Camp Thompson marks 40th summer
By Katherine Waters
Sun Staff Intern
SMYRNA – This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Norwich Family YMCA’s day camp at Camp Thompson in Smyrna.
Camp Thompson organizers say the camp offers a fun, outdoor setting for children between the ages of 5 and 16 to spend their day. “It is an outdoor experience that some kids may never have other than here,” said Tom Revoir, senior program director.
The camp is situated on 200 acres of land and features a lodge and kitchen, dining room, sleeping cabins, a pavilion, shower house, playground, boathouse and a 10-acre lake “which holds a lot of fish,” Revoir said.
Campers may choose to participate in almost 200 activities. This style of scheduling allows the campers to take responsibility in the decision making process.
“We have a schedule, and during certain blocks of time we open up a range of activities,” Revoir said. “The kids choose what and where they want to go. In the long run, there are less problems because kids respect their counselors more.”
Nine-year-old camper Kara Evans said she enjoys spending time with her counselor, Lindsay. “She is really nice and lets us do a lot of things.”
Favorite activities for the campers vary widely. Kevin Dunshee, 11, said he likes fishing the most, “because there are a lot of people who can fish with you.”
Many campers such as Jordan Baker, 10, said ‘man-hunt,’ a large hide and seek game in the woods, is her favorite game. Baker’s friend, Allison Distefano (age 11) agrees with her, but she said she also loves to make boon-doggles and lanyards.
“Camp is good for kids. It gives them something to do other than go to a baby-sitter,” said Lindsay Charles, the counselor for the nine and 10- year-old age group. “There are more kids their age to play with.”
Camp Thompson began as a residential camp where children stayed all summer. It was later converted into a day camp due to family lifestyle changes. “There was a shift in needs. Parents now need camp as day care for their kids,” said Revoir.
For the seven and eight-year-old age group counselor Emily Rose, camp is a place for kids to get away from home and the video games they often play on a daily basis. “They love any kind of field game, soccer, capture the flag, basketball,” she said. For her kids, Camp Thompson offers more than just games, they were also able to go on field trips to P&C and Ives Cream.
“At Ives Cream they actually got to see how to make ice cream,” said Rose. “Here they have the chance to do activities they might not be able to do otherwise.”
Campers are able to pick and choose the days they attend. Camp Thompson averages 55 campers daily, but Revoir would like to see that number increase by the end of the summer and into the following years.
“These kids and the staff I have now are great. Not a single one is going home without fun,” he said.
This year’s camp season began June 30 and will continue until Aug. 22.
YMCA day camp runs Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Transportation is provided. Parents drop their children off at the community room in the YMCA in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon.
Camp Thompson, “is a home away from home” in the summer, said Revoir. For more information, contact the YMCA at 336-9622.
Sun Staff Intern
SMYRNA – This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Norwich Family YMCA’s day camp at Camp Thompson in Smyrna.
Camp Thompson organizers say the camp offers a fun, outdoor setting for children between the ages of 5 and 16 to spend their day. “It is an outdoor experience that some kids may never have other than here,” said Tom Revoir, senior program director.
The camp is situated on 200 acres of land and features a lodge and kitchen, dining room, sleeping cabins, a pavilion, shower house, playground, boathouse and a 10-acre lake “which holds a lot of fish,” Revoir said.
Campers may choose to participate in almost 200 activities. This style of scheduling allows the campers to take responsibility in the decision making process.
“We have a schedule, and during certain blocks of time we open up a range of activities,” Revoir said. “The kids choose what and where they want to go. In the long run, there are less problems because kids respect their counselors more.”
Nine-year-old camper Kara Evans said she enjoys spending time with her counselor, Lindsay. “She is really nice and lets us do a lot of things.”
Favorite activities for the campers vary widely. Kevin Dunshee, 11, said he likes fishing the most, “because there are a lot of people who can fish with you.”
Many campers such as Jordan Baker, 10, said ‘man-hunt,’ a large hide and seek game in the woods, is her favorite game. Baker’s friend, Allison Distefano (age 11) agrees with her, but she said she also loves to make boon-doggles and lanyards.
“Camp is good for kids. It gives them something to do other than go to a baby-sitter,” said Lindsay Charles, the counselor for the nine and 10- year-old age group. “There are more kids their age to play with.”
Camp Thompson began as a residential camp where children stayed all summer. It was later converted into a day camp due to family lifestyle changes. “There was a shift in needs. Parents now need camp as day care for their kids,” said Revoir.
For the seven and eight-year-old age group counselor Emily Rose, camp is a place for kids to get away from home and the video games they often play on a daily basis. “They love any kind of field game, soccer, capture the flag, basketball,” she said. For her kids, Camp Thompson offers more than just games, they were also able to go on field trips to P&C and Ives Cream.
“At Ives Cream they actually got to see how to make ice cream,” said Rose. “Here they have the chance to do activities they might not be able to do otherwise.”
Campers are able to pick and choose the days they attend. Camp Thompson averages 55 campers daily, but Revoir would like to see that number increase by the end of the summer and into the following years.
“These kids and the staff I have now are great. Not a single one is going home without fun,” he said.
This year’s camp season began June 30 and will continue until Aug. 22.
YMCA day camp runs Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Transportation is provided. Parents drop their children off at the community room in the YMCA in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon.
Camp Thompson, “is a home away from home” in the summer, said Revoir. For more information, contact the YMCA at 336-9622.
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