NORWICH – The Norwich Family YMCA Kids Club – a fun-filled summer program for children ages 3 to 5 – will run through Aug. 12, featuring a wide variety of creative, educational activities.

Held in the YMCA Preschool Room, the program includes swimming, games, art activities, storytelling, field trips and snacks, all related to an ever-changing weekly theme, according to YMCA Youth and Family Director Bonnie Tiffany.

The theme last week – nature – found the children taking a short field trip to the Guernsey Memorial Library Park on Thursday, where they collected all manner of sticks, stones and leaves. Once back at the Y, the kids watched as Kaitlin Korver – who heads up the Kids Club – and her assistant, Gabby Testani, demonstrated how to use their findings for an unique art project. On Friday, the kids planted beans, said Korver, which they’ll keep an eye on as they sprout through the rest of the summer.