Since the custodian,
Miss Penny, is on duty every day in the summer, she opens and locks the
gym for the camp as part of her daily routine. Fees are paid for contracted
custodial services as needed throughout the summer.
The campers
enjoy the Peachtree City Library's weekly Summer Program for children
at a reduced fee. Since there is room for up to 100 children at the second
performance, the public benefits by having more spaces available for the
popular children's series.
Transportation
will be provided by a county school bus driven by a certified driver operating
under Georgia State Code 20-2-1075. The Code was enacted in 1990 and allows
municipalities to use school buses for recreation summer camps. The camp
pays the driver an hourly fee, according to the schedule set by the school
board and a per mile cost.
Last year,
the school's garden adjacent to the gym went to weed and dried up. This
summer the children will be instructed by a Master Gardner, who volunteers
from the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service in Fayette.
He will teach the children how to care for a perennial and annuals garden.
The project will provide Huddleston students with a blooming garden when
they return in August.
Camp McIntosh
will participate in community service by making two thousand angels for
the Christmas Giving Trees sponsored by the Department of Family and Children
Services throughout Fayette County. Wassell was attending a meeting last
fall and listened to the DFACS Staff talk about how the angels are made
"It seemed
like a wonderful opportunity to help the community by having the campers
make the angels at summer camp." said Wassell.
A separate
craft area will be set up where the campers can work at their leisure
whenever they want to make a few angels. Community Service is not a new
idea to a recreation daily camp program.
Parks and recreation
departments across the state provide opportunities for the children to
become involved in their community. "It makes the children aware
of the needs of the community and it is done in a fun setting," said
Wassell.
In July the
campers will invite Peachtree City fire and police personnel to lunch.
Last year more than 20 members from the departments had lunch with the
campers.
Officer Rosanne
Dove, coordinator for city's Police Community Outreach, has offered to
present a program on safety. The program is designed to inform children
how to be safe in their home environment. It is part of the Police Department's
efforts to serve and to educate the public.
Camp McIntosh
takes advantage of Peachtree City's recreational areas. The children have
lunch on Shakerag Knoll, which is on the other side of McIntosh Trail
from Huddleston School, several times a week. Nature walks and scavenger
hunts take place on the nature trails behind the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
and on the wetlands boardwalk.
Wassell is
thankful for the cart path that was constructed by the city's Public Works
Dept. from the Clover Reach Pool Complex to Boxwood Court last month.
"The new cart path will make the walk to the pool a little easier
this year," she said.
Swimming sessions
are at Clover Reach Pool twice a week. Clover Reach Pool is closed to
the public during camp swim sessions and is attended by two lifeguards
at all times. All six camp counselors aged 19 to 22 are trained in CPR
and First Aide and will be in the pool with the campers. " We use
the recreational area adjacent to the pool for a variety of outdoor games,"
said Wassell.
Camp director
Tiffany Barker is a special-needs teacher for the Fayette County Board
of Education and has been a camp director for the Gwinnett Parks and Recreation
Department. She has planned all programming to be age-appropriate.
The children
are divided into age groups of no more than eight campers to each counselor.
Consideration is given to age and all skill levels.
Tiffany is
looking forward to the camp sessions with the voice instructor, Pia Ugarte,
who will teach the children how to sing. "I can hardly wait,"
she said.
Camp McIntosh
has received high praises from parents whose children wouldn't miss a
single day of fun and games. Only 50 spaces are available for each of
the four sessions beginning June 4, June 18, July 2 and July 16 and are
filling up quickly.
The camp is
held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The cost of $150 per
session includes all supplies, a T-shirt, field trips and a daily snack.
Campers bring their own lunch.
Registration
forms are available on the city's Web site, www.peachtree-city.org/recreation,
under "Special Programs."
Register at
the Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatics Center (9 a.m.-10 p.m daily, 1-5:30
p.m. Sunday) or at the Peachtree City Recreation Administration Building
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Easy button Return it to long suffering taxpayers including those who have paid huge tabs to educate other people's kids…