Our heroes have made it to the midpoint of our Operation Summer Camp 2021 journey. It has already been five full weeks of fun, fun, and more fun with even more excitement to come!
During Week 1's Community Heroes, many of our kiddos met each other for the first time and immediately formed a bond that would carry them through for the coming weeks. They showed a burst of energy at the Virginia Beach Field House where they enjoyed soccer, kickball, and a great picnic lunch with their new friends. Later that week, we visited the dinosaurs and learned about Virginia wildlife at the Virginia Living Museum. During Week 2's Environmental Heroes, we had the first of our weekly trips to the Gator Pool at Little Creek where we enjoyed the cool water, made a splash while sliding on giant slides, and even relaxed on gator floaties. Water play was in the cards again this week as we explored the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and made great use of the ever-flowing fountains and splash pools. Ahhh, nothing like a little refreshment on a hot summer day!
Week 3's was all about Space Heroes, so we made a voyage to the Virginia Air and Space Science Center where we learned all about the wonders of space and the many explorations that have taken place in the past, and are scheduled for the future. Our kids had so many great questions and wanted to know as much as they could about space, so we might have some future astronauts in our midst. Week 4's Military Heroes helped our kiddos better understand military life. They even got to participate in some military drills in the classroom and took pride in earning honorary dog tags. Oorah!
Finally, as we end Week 5's Heroes in the Arts, we reflect on the fun we had! Have you ever thought about kissing a baby alligator? Nevaeh did! We all had a blast when JB Rattles brought his reptile zoo to the ASYMCA. Snakes, skinks, and hairy spiders...OH MY! We ended this week's field trips with a little bit of magic and a Circus in a Suitcase, thanks to the Virginia Arts for Learning. What better way to round out our week than to learn about healthy eating and nutrition by artfully creating our own fruity snacks with our special guests from the Virginia Beach WIC program.
As we close out the first half of camp, we begin to look forward to the rest of the amazing adventure that awaits. To stay up-to-date on our journey, visit Operation Summer Camp 2021 and follow us on social media.
Posted June 23, 2021
ABOUT ARMED SERVICES YMCA:
The Armed Services YMCA is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves currently serving military members and their families. In 2019, we engaged more than 250,000 participants and delivered more than 1.3 million points of service to junior enlisted Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and family members at 200 service centers in 18 states. Whether providing respite child care for parents in need, summer camps for kids, or assisting with emergency needs, the Armed Services YMCA is a nonprofit with a mission: Strengthening Our Military Family®. Visit our website to see how you can join us in supporting military families.
