the Elliot Lake dropdown.