Youth enjoy summer activites at Tolson center

By Tina Ray
Paraglide

	Photos by Tina Ray/Paraglide Charli Daniels, 11, plays ping pong Tuesday at Tolson Youth Activities Center. Daniels, who attends Camp Geronimo, Phase II, enjoyed summer camp at the center and also participated in activities such as two-square, art, and playing board games.

Charli Daniels is not normally accustomed to playing games and having a lot of fun at summer camp, but the 11-year-old said she has found something different at the Jumping Geronimo, Phase II Camp at Tolson Youth Activities Center.

The rising sixth grader at Pine Forest Middle School said the camp is enjoyable and features so many games that she would attend again next year.

“If I get the opportunity (to come back), yes, because usually all the other kids are fun, but I like the games that we have, like free play.“

Daniels spent a recent Tuesday afternoon playing ping pong with a campmate in the adventure room at Tolson.

She kept score and seemed to relish winning.

Lisa Pierce, Child, Youth and School Services program assistant, watched the youth as they played ping pong, pool, chess and other games.

Pierce said what she likes most is teaching the children valuable life lessons.

“I help them learn new things and open up new ideas,” Pierce said. “I like preparing them for adulthood and teaching them to treat others like they want to be treated.”

As many as 80 to 150 children will attend the camp each day, Pierce added. Staffers keep a 15 to 1 ratio of adult supervisors to children.

In the gymnasium, staffer Anthony Bennett watched groups of youth shoot basketball and play two-square.

Working as a program assistant gives the chance for the 23-year-old to give back, said Bennett, who grew up as a Fort Bragg youth visiting Tolson.

“To me, it’s more than just a job. I like dealing with the kids,” he said.

Genan Davis, 12, said he likes going to camp to make friends.

“Sometimes, we chill, (and) like to laugh and joke around,” he said.

Davis, played and won a game of 21, and practiced working on his jump shot.

Jumping Geronimo, which began in mid-June, will run through Aug. 24, said Louise Brown, assistant camp director. Other activities youth get to enjoy are art, rollerskating and bowling.
For more information about CYSS programs or activities, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

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