‘We’re really excited to be here’: Lethbridge summer camps filling up quickly

Demand for summer camps in Lethbridge is rising this year, with providers expanding programs and activities to keep up with growing interest.

Summer day camps are in full swing across Lethbridge.

Demand is as high as ever as providers try to offer a wide range of activities for children spending their summer taking part in camps.

Lethbridge Polytechnic is once again hosting a number of camps and have seen plenty of demand.

“(We offer) everything from culinary camps to forensics camps to athletic camps,” said Lethbridge Polytechnic youth initiatives manager Paige Thornborough. “We have a little bit of something for every camper, and that’s from as young as four, all the way up until age 18.”

Some new camps are available for the first time this summer. The polytechnic is offering a new range of STEM programs. They were the most requested kinds of camps from both parents and kids.

“We were incredibly fortunate and actually, a little bit overwhelmed with the amount of interest that we had this particular summer,” said Thornborough. “Many of our summer camps, specifically those with a STEM focus, sold out or filled up, I should say, within just a matter of, of days.”

The YMCA is also offering their usual range of summer camps. They’re also working to make these camps accessible. Fee assistance is available for current YMCA members who qualify.

“We also have a fee assistance program. That’s gets you two weeks free at camp for every child that you can find on our website at the Y,” said Rachel Jensen, Cor Van Raay YMCA summer camp coordinator.

Each of the YMCA’s camps are one week long.

Some kids end up taking the camps all summer.

Spots for later in the summer are still open but filling up fast.

“Summertime. Amazing. We’ve had super high demand,” Jensen said. “There’s about 116 spots a week. The first week was a little bit slower just because of the kind of the holiday, but other than that, it’s been a lot of fun. The second week we’ve been roaring.

“So all the kids are here, they’re having fun, and yeah, we’re really excited to be here.”