HAMILTON: Civic center offers summer fun

By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
HAMILTON — They waited for 25 minutes but the firemen never came. Thankfully, there wasn’t an emergency.
Eleven Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center summer campers between the ages of 5 and 8 entertained themselves with hand jives like "Lemonade" and "Miss Mary Mack" and games of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" on the concrete walkway into Hamilton Township Fire District No. 4’s firehouse on the afternoon of July 17.
They were scheduled for a tour of the station at 1:30 p.m. but no one answered the door when Donna Clancy, administrative coordinator for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Mercer County, rang the bell. After a while, Ms. Clancy and senior counselors Lisa Lewis and Lawrence Boyd led the children back to the civic center, which is right next door. The kids were disappointed they didn’t get to see the fire trucks but their frowns turned upside down when they were offered snack and game time.
Ms. Clancy was optimistic that the firefighters would reschedule and on Friday, July 18 the "captain on duty said they were out on calls all day and did not return until 5:30 p.m," she said.
"He said the best thing is for us to call on Monday to see if they are there and if they are free to give the tour," Ms. Clancy said.
Visiting the firehouse is just one of the field trips the children plan to take during the seven-week camp this summer. They also went to see a production of "Aladdin" at the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre, bowled and played laser tag at the Colonial Entertainment Center and visited the Yardville CYO Day Camp.
Outings are just part of the fun at camp, which also includes educational components. Camp Fire, which is a nonprofit youth organization focused on building self-esteem, character development, leadership skills, and social responsibility, visits on Mondays. On Tuesdays the children participate in a project called "Count On Me Kids," which engages them through storytelling to promote individuality; celebrate differences; talk about bullying behavior; identify good and bad habits; address alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse and identify trusted adults.
This is the first year the Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center is offering the summer camp.
"We hope the children form strong friendship bonds with each other, learn more about their community and we hope they have fun," Ms. Clancy said.
The civic center is a Hamilton Township facility operated by the CYO of Mercer County dedicated to providing services and programs that will enrich the lives of Hamilton Township and Bromley neighborhood residents.
The center also offers a teen program from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday.
The computer lab is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
"During the school year we have a drop-by tutoring program for kids of all ages," Ms. Clancy said. "Kids can register and come by between 3:45 and 5:30 for tutoring and homework help."
Kurt Simmons, a township employee, operates the food pantry in the building, which is open on Tuesday and Thursday. The pantry is open to all Hamilton Township residents but requires pre-registration.
There’s also a senior club that meets the first and third Wednesday of each month to play bingo, make arts and crafts and listen to guest speakers.
"We’re trying to get that to grow," Ms. Clancy said.
Being that it’s a community center, the building is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday.
"A lot of people come in and ask to use the fax machine, use the phone and make copies," Ms. Clancy said.
She said people who need assistance with energy costs can also visit the civic center for information about the New Jersey Shares program.