Here, Brittani and Jazmyn Glenn start a new inning of kickball with a hug at Eastside Park, Niles, during the Niles Park and Recreation Department's summer parks program. The program has space for 50 and usually attracts 20 to 25. Weekly themes focus on such things as bugs, gardening and zoo animals.
Participants make crafts, swim and put on plays.
This year, the camp includes a drug and alcohol awareness component. Kirby Falkenberg, director of the YMCA of Michiana, says his agency continues to serve families 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every workday. There's been a big growth in the whole area of summer camping for that reason. In addition to the camp at the headquarters on Northside Boulevard, the Y's Urban Youth Services operates the Charles Martin Day Camp at Bendix Woods. The day camps serve about 200 youngsters a week, in addition to residential Camp Eberhart that will serve about 2,400 during the summer.