Summer fun

Friday, June 4, 2004 | 4:36 a.m.

line By Lynn Doan LAS VEGAS SUN

WEEKEND EDITION

June 5 - 6, 2004

LAS VEGAS SUN

Since 1970 the Sun Summer Camp Fund has provided camp scholarships so that children who otherwise could not go to camp may have the experience. The program has grown from 100 the first year to almost 1,000 last year.

The Las Vegas Sun covers the administrative costs so that all donations to the fund benefit children directly. The average cost is $300 per child.

"Each year when we read letters from kids who have been to camp, we realize we are engaged in something important to children," said Brian Cram, director of the Greenspun Family Foundation, which administers the camp fund.

The fund's goal is to provide camp scholarships to every child who applies, Cram said. Most of the donations that make that possible are from individuals.

To donate to the camp fund, use the coupon below. To apply for a camp scholarship, contact a local school or library.

When asked how summer camp can change a boy's life, Boy Scouts executive Phil Bevins tells the story of a 12-year-old named Todd Anderson.

"Todd was a rather awkward, large kid for his age, always a step behind," said Bevins, who took Todd and the rest of his Scouts camping in the woods of Seattle one summer.

It was a tradition for the boys to take a long dive off the pier, pair-by-pair, into the campsite's lake. None of the other Scouts wanted to be Anderson's partner, so Bevins volunteered to dive with him -- a gesture that soon paid off.

That day Anderson beat the record number of dives performed by any boy at the camp, transforming him into a leader overnight.

In the next few weeks, Bevins said, local summer camps will begin to instill long-lasting confidence and leadership in more kids like Anderson.

At the Spencer Kimball Scout Reservation southwest of Las Vegas, where the council is hosting Camp Potosi this summer, there isn't a pier, or a lake for that matter. But the site does boast a canoe pond, a rappelling tower, archery and mountain biking. Boys ages 11 to 17 can register for the weeklong sessions through their local Scout troops.

The council also has two out-of-state camps, one in Utah's Wasatch Mountains and another in Arizona's Hualapai Mountains.

Bevins' boys aren't the only Scouts who will be hiking up trails near Las Vegas this summer. The Foxtail Girl Scouts Camp for girls ages 7 to 17 is held each summer at Mount Charleston.

Foxtail director Darbie Adams said the camp aims to give girls an appreciation for the outdoors, while introducing them to new activities.

Each weekly session is divided into four activity units: arts and crafts, astronomy, cooking and performing arts. Girls can register for sessions online through the Frontier Council at frontiercouncil.org.

Adams said she has always been committed to a girls-only camp because most girls are more comfortable trying new physical activities when boys are not present.

"Girls believe boys will outshine everything they do in sports, so they withdraw," Adams said. "But when boys aren't around, they feel more comfortable and don't worry as much about looking foolish."

Meanwhile, Clark County hosts three co-ed camps for kids ages 8 to 15 at Camp Lee Canyon, also at Mount Charleston. The six-day camps are each geared toward a specific age group and can be registered for at the Parks and Community Services Department.

For example, On The Edge Camp is geared toward teens and focuses on extreme outdoor activities, including rope climbing and mountain biking. But every camp includes traditional activities such as hiking, campfires, skits and games.

Kids who are looking for a camp that is less traditional or closer to home can try one of the weekly specialty camps hosted by the YMCA of Southern Nevada. Children meet at the center each morning and are bused to locations throughout the city, including Powerhouse Rockclimbing Gym and an archery field at Pacific Sails.

Center Director Kathyrn Anesi said they also hire contractors to teach children origami and cryptology. Then, after each day trip, participants are invited back to the center's swimming pool.

Unlike other summer camps, Anesi said, the YMCA offers an hour of character development during each session, which emphasizes the association's core values: respect, responsiblity, honesty and caring. The YMCA provides financial assistance for all of its summer programs, depending on household income. Brochures and registration are available at the center's front desk.

Las Vegas Leisure Services offers a similar summer camp program to children ages 4 to 15, held at city facilities and Clark County School District sites.

Five camps, divided by age and focus, involve children in activities such as scuba diving, gymnastics and cooking. Older kids also go on field trips to local attractions and on-site events.

Tim Burch, a city coordinator, said the camp fosters growth and self-esteem, so that "children can grow to their fullest."

"We provide a positive and meaningful experience for kids in a safe, supervised environment," Burch said.

Children who feel more comfortable in small groups may want to consider the Burns Hermitage kids camp. Run by Metro Police Officer Jim Burns and Sgt. Greg Damarin, the camp is located in Pioche, but transportation from Las Vegas to Pioche is provided.

Burns said the campers, who range from 9 to 14 years old, are kept busy with day hikes, archery, fishing and camp-outs at the caves of the Great Basin National Park.

The camp was created for kids who don't want to go through an organization like Boy Scouts to participate in outdoor activities, he said.

Summer camps are also offered through other private organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Jewish Federation.