CAZENOVIA — This summer, the Cazenovia Joint Youth Recreation Program will run five individual weeklong camp sessions from July 12 through Aug. 13.
The program, which serves children from Cazenovia, Fenner and Nelson, is open to children ages five (who have completed their first year of kindergarten) through 12.
This year, the program will use Cazenovia College’s Schneeweiss Athletic Complex as its home base.
“Kids will have the opportunity to experience an open air camp setting and enjoy activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and swimming,” said Program Director Kristen Brink. “We are looking forward to a wonderful summer fostering fun and fresh air this summer.”
According to the director, the camp will also use Carpenter’s Barn for any indoor and arts and crafts activities.
Brink, who is a special education teacher at Burton Street Elementary School, replaced Kristen Romagnoli as director this year.
“I welcome the opportunity to get to know the community and its members more,” Brink said.
Throughout the summer, nine camp counselors will assist the program director.
A Joint Youth Recreation Board, comprised of representatives from the three local townships and the Village of Cazenovia, runs the program.
According to Mayor Kurt Wheeler, the village does the payroll and performs other functions as a service to the townships, but it does not run the program.
“The village will administer the program as decided by the Joint Rec Board,” he explained.
According to Village Trustee Maureen Fellows, who serves as commissioner of parks and recreation, the rec program has historically attracted about 200 campers each summer.
Last summer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp format was altered to abide by New York State and Madison County Health Department guidelines.
“Our 2020 camp enrollment dropped to 115,” Fellows said on June 24. “At this point, we have about 220 registrations for the five weeks of our 2021 camp.”
The cost of the program this year is $100 per week for each camper.
According to Fellows, the cost has risen due to increases in payroll for the counselors and the waterfront staff supervising the campers.
“The number of staff has increased to ensure the proper ratio of campers to counselors in our new camp format, and hourly wages have also increased,” she said.
Wheeler said he has received a number of inquiries regarding the cost change, and that he has been referring the individuals to their town representatives.
“If residents don’t want the fee to go up, they should communicate that to their town representatives to provide additional support to the program,” he said. “Village of Cazenovia taxpayers are already funding a disproportionate share of regional costs for amenities like parks and waterfront/swimming, so there needs to be a cooperative approach to this issue.”
To register for the rec program, visit cazenovia.recdesk.com/Community/Home.
