Zoe Pierre loves being a part of the summer camp program at Washington Park & Community Center on 5199 Pembroke Rd.
“I like all the activities. I have made a lot of new friends here,” said Pierre. Cody Johnson also likes the camp. “I like to play football and read. This camp is awesome,” said Johnson.
They are among about 180 children age 5-12 who are participating in the summer camp program at Washington Park & Community Center. The program is known as “Maximizing Time Out of School” (MOST) and is offered all summer by the City of Hollywood. There are four MOST camps in Hollywood.
The camp is in session each weekday throughout the summer. The children who come spend the mornings studying math, reading and science under the direction of teachers. During the afternoons, they enjoy fun activities such as field trips to museums or sports and games. Competitive musical chairs is a game the campers love. They play flag football, soccer, basketball and a game that is a combination of kickball and basketball.
The Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center, on 3161 Taft Street, is also offering a wide variety of summer camp and youth activities during the summer. The goal is to keep young people busy, learning and safe.
There is a sports camp which focuses on basketball skills but participants also play floor hockey, soccer and flag football. There is a gymnastics focused camp which includes sessions of tumbling, cheerleading, gymnastics skill development, fitness challenges and other fun activities. There is an aquatic program where young people can learn to swim or become better swimmers. There is a yoga camp where children develop self-esteem, body awareness, flexibility, strength, coordination and posture. And there are many other programs for young people at the YMCA.
If you visit the YMCA you will see young people playing a wide variety of sports and games and having fun.
“We want the children to continue doing academic work during the summer so they don’t get behind. We want them to improve academically during the summer,” said Debra Johnson, recreational coordinator at the Washington Community Center. “But we have lots of fun activities here and the kids have a good time.”