New trips, themes at YMCA camp BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - Camp Director Allison Vitali wants to bring the classic old-fashioned summer camp with a little bit of technology on the side to the Woodbridge YMCA summer day camp. "The biggest thing I want to do is bring summer camp back outside," she said. "We have gotten away from outside activities. There's a playground with basketball courts that the kids can use right outside of the Woodbridge Center on Howell Avenue." Vitali, who became the Woodbridge YMCA's new camp director in September 2006, said there are new themes, new trips, new specialty camps and new counselors for campers this year. "Each week there will be a different theme, and I look to have outdoor concerts and movies right outside on the big hill," she said. Vitali said what makes summer camp at the YMCA different from other camps is the kids can make up their own personal summer camp. Vitali said the schedule is also flexible for the parents. "The kids can come to camp on one day or come to camp the full five days," she said. Vitali said not only is the schedule flexible, the kids can pick from a variety of specialty camps. Specialty camps include an Art Workshop, Theater Camp, Trip-a-Day Camp, Cyber Arts Camp, Harlem Wizards, U.S. Sports Institute Multi-Sports Camp, and Mad Science Camp. "The Harlem Wizards Camp is the most popular with the kids," said Vitali. "We actually bring that camp to us, which means we have the Harlem Wizards players run the week-long camp here." As instructors and coaches, the Wizards players will combine fundamental drills, demonstrations, competitive games and motivational speaking to provide campers with a positive learning experience and a meet-and-greet with the star players of the Harlem Wizards. In the U.S. Sports Institute Multi-Sports Camp, campers will experience over 15 different sports in one week with the institute. "The sports that the campers will experience are more obscure, such as cricket and badminton," she said. Vitali said she is most excited about the Trip-a-Day Camp. "I remember when I went to camp, we would go on day trips, which were so much fun," she said. The trips include Medieval Times, Crystal Spring Water Park, Sports N' Stuff, and the Palisades Mall. "There is so much stuff the kids can do at the Palisades Mall, such as the IMAX theater, bowling and laser tag," she said. The first session of camp begins June 25. For more information about summer camp at the Woodbridge YMCA, visit www.metuchen-edisonymca.org/woodbridge or call Allison Vitali at (732) 596-4181.