MECHANIC FALLS – A new summer camp will give local kids something to do during their eight weeks off from school.
Volunteers connected with the school and town saw a need to keep kids busy during summer vacation, said Sue Marston, one of the organizers of the new camp.
The plan was presented to the Town Council on Monday night.
The camp will provide daily activities, weekly field trips, short excursions, and sports for kids going into first grade through sixth grade. The core camp hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and extended hours for day care will begin at 7:30 a.m. and go until 5:30 p.m., said Marston.
“We really got a lot of help to put this together,” said Marston. “We saw a big need for older kids to be physically busy during the summer. And our goal is to keep the camp self-supporting.”
The camp will be open for Mechanic Falls youths, and if there is space it will be open to those from other towns.
With help from Assistant Town Manager John Hawley, Marston and School Committee member Lena Schmitz put together a financial plan that wouldn’t require any help from town or school coffers.
Fees run $65 a week for core camp hours, and $85 a week for extended hours, said Marston.
Mechanic Falls volunteers, including Recreation Committee Chairman Donald King, consulted with Poland’s Recreation Department on ways to combine resources. Poland Recreation Director Scott Segal shared ideas for several programs and activities that have been successful and offered to accommodate children if the Mechanic Falls camp fills up.
Early responses to surveys returned last month indicated that at least 56 students are interested in signing up for the new camp, Marston said. Original plans called for a maximum of 40 kids, she said.
“We weren’t sure if we would have enough kids, so we wanted to start small,” said Marston. “But the response has been really good.”
If space allows, the summer camp may be able to accept 50 children, Marston said. However, that would be the maximum, to keep the need for field trip transportation to one bus.
The camp will be housed at the Head Start building behind the Town Office. Adjacent outdoor facilities include basketball and tennis courts, baseball fields, and the town’s municipal gymnasium for rainy days. Camp staff will also have access to kitchen facilities in the Head Start building, Marston said.
Activities planned include hiking, short trips for sports activities, field trips to Popham Beach and amusement parks, crafts, and possibly activities directed by Poland Regional High School co-curricular clubs.
The town’s Recreation Committee is looking to hire a camp director, assistant director, and four camp counselors, Marston said.
Anyone who wants more information about the summer camp may call Marston at 345-9015.
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