It’s 525 and counting, but it’s already a record year in student registration for the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation’s summer camps.
“I think our summer camps offer a lot of great programming and field trips, such as bringing kids swimming once a week in parish surrounded by water so water safety is important to the children of our parish” said Duane Foret, director of Parks and Recreation. “Hopefully, that will help them be a better swimmer for surviving purpose and has some fun.”
The parish’s summer camps run June 6 to the end of July.
Foret praised the parish Public School System’s support of the camps by providing the sites for the camps, as well as the support of the parish government and council toward growing the program.
The record enrollment is up from last year’s 450 students, especially in the department’s Swamp School and overall summer camps, said Foret of a record number he’s seen in his nine years as director. When he first came on with the department, the total was nearly 200 children.
Foret said Swamp School is for kids ages 8 through 12 aimed at developing an appreciation for the natural world through a balance of educational and entertaining outdoor adventures, canoeing, creative activities, field games and more at Wetland Watchers Park in Norco.
St. Charles Parish’s Inclusive Summer Day Camp provides attendees with six weeks of educational and leisure activities Monday through Friday beginning in early June. Children get arts and crafts, games, field trips, water days and friendships during the lazy days of summer. The camp will also offer swimming one day a week for all four campsites.
“The United Way of St. Charles’ scholarships had a tremendous impact and the kids are having a lot of fun,” Foret said. “We’re keeping them active… keeping them engaged throughout the day in a safe, nurturing environment.”
Foret said the scholarships are enormously appreciated, particularly with 59 more available this year than last year.
United Way awarded 159 scholarships totaling $47,700 to students participating in the Parks Department’s new Inclusive Summer Day Camp.
The Inclusive Summer Day Camp is a six-week program offered to children ages 5 – 15.
The camp includes field trips, games, arts and crafts, swimming and fun educational activities. Campsites include Lakewood, St. Rose, Schoeffler and Luling elementary schools.
Foret called the Spray Park in Destrehan “the crown jewel” of park design, which provides water fun for children five years or younger. The park also provides a walking track.
The summer program also includes athletic camps include the St. Charles Soccer League soccer camp, which is gaining popularity with students, he said.
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