KIDS Camp: The Place to Be When You're Six

For seven weeks, the dog days of summer are made a bit more tolerable for many of the younger Belmont residents when KIDS Camp is open.

Strictly for the four to eight crowd — that's four years old to eight years old — KIDS Camp, run through the Belmont Recreation Department, is held at the Burbank Elementary School Monday through Friday throughout the summer.  

Daily activities include arts and crafts, indoor gym activities, outside games on the playground and occasional special events. "Walt Disney Wednesday" is time to enjoy a favorite Disney movie.  "Entertainment Thursday" activities include special guest artists for sing-a-longs, magic shows, puppeteers and much more.  

But according to Camp Director David Blake, the most popular part of the day is when the camp goers head over to the Underwood Pool for lessons and activities. That and sprinkler time at the Burbank.

Along with the activities, the Camp allows the kids to socialize and make new friends.

"What I like is how they form social groups without intrusion from us," said Blake, a middle school teacher at Needham's Pollard School who has been involved with the Recreation Department for the past decade. 

"It's good to see them band together so they will have friends they can be with throughout the day," he noted.