Thursday morning there were 155 children who were learning about arts, crafts, music and recreation thanks to the Crowley Recreation Center Summer Camp Program. The camp, which began on June 7 and is running through July 8, is being run by Margaret Young for the fifth consecutive year. It takes place at two sites, the Crowley Recreation Center and the MLK Center.

“These kids have fun,” smiled Young as she left Thursday’s session. “And it keeps them off the streets.”

From drawing pictures to enjoying the performance of puppeteer Hobey Ford and his ‘foamies’, children are filling both sites for a chance to get in on the fun. The fee for a child to attend the camp is only $10 a day. This year’s theme is ‘Summer Camp goes International’.

Young was quick to credit Brian Cormier, who runs the camp at the MLK Center, and Rachel Meyer, who runs the Crowley Recreation Department’s camp for their hard work.

The fulfillment Young gets from working with the kids is obvious from the smile on her and the children’s faces.

“We get tremendous help from the community to make this happen,” said Young. “Churches, businesses and individuals have all helped to sponsor this and the past year’s event. We also have a partnership with the Acadia Parish School Board which has been instrumental for us.”

The children don’t need to have already signed up for the camp. Any child can come on any day Monday through Friday until July 8.

As Margaret Young left for the day, which ends at 1 p.m., on Thursday she had a smile but looked somewhat weary.

“As fun as this is,” she smiled. “It’s still pretty hard work.”