T-R FILE PHOTO Summer is right around the corner and camps are returning to Marshalltown, such as the STEM-related camp where children can learn about science, engineering and more.

Summer is in full swing in Marshalltown and there are plenty of things that kids can get involved in this summer, such as camps.

• The Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, 108 Washington St., is hosting two summer camps for kids. One camp, called Little Campers, features days at the swimming pool, the park, field trips and other activities. This camp, which runs from June 7 to Aug. 13, from 7:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is open for kids ages 3-6 who are not entering first grade. Kids must be potty-trained. A child’s spot in the camp will only be held for the days that have been paid for or days that have a scheduled payment. A crib-size blanket and sheet is required for nap time as well as an extra set of clothes with that child’s name on it. The Little Campers will meet in the Cultural Center Preschool Rooms.

• There is the Y Day Camp for children entering grades first through sixth and will feature swimming and other outdoor activities. This camp will involve team-building exercises, field trips, swimming, hiking and other outdoor activities. The day camp began Monday and ends on Aug. 20, and runs from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the week. .

For both camps, parents/guardians can sign up in advance for which days they wish to have a child attend the camps. Registration forms and further information on the registration process can be found here:

Little Campers: https://ymca-ywca.org/sites/default/files/Little%20Campers%202021%20Registation%20Packet.pdf

Day Camp:

https://ymca-ywca.org/sites/default/files/Registration%202021.pdf

Ashley Nelson, the Little Campers director, and Deb Grove, the summer camp director, said slots for the camps are mostly filled for the first week.

“Last year we had a number of campers in the high teens, but we’ve now surpassed where we were last summer,” Nelson said.

Grove also this first week’s number of campers is down from most years but is an increase from last summer’s program. COVID-19 caused the YMCA-YWCA to change some of its camp policies last summer, some of which have stuck around.

“Parents are not allowed in the facility and enhanced cleaning measures are being taken,” Grove said.

They said both camps involve splitting up children by age group and putting them into smaller groups to do different activities at different times. Grove said there are roughly 15 children per group.

The YMCA-YWCA is following Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Health checks, including temperature checks and symptom readings, will be done prior to drop off each day. Masks are not required to be worn. For updated COVID policies, go to https://ymca-ywca.org/news-stories/keeping-our-y-healthy-0. For more information on the programs, call 641-752-8658. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day until the beginning of August.

• The Camp Marshalltown Day Camp is geared towards kids with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This camp will be held at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 20 W. State St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and runs for eight weeks. It starts the week of June 14 and is open to those between the ages of 5 and 21 – if still in high school. Included in the camp is bowling, crafts, games (board and card), Wednesday special activities, swimming at the aquatic center on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Lunch is provided through the school summer lunch program when available.

• Another summer camp happening at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum is the Summer Blast Day Camp. This camp is for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. Included in this camp are activities such as arts, crafts, games, STEM-related things and more. There are 125 spots available per week and registration forms must be completed and sent to the Marshalltown Parks and Recreation Department office, 10 W. State St. The camp begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. each day and begins June 9. It ends Aug. 13. For more information on the camp and information on how to register, go to https://www.marshalltown-ia.gov/660/Summer-Blast-Day-Camp.

• The Kids in College Camp, 3700 S. Center St., at Marshalltown Community College gives kids in grades four through eight a glimpse of what college life might be like. There are two camp days for these events — June 14-18 and Aug. 2-4. Participants can sign up for classes that are centered around art, cooking, history, science and more. Registration for the June session closes on June 9, while the registration for the August session closes on July 28. For more information on the camps, classes and registration, go to https://ce.iavalley.edu/take-a-class/summer-youth-programs/kids-in-college-summer-camp/kids-in-college-course-descriptions/

• The Iowa State University Marshall County Extension and Outreach is offering youth multiple opportunities to learn more about agriculture, gardening, the environment and more. These events are not limited to 4-H members but there are only 10 spots per camp. All 4-H Extension day camps are at the Marshall County Extension Office unless otherwise noted. Some camps that are being offered are Babysitting Basics for kids in grades five through eight; Engineering Everywhere, grades four to six; and Gardening is Ag Too, for kindergarten through third. More camps are offered. For more information on these camps, go to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/marshall/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/marshall/2021%20Summer%20Programming%20Flier.pdf

• The Marshall County Conservation Board has three different summer camps this season that are still open for registration: children out of first or second grades from July 13 to July 15; third and fourth grades, July 20 to July 22; and fifth and sixth grades, Aug. 10 to Aug. 11.

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Contact Sam Stuve at 641-753-6611,

or at sstuve@timesrepublican.com