Students Enjoy Activities at Camp Wanna Have Fun

If you’re running out of ideas to keep your children entertained this summer, there is still time to enroll them in camp at Lake Orion Schools. Camp Wanna Have Fun is a 10-week camp at the Community Education Resource Center on E. Scripps Road.

The program has attracted a record 250 different campers this summer, said Ben Gerdeman, Enrichment Supervisor at CERC. On average, about 110 campers a week come to the school to participate in games, art projects, field trips and other activities.

Students grades first through sixth can come for either three days for $90, four days for $112 or five days for $125. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. There also is an extended day program that provides activities for students from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., each for $6.

The camp is run by director Kristi Wiegand and about 16 college students and high school students who serve as counselors. There also are some middle school students who work as junior counselors.

Each day, there is a different theme or special activity. On Monday, students made flubber, which is a sticky substance that is similar to Play Doh. For the last week of camp, which begins Aug. 22, students will do stamping, bike and scooter day, bingo, camp dance and camp video.

Campers bring their lunch and receive an afternoon snack. They usually have computer time each day, and they swim at the Lake Orion High School pool on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

Madison McKiernan, 9, of Orion Township enjoys the camp more than others she has been to, she said.

“This camp has so many people here,” she said. “I really like PJ and movie day. We’ve had a couple of those.”

She also enjoys the nature walks and field trips to Stoney Lake in Oxford.

“All the counselors are really nice,” she added.

Gerdeman credits the staff for the success of the camp. Each counselor attends a weeklong training course before the camp begins.

“I think the bottom line is we really do have an all-star staff,” he said. “They’re so kid-focused. The kids get an amazing experience every day they walk into camp.”

For information on enrolling, call (248) 693-5436.