Camp Kern turns winter upside down
By Monica Scalf
Dayton Daily News
Singing around the campfire, hiking through the woods and sleeping in cabins are images usually associated with warm and buggy summer nights. Camp Kern, in southeastern Warren County and run by the YMCA of Greater Dayton, has flipped this image upside-down.
In addition to traditional summer camps, Camp Kern offers Winter Adventure Camp to children 7-15.
Children arrived at camp on Dec. 26 to stay at the sleep-over camp until Dec. 30. The facilities include heated cabins and an indoor climbing wall.
Its the same as summer camp. We have trails, campfires, games, crafts and if there is snow, we have sledding. We also have a pretend New Years Celebrations, said Loretta Deters of Waynesville, director of administration for Camp Kern.
Campers stay in lodgings according to gender and ages. The winter camp averages about 100 campers, many of them veterans of summer camp.
Its almost like a winter reunion. They exchange e-mail addresses during the summer, and this is a chance for them to get together in the winter, Deters said.
Jenny Warner, vice president of human resources for the YMCA of Greater Dayton, has two daughters, Shelby, 13, and Emma, 10, who attend winter camp.
Mom and Dad still have to work and rather than the kids sitting home bored, it gives them a chance to do different things all day long, Warner said.
She credits the camp with helping to instill responsibility and belonging in her daughters.
They get to participate in getting meals ready and cleaning up. Plus, there is the exercise and outdoor component, she said.
During each camp session, winter or summer, a community is formed. Warner recalled how her daughter returned from camp saying, At camp, every kid is cool.
Warners daughter, Shelby, loves winter camp.
What I love most about Camp Kern is singing songs, playing games, and meeting all new people. They are always really nice there, and I always make great friends there, she said.