Summer camps helping kids in our community

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - When you think of the month of February, you might think of Valentine's Day, or perhaps the fact that we're one month closer to spring.

The truth is, there should be something else on your mind: summer camp. That's an experience many camp organizers said is often unforgettable.

"Some 20 or 30 years later, there are still campers who will be able to recite all the verses of, 'Your Momma Don't Wear No Socks,' or all the various other camp songs we sing," said Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) Executive Director Joe Micon.

"It's great to see the kids come back to camp and to have them become junior counselors and trailblazers, and to see them grow in our leadership program," said YMCA Camp Director Ryan Habben.

Habben was among those kids who just kept coming back, and after his time as a camper was up, he said he still couldn't stay away.

"I started as a camper, then became a junior counselor, then they hired me to be a member of the staff," said Habben. "It's been one of the best experiences of my life."

Habben said every summer, the YMCA has about 800 campers. He said the YMCA offers camps for children from ages four, all the way up through high school.

"We think it's important for kids to be in camp because it gets them out of their house in the summer time, gets them away from the video games, and lets them experience new things," said Habben.

Continuing the education throughout the summer months is also something Joe Micon with the Lafayette Urban Ministry strives to do, through LUM camp.

"Every day, there is a lot of what we call fun learning that goes on," said Micon. "So, the kids are having so much fun, they don't even realize that they're learning."

Micon said LUM camp takes about 80 to 100 campers per summer. Micon said LUM camp is free, but is reserved for parents who receive services at LUM.

He said for those who qualify for the program, it's something that remains a part of them forever.

"The camp is really the best memory they have, if not of the summer, sometimes, it's the best memory they have of their lifetime," said Micon.

Registration for all YMCA camps begins on March 1, and for LUM camp, registration opens in May.

For more specific information on the times and dates of the camps, as well as prices, you can visit the Lafayette YMCA website , and the Lafayette Urban Ministry website .