If you’re looking for a unique Ontario camping experience for your kids, check out the Niagara Falls Jellystone Park summer camp. Niagarathisweek.com featured an article – “Spend Summer with the Bears” – about the new camps.
From Niagarathisweek.com: Contrary to popular belief, Yogi Bear™ doesn’t spend all of his days devising ways to steal picnic baskets.
This summer, at Jellystone Park in Niagara Falls he’ll have a much more constructive way to spend his time: entertaining kids in the campground’s new summer camp.
Running in weekly blocks, each with its own theme, the camp is meant to give Niagara youth a fun introduction to camp life while giving their parents a break. Campground co-owner Jim Amadio said with all of the amenities already in place, it was really just a matter of setting it up.
“We have everything needed, a full-time recreation staff, the playground and a pool,” he said. “We’d just never done it before.”
Recreation program leader Emma Christie led the charge in terms of camp development, planning out the full schedule of daily activities including sports, crafts, activities and a daily visit from Yogi Bear or one of his pals, Boo Boo™ and Ranger Smith.™
“It’s really an extension of what we’re already doing in the park anyway,” Christie explained, noting they already run programs for young campers vacationing with their families.
The day camp will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, with extended care hours available starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m.
Different themes include superheroes, survivor, ooey gooey, zoofari and more. In addition to activities in the pool and playground, there will also be wagon rides, crafts and games. Amadio noted each camper gets a take-home Jellystone Park T-shirt signed by their new friends.
Christie said in addition to getting kids out of the house for a bit, the program also gives them a unique one-of-a-kind experience.
“We have campers stay here from all over the world, they’ll get to make new friends and play with children from other countries,” she said.
The Yogi Bear Day Camp costs $150 per week, plus tax with discounts available for siblings and multiple week bookings. Jellystone Park Niagara is located at 8676 Oakwood Dr. in Niagara Falls. For more information call Christie at 905-354-1432, email YogiBear@jellystoneniagara.ca or visit www.jellystoneniagara.ca.
