By Barbara Augsdorfer
Has the snow melted yet? Even if the snow is still lying around in dirty piles everywhere, it’s time to start thinking about the two-week spring break enjoyed by Center Grove area students on the new balanced calendar. Two whole weeks! What to do?
One possibility for restless kids (and parents looking for something more than baby-sitting) may be the Spring Wolf Adventure Camp hosted by St. Francis & Clare Catholic School in Greenwood. Camp is open to the public and all children ages 3 (potty-trained) through eighth grade. Registration opened on Feb. 1. Camps are available for both weeks, but students can attend just one week or a few days. However, there are no discounts for part-time campers. Drop-off and pickup times are flexible between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Oh yeah, older kids, leave the cell phones and all other electronic devices at home — camp rule. (You’ll be having too much fun to text or update your Facebook status, anyway.)
Week 1, March 24-28, is “Hoosier Vacation” for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. “The schedule for the ‘Hoosier Vacation’ includes plans to attend the State Museum and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” says Angie Gilliland, marketing director for St. Francis & Clare School. “Plans are being firmed up for two more locations in the Indianapolis area.” Cost for this camp is $225 per camper and includes breakfast, a hot lunch and a snack each day. It also includes transportation and admission to the various sites. Gilliland added that campers are allowed to bring a lunch from home, but soft drinks are not allowed. “Children are welcome to bring their own lunch; however, there is no refund for the cost of lunch or breakfast if they choose not to partake,” Gilliland says.
The 3- to 5-year olds will experience “Spring Is in the Air” at St. Francis & Clare School’s “Wolf Den.” Cost for the preschooler’s camp is $150 and includes breakfast, a hot lunch and a snack each day. “Little campers will enjoy crafts, activities and snacks centered on their theme,” Gilliland explains. “They will enjoy special books and free play as well.” The preschoolers will also have nap time each day, so they need to bring their own blanket and pillow.
Week 2, March 31-April 4, is “Spring Break Survivor” for the students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Camp counselors will gather their tribes; each tribe will create its own flag, build its own shelter and participate in team-building activities, so no one will be “voted off” the camp. Week 2 for the preschoolers will be a “Pint-Sized Circus.” Cost for Week 2 of camp for both age groups is $150 and includes breakfast, a hot lunch and a snack each day.
“Parents asked for something for their children to do while they are unable to take vacation days from work for all of the school vacation days during the new balanced calendar year,” Gilliland explains. “While the fall camp had about half of the participants of our summer camp, we feel this was successful for the first year of operation. At this point we anticipate continuing the spring and fall camp programming as well as the summer camp.” The program is directed by a licensed teacher and managed by the school’s coordinator who holds a degree in camp and recreation.
For more information or to register online, go to ssfcschool.org and click on the “Wolf Adventure Camps” tab; or register in person at the school, 5901 Olive Branch Road, in Greenwood. The camp has a capacity of 125 campers and the deadline to register is March 14.
Barbara Augsdorfer is a graduate of California Lutheran University with more than 20 years of writing and editing experience in the publishing industry. Barbara had an aunt and grandmother who survived breast cancer. Her mother-in-law is currently undergoing radiation treatments after a lumpectomy last spring.