Spring break campers play, learn and eat together with the
YMCA
The highlight of the day Tuesday for a handful of local kids was
a tour of a candy factory
– and for most, the best part of the tour was trying a few of
the treats concocted at Marich Confectionery.
Spring break campers play, learn and eat together with the YMCA
The highlight of the day Tuesday for a handful of local kids was a tour of a candy factory – and for most, the best part of the tour was trying a few of the treats concocted at Marich Confectionery.
The kids – who are in kindergarten through fifth grade – participated in the YMCA of San Benito County Spring Camp. The camp offers a fun-filled week for kids while school is not in session, and an alternative to babysitters for parents from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The activities for the week included two field trips and a variety of other activities throughout the day to keep kids from ages 5 to 11 engaged.
One day they learned a little about chemical reactions when they filled film canisters halfway with water and added an Alka Seltzer tablet before closing the lid.
The kids each took a turn to see how far their lid would fly when the Alka Seltzer fizzed up.
“I was waiting until it went off,” said Jared Rios, 9. “Everybody’s beating me.”
Many of the children have been to a YMCA camp in the past or participated in the after-school program.
Kelsie Perry, 11, attended the winter camp.
“I like just having fun and being outdoors,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the chocolate factory and the movie.”
Other activities throughout the week included a wheelie day, making root beer, making ice cream, and relay games. But the field trips, which included the Marich tour and to the movie theater to see “Horton Hears a Who,” seemed to be the highlight for many of the children.
Site Coordinator Dee Dee Lugo and two assistants traveled with a dozen kids by bus from Sunnyslope Elementary School to the candy factory. The spring break camp meets in a multipurpose room on the campus that also serves the YMCA after school program.
Before the children could enter the factory, a tour guide asked them all to put on a white paper hat to keep their hair from accidentally mixing in with the candy. She promised treats along the way if the children listened and followed directions.
The littlest ones, including Lane Hengel and Isaiah Calderon, stood at the front of the group to get a good look at some of the candy processing machines. The kids listened attentively for most of the half-hour tour, especially when they tried samples of some of the candies made on site.
When the tour guide handed out a green gummy candy, she asked the kids to guess the flavor.
“Lemon-lime,” they all guessed before trying the candy. Others guessed watermelon, apple and even cucumber.
“I don’t think you guys will guess it,” the tour guide said. “It’s pear.”
At the end of the tour, most of the children had money to pick out a treat to take home. One boy, Ryan Tagawa, 6, ended up with the most candy. Lugo joked that his mom might not be happy with it.
“My mom would be happy because me and mom will eat it all day,” he said, with a laugh.
The spring break camp comes as the local YMCA staff and directors finished their annual community campaign. The campaign raises money to provide scholarships for kids and adults to participate in the many programs offered by the YMCA. Volunteers raised $97,444, surpassing their original goal of $82,500 in five weeks, according to Executive Director Rochelle Callis.
The YMCA staff contributed $6,000 in donations and other money came from local businesses and individuals.
“Thank you to everyone in San Benito County for helping the YMCA build strong kids and strong communities,” Callis wrote.
The money raised for the campaign is used in a variety of ways at the YMCA of San Benito County. In 2007, staff gave out $126,140 in financial assistance to kids and families in need.
Signups are starting for British soccer camp, summer day camp, youth basketball, yoga, hip hop dance, ballet and others. For more information on activities, call 637-8600 or visit the YMCA of San Benito County at 339 Fifth St.
