Phanatic Helps Cherokee Camp Welcome Community

The folks at Cherokee Day Camp opened their doors to the public Sunday, Feb. 27 and had a great turnout thanks to a very special, very green, very furry guest.

The camp's open house events usually grab 40 attendees, but over 200 people came out to see the one-and-only Phillie Phanatic who was on hand to entertain camp guests.

“Both of our parking lots were jammed and the entire length of our 600-foot driveway was lined with vehicles all day,” said Earl J. New, Cherokee’s director of Fun, Fun, Fun. “The turnout was much bigger than expected.”

Kids and parents were excited to see the big guy thanks to the hype surrounding the 2011 Phillies with Cliff Lee rejoining the team this year.

But it wasn’t just the Phanatic that people came to see.

There was plenty of food including pizza, fruit and nutritional snack bars.

Those in attendance also got to see the facility and attractions such as two pools, two movie theaters, indoor and outdoor rock climbing walls, an arts & crafts pavilion and the science and nature center, plus they were treated to a show of what fun children get to experience on the camp’s zip-lines by one of the directors.

The event was scheduled to run from noon until 4 p.m., but people came early and stayed late enjoying the season’s first spring-like weather, Earl told Bensalem Patch.

Earl noted that there is great excitement in Bensalem and surrounding communities about Cherokee Day Camp.

“Despite taking over the camp two years ago during one of the worst economic times in history, we have enjoyed great success due to our philosophy of putting the needs of parents first and the camp ownership and management second,” Earl said.

“We're proud that this is largely due to a sort of grass-roots under swelling created by the word-of-mouth of Mom's who see value in the love, passion and capital investment that the new ownership and management have put into the camp.”

Cherokee, which is open June 27 – Aug. 19, offers four, six or eight week programs, but they work with parents on flexible schedules if vacations fall within a camp periods or other arrangements are necessary, Earl said.

The camp also offers transportation, half-day, before-care and after-care programs.

For those who didn’t make it out to see Cherokee Day Camp on Sunday, the facility is hosting another open hous on March 19, 1-4 p.m. Children can enjoy a special magic show that day from 2-3 p.m.

Cherokee Day Camp is located at Wayne Turn and Declaration Drive. For more information, call (215) 752-7613 or visit the Cherokee website.