The Hockomock Area YMCA Invensys Foxboro Branch celebrates their 10-year anniversary of Camp WAPAWCA (With a Positive Attitude We Can Achieve) Traditional Day Camp for children entering grades 1 through 5.
Invensys Foxboro Branch Director Patrick Murphy recognized three staff members who have been part of the Camp WAPAWCA tradition for those ten years. “Our Y’s promise is to help strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Y Summer Camp is a great place for area youth to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Shelly Jacobson, Kristina Ketchum, and Jonathan Bricker began as campers at the Invensys Foxboro Branch. As years passed, all three became more engaged, working their way from campers to counselors-in-training and now as staff members, “ says Murphy. “They are committed, hard-working, and dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen who is welcomed each morning at camp. We couldn’t be prouder to have them a part of our Y family,” adds Patrick.
Ms. Shelly Jacobson, a Wrentham resident has been part of the Hockomock Area YMCA Camp since she was six years old. She started out as a camper and by age twelve, entered the Counselor-in-Training program. She worked her way up to a camp counselor position and is now employed full-time as the Sports Director at the Invensys Foxboro Branch. “I want campers to have as much fun as I did as a camper,” says Jacobson. “Camp WAPAWCA was my family away from home and I want to have the same positive impact on the campers that come here to our Hockomock Y. Our camp counselors are as excited for the day as the campers when they arrive. Our number one goal is for the kids to have the best summer in a carefree, safe, and healthy atmosphere. ”
Ms. Kristina Ketchum, a 19-year old Foxboro resident and student-athlete at Quinnipiac University, has been involved in WAPAWCA camp for the past fourteen years as a camper and now as a counselor. “The Y has positive staff role models to help campers succeed at camp and connect with others. I made some of my best friends at camp,” explains Ketchum. This year Kristina is a counselor in our Super Sports Camp. “We emphasize fundamental skills, sportsmanship, and team work.”
Mr. Jonathan Bricker, a 20-year old Sharon resident and student leader at UMASS Amherst, has been involved in WAPAWCA camp for the past ten years. He completed the Counselor-in-Training program at age 12, and was hired as a camp counselor at age 15. In 2009, Bricker was awarded the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Youth of the Year award for his leadership. “I have grown so much from my involvement in Leaders Club and Camp. I have developed so many great friendships from being actively engaged at the Y and in the community,” explains Jon.
During Camp WAPAWCA, children get daily, free swim lessons, free swim time, archery, sports, enrichment, crafts, and music. Grades 2-5 go on weekly field trips to new and exciting places such as the zoo, scenic ponds and lakes, attend Paw Sox games, play lazer tag, and much more. First graders stay on-site and are visited every Wednesday by such fun things as magicians, mad scientists, a petting zoo and more. The Hockomock Area YMCA camps are enriched further with reading, writing, and science programs to help close summer learning gaps between school years. The Hockomock Area YMCA offers busing with multiple stops in the local community as well as pre and post care from 7:00am-9:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm for parents in need. Parents who want to send their children to camp, but who are in situations that make that seemingly impossible because of finances, should submit a confidential scholarship application. Scholarship applications are available on our website at hockymca.org or at any Member Service Desk.
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. At the Y, strengthening community is its cause. Every day, the Y works side-by-side with its neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow. Learn more at www.hockymca.org.
For more information about camp at the Hockomock Area YMCA, please visit hockymca.org or call the Foxboro branch at 508.772.1353, the North Attleboro branch at 508.695.7001, or the Franklin branch at 508.528.8708.