DATE: Thursday, June 19, 1997               TAG: 9706180160

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   60 lines

EAST SUFFOLK CENTER'S DAY CAMP WILL KEEP KIDS BUSY FOR SUMMER THE WEEK-LONG PROGRAMS OFFER SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND OUTINGS.

If you are between 6 and 12-years-old, and you can find your way to the East Suffolk Community Center this summer, you will discover plenty of activities to keep you busy.

The week-long summer Day Camp programs offer sports, arts and crafts, entertainment, and outings.

There is no charge, and snacks and beverages are provided. The only thing the youngsters have to bring is a bag lunch.

Action, Inc., the governing body of the East Suffolk Community Center, uses grant money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, plus local foundation contributions for the summer activities, to be conducted by high school juniors and seniors.

``We're going with our own young people,'' said Ethel Hart, Community Center administrator.

``They're youth tutors during the school year - honor roll students who've been doing an excellent job with the children.

``They've been working with the after-school program at the center since September,'' Hart said.

``They'll get paid this summer - a little more than they would make at McDonald's. It gives them spending money and something to put on their resumes.

``They relate well with the kids. In the past, we used adult workers,'' she said.

``We'll have arts and crafts, watercoloring and fabric painting. The children will make bead necklaces and work on other activities,'' said Lillie Mae Plenty, program coordinator.

``And, they'll be outside playing volleyball, basketball and baseball,'' Plenty said.

Part of the morning will be spent at Morgan Memorial Library, where the campers can divide their time between reading and attending computer classes.

Wednesdays, at 1 p.m., a library representative will visit the center with a special program on the following subjects:

July 2: Ocean Encounters.

July 9: The Mother Goose Traveling Rock & Roll Show.

July 16: The Wappadoodle Puppets.

July 23: A Virginia Living Museum presentation.

Aug. 6: Tyrone the Ventriloquist and Friends.

Aug. 13: Spectrum Puppets.

The first day camp session runs from June 23 to July 4, the second session from July 7 to 18, the third session from July 21 to Aug. 1 and the final session from Aug. 4 to 15.

Registration deadlines are the Friday before each session. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Camping hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About 40 children are expected each week. Each session closes with an outing. Destinations will be announced later. The only one set, so far, is a visit to the museum at Hampton University.

``Children are not limited to just one session,'' Plenty said. ``They can attend all four if they want to.'' MEMO: For information on the East Suffolk Community Center Day Camp

Program call 934-8561.

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