Summer Camp Registration in Full Swing

As the 2016-2017 school years winds down, Pearce gears up for another great Summer Camp. No, not the music festival. This is PEARCE Summer Camp for children who will enter first through seventh grade in the fall.

Summer Camp will immerse your child in a collaborative and supportive environment that allows them to participate in fun activities, learn to make appropriate decisions, and cultivate friendships. Your child will be treated with consideration and respect and, in turn, will be encouraged to treat peers and adults in the same manner.

While summer camp serves a utilitarian purpose, it is also designed to enrich the life of each child. Through a strategic activity plan that integrates education with fun and delivered by exceptional counselors, children grow educationally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Participating in Summer Camp means your child will enjoy a wide variety of activities including swimming; organized and free play; enrichment classes in physical fitness, yoga, science, art, and Nature Explorers; and reading, handwriting, creative writing, and math at education stations. Field trips to area attractions are always a big hit with our campers. This year, we will visit Children's Discovery Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Mt. Hawley Bowling & Miniature Golf, Shore Acres Pool, and Peoria Chiefs.

We also offer campers the opportunity to enroll in other kids programs at Pearce to make their summer experience even fuller. Swim lessons, Extra Fun Specialty Camps, tutoring, and Kids Fitness programs are all available to help your child utilize the summer months to enhance learning and prepare for a successful school year.

Summer Camp offers an impressive 7:1 camper to counselor ratio to ensure campers get the personalized attention they need to be safe and receive guidance and help. Intelligent and motivated, summer camp counselors represent some of the brightest young adults in our community. Many come back from college each summer to work with the campers. Common college majors for this group include education, nursing, social work, and business administration. All counselors are trained in basic first aid and have earned CPR certification.

Thank you to the families who have trusted and supported Pearce Summer Camp. Here's what a few of them had to say.

Group Swim Lesson Registration Opens

Pearce Community Center will offer group swim lessons this summer to children ages six months and older. The second four-week session begins July 7.

Lessons are available for three age groups. Parent/child lessons for children age six months to 35 months meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 9:55-10:25 a.m. and 5:25-5:55 p.m. Lessons for preschoolers ages three and four years meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:35-11:05 a.m. and 4:50-5:20 p.m. Lessons for children five years and older meet on Tuesday or Thursday from 9:15-9:45 a.m., 9:55-10:25 a.m. and 10:35-11:05 a.m. Evening lessons are also available for this age group at 4:15-4:45 p.m., 4:50-5:20 p.m., and 5:25-5:55 p.m. Open registration begins May 11.

The cost of the class is $33.75 for Foundation members; $45 for members; and $65 for non-members. Register for swim lessons at Pearce. 

Stop Sweating It!

Living in the hot and humid Midwest, we all know about running in the heat. We know how miserable it can but but if done right, it isn’t so bad! Be smart about it and make a few adjustments and you will be perfectly fine. Here are a few tips to make summer running fun:

Timing is everything. Mornings are the coolest part of the day so make your run your first priority. If morning runs are unrealistic, it's ok! Try an evening run. While running during cooler times of the day such as mornings and evenings helps you avoid the heat, it won’t help fight off the humidity. The air quality is better in the morning, peaks at midday and then again in the early evenings. Times to avoid running outside? Noon and 3pm.

Learn to adapt. It takes about two weeks for your body to adapt to the heat and cool itself more efficiently. If you are new to running, add power walk breaks every 4 to 8 minutes to cool yourself. Avid runners should slow your pace and reduce your intensity. This will help you get your run in rather than pushing through it and allows your body to more efficiently acclimate. Your body will gradually become better at cooling itself in the warmer weather allowing you to continue to run at your normal pace. In 10 days to 2 weeks you should be fully acclimated.

Go Light. Lightweight and loose fitting clothing with wicking allows moisture to pass through them, keeping you cooler. You lose a major portion of body heat through your head, which is bad in the winter but good in the summer. Instead of wearing a regular hat, try a loose-fitting one made of mesh or some other breathable material. And don’t forget to use sunscreen liberally even on partly cloudy days!

H2O. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, drink at least 8 oz. of water each hour. If you are outside or tend to perspire a lot, drink more. You’ll run better with adequate fluid intake and you’ll feel better too! Keeping your water storage high will also improve your body’s cooling system. On long runs or trail runs where you’ll be away from water sources, be sure to bring your own. Use a water belt, pouch or holster for bottles.