SPLASH! Ten-year-old Aaron jumps into the water, rejoining the game of pass-the-ball. While many of Aaron’s friends back home have had to wait out the hot weather, Aaron has been having a blast swimming in the pool, boating on Silver Lake, and playing many other games. Since he came to YMCA Camp Hough last week, he’s made a tie-dye shirt, tried archery for the first time, and befriended all the other boys in his cabin. As Aaron resurfaces out of the water, he laughs and tosses the ball over a roaring counselor, just getting it to his new best friend.
Aaron is one of many boys and girls spending part of his summer at YMCA Camp Hough on the shores of Silver Lake. Camp Hough hosts week long resident camps for children ages 6 to 14. A day camp bus leaves each morning from the Wyoming County YMCA in Warsaw. Most campers come from the GLOW region, though others travel quite a ways for the experience. Some parents send their kids to camp to help them grow to be independent, and some parents like the focus on YMCA values at a kid-accessible level. Other parents will send their children to spend time outside, knowing that they will have so much fun. Counselors also value the time spent mentoring the kids outdoors.
“It can be an incredible experience to help challenge a child and watch them grow over the week,” says Aquatics Director William Ferriby. “Whether it is helping a day camper practice swimming for the first time or teaching a group of 13-year-olds learn to work together with kindness and respect, it is an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Aaron is out of the water now, putting on more sunscreen for his next activity hour. He doesn’t think as much about becoming independent or learning responsibility. Aaron is more interested street hockey. No matter what, both Aaron and his family are excited about all that he is trying and learning, out of the indoors and under the sun at YMCA Camp Hough. For information on how your child can have the same magical experiences as Aaron contact, YMCA Camp Hough at 585-201-3495 or visit www.camphough.org
