CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Summer camp doesn't have a positive influence only on the children who attend. Sometimes, the child's parent is nicely influenced, too.

From YWCA Child Enrichment Center's Summer Day Camp:

"Last year, on the first day of camp, Lisa was the last to arrive. Judging by the grip the 10-year-old had on her mother's arm, the counselors could sense she was nervous.

"As her mom kissed her goodbye, Lisa got tears in her eyes, so one of our counselors went to her to assure her everything would be fine. Lisa practically glued herself to that counselor and stayed with her not only for the rest of the day, but for the next two weeks, refusing to play with the other children.

"The counselors noticed that Lisa seemed more comfortable taking on the role of an adult than that of a child. Since ours is a day camp, we get to interact with parents a little each day when they come to pick up their children, and as the counselor began to get to know the mother better, she learned Lisa had always taken care of her younger siblings.

"For the most part, Lisa took her caretaker role so seriously that she seemed unable to be a child herself.

"Through gentle urging, the counselor was able to get Lisa involved with the group, and before long, this child who felt like an adult learned how to play. Soon, she was splashing in the pool with her new friends and giggling in the van as we went off on field trips.

"Lisa's mother was stunned by the positive impact camp had on her daughter, and realized the unhealthy role she'd inadvertently allowed her daughter to take on. She committed to changing that pattern. She was determined to let Lisa enjoy being a kid.

"Something that might not have happened if not for camp."

The YMCA Child Enrichment Center's day camp is for children ages 5 through 12 and costs $100 per week. The camp, which is in session all summer at 201 Donnally St. in Charleston, needs funding for 50 partial scholarships at a cost of $75 per child.

For more information on the camp, contact Elizabeth Teel at 304-340-3560 or visit ywcacharleston.org

Donations (payable to the Gazette Charities Camp Fund) can be sent to Gazette Charities Send-A-Child-To-Camp Fund, 1001 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV  25301.

Reach Karin Fuller at karinful...@cnpapers.com.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Summer camp doesn't have a positive influence only on the children who attend. Sometimes, the child's parent is nicely influenced, too.

From YWCA Child Enrichment Center's Summer Day Camp:

"Last year, on the first day of camp, Lisa was the last to arrive. Judging by the grip the 10-year-old had on her mother's arm, the counselors could sense she was nervous.

"As her mom kissed her goodbye, Lisa got tears in her eyes, so one of our counselors went to her to assure her everything would be fine. Lisa practically glued herself to that counselor and stayed with her not only for the rest of the day, but for the next two weeks, refusing to play with the other children.

"The counselors noticed that Lisa seemed more comfortable taking on the role of an adult than that of a child. Since ours is a day camp, we get to interact with parents a little each day when they come to pick up their children, and as the counselor began to get to know the mother better, she learned Lisa had always taken care of her younger siblings.

"For the most part, Lisa took her caretaker role so seriously that she seemed unable to be a child herself.

"Through gentle urging, the counselor was able to get Lisa involved with the group, and before long, this child who felt like an adult learned how to play. Soon, she was splashing in the pool with her new friends and giggling in the van as we went off on field trips.

"Lisa's mother was stunned by the positive impact camp had on her daughter, and realized the unhealthy role she'd inadvertently allowed her daughter to take on. She committed to changing that pattern. She was determined to let Lisa enjoy being a kid.

"Something that might not have happened if not for camp."

The YMCA Child Enrichment Center's day camp is for children ages 5 through 12 and costs $100 per week. The camp, which is in session all summer at 201 Donnally St. in Charleston, needs funding for 50 partial scholarships at a cost of $75 per child.

For more information on the camp, contact Elizabeth Teel at 304-340-3560 or visit ywcacharleston.org

Donations (payable to the Gazette Charities Camp Fund) can be sent to Gazette Charities Send-A-Child-To-Camp Fund, 1001 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV  25301.

Reach Karin Fuller at karinful...@cnpapers.com.