Stumptown summer
Whitefish offers first-ever full-day camp program for children
Summer in Whitefish just got a lot more fun.
Starting in mid-June, the Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department will offer its first-ever full-day summer camp program for children ages 6 to 12.
The Stumptown Summer Day Camp Program is the result of an expressed interest from the public for the city to offer a more expansive summer camp program, Whitefish Parks Director Karl Cozad said.
The city of Whitefish has provided some summer recreational activities in the past, but typically they were short vignettes, Cozad said - hourlong or half-day activities.
"It was kind of hit and miss," he said.
A full-day program, one that starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m., is "the highest and greatest need of working parents," Cozad said.
Erik Bruner, a former summer-camp coordinator for the city of Kalispell, was hired as the recreation coordinator for the city of Whitefish after his position was cut in Kalispell.
"As fate would have it, Kalispell's cut was our good fortune," Cozad said.
Bruner has been a recreation enthusiast his entire life, starting as a junior counselor at a YMCA resident camp program.
He wants children to experience the same kind of lasting memories he has from summer-camp days.
"These activities will be offered in an environment where lasting friendships can be made along with lifelong memories of the day-camp experience," Bruner said.
THE STUMPTOWN Ice Den, with 17,000 square feet of space, will be the hub for the new summer program, but campers will spend most of their time doing in-town activities and full-day field trips. Participants will go on field trips every Tuesday and Thursday to destinations such as Big Sky Waterpark, Flathead Lake, Lone Pine State Park and Swan Lake.
On non-field-trip days, campers will swim at City Beach, spend time at Stumptown Art Studio and The Wave fitness center, and also will have an opportunity to learn martial arts at the Sawbuck Do Jang studio.
"Our goal is at the end of the day, they don't want to leave and can't wait to get back in the morning," Cozad said.
Campers will be divided into three age groups, with a staff-to-child ratio of one to eight.
The program will be limited to 50 campers on field-trip days and otherwise can accommodate up to 80 campers.
With the Kalispell summer-camp program scaled back somewhat because of budget cuts, Bruner said he expects the Whitefish program to be popular. A waiting-list policy has been established in anticipation of a full program.
The cost is $25 per day or $110 per week. Cost-wise, it's a self-sustaining program, Cozad said. Campers will bring their own lunches and snacks.
Cozad said the city intends to set up a scholarship program to provide financial assistance for families who might not otherwise be able to afford the summer camp.
"We're in the process of trying to solidify sponsors," he said.
Anyone wanting to support the scholarship program can contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 863-2470.
Parents interested in enrolling their children in the nine-week summer camp can contact Bruner at 863-2472 or send an e-mail to parksprog@cityofwhitefish.org.
More information is available on the city's Web site, at www.whitefish.govoffice.com
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com