Sunny Isles Beach Summer Camp Keeps on Growing!
By Sylvia Flores, Administrative Assistant to Director of CHS

As the city continues to grow, so do the programs offered by the Cultural & Human Services Department. This year’s summer camp program offered activities and entertainment to almost 300 children, an increase of almost 100 children from last year’s summer camp. Not only did we have a higher number of participation, but campers were offered more variety in programming, including a basketball camp, a soccer camp, and a cheerleading camp.

Camp Tot-Lot, offered for toddlers, ages 3 & 4, is a half-day camp, offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 9:00am – 12:00pm. This is an opportunity for toddlers to experience a school setting for the first time, and interact with other children of the same age. Although this camp does not offer field trips, campers enjoy a variety of games and activities including music, yoga, and sports.

Camp S.I.B, our longest-running camp, is offered for children ages 5-12 and is a full-day camp, available Monday through Friday, from 9am – 5pm (with before care and after care available, as well).Campers go on three field trips per week, and enjoy many in-house activities, such as field day, ceramics, and interactive games. C.B. Smith water park was on the schedule every week, to help campers cool off, as well as other exciting trips including Wannado City, Strike Miami Bowling, Incredible Ice (ice skating), and Lion Country Safari.

We have recently created a teen camp, Camp Adventure, for ages 11-15. This camp is similar in structure to Camp S.I.B., available Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm, and campers also go on three field trips per week. But, the activities and trips scheduled for Camp Adventure are exactly as the name implies, more adventurous for this more demanding age group. This year, campers enjoyed trips such as rock wall climbing, paintball, kayaking, Parrot Jungle Island, and much more!

One of our most popular specialty camps is our Junior Lifeguard camp program. This is a one-week program, offered for different age groups, from 9:30am – 2:30pm. Campers work directly with Sunny Isles Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards, to learn about emergency situations and how to respond to them, including rescue techniques, radio transmission, marine life, etc. Although the program is short, campers learn a great deal of information and enjoy the perfect location of their lessons… the beach!

Finally, for the first time, the city offered full-day sports camps for our residents, including cheerleading, basketball, and soccer. These one-week programs were offered Monday through Friday, from 9am-4pm. Campers learned specialized tactics and skills to increase their knowledge of their designated sport. But, what is camp without a little fun? Campers also enjoyed a break from learning, and cooled off at Quiet Waters Park in Broward County.

The culmination of every summer always ends with our annual talent show. This year’s program took place on Thursday, August 9th, 2007, at the Parish Hall of St. Mary Magdalen Church. Participants from Camp Tot-Lot, Camp S.I.B, and Camp Adventure performed for an audience of almost 300 guests and received a great deal of applause and recognition for their hard work. A special presentation was made to the Sunflower Society Inc. and the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department for their generous contributions to the summer camp program in order to sponsor low-income families. A playback of the talent show will be broadcast on SIBTV, channel 77, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the Kids Corner segment at 4:00pm.

With the opening of Pelican Community Park near the end of 2007, our department is looking forward to increasing the size of our programs to provide opportunities to all of the residents of Sunny Isles Beach. Summer camp information is usually published in March of each year. Check our website (www.sibfl.net), SIBTV (channel 77), or call 305.792.1706 for updates on our programs and events!

Sunflower Society members accept certificate of appreciation for their sponsorship of the summer camp.

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup and Commissioner Roslyn Brezin present a certificate of appreciation to Police Chief Maas for the department’s generous contribution to the summer camp.

Children enjoying themselves as they compete at the talent show.

Campers and counselors show their dance groove on stage.

Adorable little campers performing colorful dance with their counselors.

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