It was overcast and threatening rain last Wednesday morning as about 30 youngsters climbed on the bus for a trip to “the farm,” one of two outings scheduled each week for those enrolled in the Goochland YMCA’s Camp Gooch.

By the time the campers reached the D’Amores farm in western Goochland, it had started to sprinkle.

But that didn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm of the campers, as Program Director Jan Kenney and her counselors split the kids into two groups.

Half headed down to the lake for some vigorous canoeing, while the others practiced their archery skills.

While they paddled, each canoe full of campers picked up plastic balls with the color of their team. The four colors symbolized the values of the YMCA, said Kenney: blue for honesty, red for caring, green for responsibility and yellow for respect.

Meanwhile, a steady cool drizzle developed.

“It was raining and it cooled us off,” said Hunter Glaveskas (11), who helped crew one of the canoes with his twin brother William.

After each group finished their archery and canoeing, they piled back on the bus and talked about what these values mean before heading back to Goochland Courthouse for lunch. Each trip to the farm normally includes a nature adventure, such as a hike through the forest, but the steadily increasing rain canceled that for this day. Kenney said a future trip might include panning for gold during the nature segment.

Camp Gooch is designed for campers in the first through eighth grades. It operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The cost is $137 per week. There are 10 one-week sessions from June 15 until Aug. 21 scheduled and campers have the option of signing up for as many weeks as they choose, said Kenney. About 20 percent of the campers receive financial help with the weekly fee, based on family income, she said.

Daily events include recreational swimming in the outdoor pool, arts and crafts and a variety of games and other activities.

Music and dance also form part of the curriculum.

Some campers are veterans of previous years at Camp Gooch.

Ten-year-old Jacob Davis, who scored a bull’s eye during the archery session at the farm, credited his performance to his previous attendance.

“I’ve got a year of experience,” he said. “I came to camp last year,” he explained.

The Goochland Family YMCA also offers Kinder Camp for children ages 3 to 5 years old. Kenney said last week Camp Gooch and Kinder Camp had a total of 58 campers enrolled.

Beyond day camps for the two age groups, the Goochland YMCA offers a variety of specialty and sport camps throughout the summer.

Kenney called particular attention to upcoming sessions of the YMCA’s Nature-Art Camp, starting July 13.

It will feature horseback riding, painting with a local artist Robin Caseri, pottery making and a visit to a recording studio to make and record music.

To find out more about the Goochland Family YMCA’s summer program, visit their Web site at www.goochlandymca.org or call 804 556-9887.

Photo by Ken Odor
Program Director Jan Kenney and her crew canoe in the rain last Wednesday at Camp Gooch.