Uno. . .

Children at the Dunbar Day Camp at the Dunbar Community Center have fun Monday playing the card game Uno. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and has two sessions with one running June 5 – June 30 and the second running from July 5 – July 28

Photo by Alicia Weldon

Most people believe children should not stop learning once the schools close for the summer. The Greenville Parks and Recreation Department realizes young minds need constant nurturing, so they are offering a camp that allows children to have fun and learn at the same time.

Dunbar Day Camp, held June 5-June 30 and July 5-July 28, is an annual activity sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department held at the newly air-conditioned Dunbar Community Center across from Greenville High School. Both sessions run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A one-time fee is paid for the four-week session. The fee schedule is as follows: $20 for one child; $30 for two children; $40 for three children; and $50 for four or more.

Each child can participate in many activities, such as arts and crafts, sports and table games. Occasionally, the children will take field trips or go swimming at the YMCA.

The participants are split into groups, including ages 5-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. Each group participates in

a different activity for their age group, rotating throughout the day.

The camp also offers reading and math classes for one hour a day to help children with these skills, taught by volunteer teachers.

Jerome Harris, Park and Recreation Department director, said math and reading are offered because of their difficulty for the children.

"We found that some of our kids might have problems in these areas, so he wanted to help them a bit. One hour a day can at least help them out a little," Harris said.

The department also would like to add a music class to encourage the children to become active in music and to appreciate what it has to offer.

The program has been held by the organization for over two decades, with as many as 175 children participating in one session at a time.

Anita Savage, camp director, said that as of the first day of sign-up for the camp, participation has been moderate.

"Kids are still coming in, and we hope to get about 50 to 100 before the session is over," Savage said while watching a group of children enjoy a game of basketball.

Savage added that many of the children come each year, but they also get some who will attend the camp for the first time.

Children can be signed up at any time during the four-week sessions. For information about joining the camp, call 382-8708.