The University of Lethbridge had been quiet since the winter semester ended. But that changed last week with the start of its annual summer day camps. “We are always really busy, and we are busy again. So, we are about 98 per cent full for our summer camps. There’s a few spots left and random camp, but we’re definitely hitting our marks for sure,” said Stephanie Cook with University of Lethbridge athletics and recreation services. Lethbridge Polytechnic’s summer camps just opened this week. This year will feature new technology-based camps. A coding camp has been added this year after kids in last year’s camps asked about one. “Some of the new camps that we’re looking to add this summer are technology-focused camps that were really inspired by our campers and their families, who are really passionate about exploring interesting areas within technology. So, we’ve added a coding camp, a game designer camp, as well as a STEM camp this upcoming summer,” said Lethbridge Polytechnic youth initiatives manager Paige Thornborough. It isn’t just Lethbridge’s post-secondaries running camps. The YMCA has its day camps in full swing. There are still spaces left for later in the summer, but they’re filling up quickly. While the summer camps are fun, the threat of measles is looming. Since March, the south zone has seen 753 cases of measles. None of the three-day camp providers have changed their sanitation policy, but they are making sure to clean and sanitize often. “We take camper health and safety very seriously here at Lethbridge Polytechnic. And any time that families are sending us their campers, we really take that responsibility to heart. So when it comes to ensuring campers’ safety and heat waves or illness transmission, there are definitely steps that we already have in place to ensure that campers’ safety is again at the absolute top of our priority list,” said Thornborough. A measles vaccination isn’t required to attend camp at the YMCA or the post-secondary schools.
