Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious July 12, 2012 | Leisure

Camp directors play Phase 10, a card game where the lowest scorer is the winner, with campers July 5 at Comanche Youth Center during the High Adventure Camp. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Jasmine Babers, 13, and Candice Deberry, 14, enjoy a game of pool during a break from the many activities held throughout the day at the Super High Adventure Camp held at Comanche Youth Center July 5. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Fort Hood’s Comanche Youth Center has been hosting a Super High Adventure Summer Camp since June 4 and it is continuing through Aug. 24 every weekday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

The camp is well underway, hosting more than 40 children every day whose parents are at work, or who just want to come and hang out with people their age during the summer.

“This is a great way for kids to have fun during the summer, while still retaining their education,” Antionette Parker, assistant director of

Comanche Youth Center, said.

Parker, who is the Super High Adventure Camp leader, explained that sometimes it’s too easy for children to lose the education they’ve gained throughout the year over the summer.

“The whole purpose of this camp is for the youth to have a place to hang out, to have an exciting way to spend their summer vacation without getting into trouble or losing their education,” Parker said.

The Comanche High Adventure Camp keeps the children busy all day long with different things to do. It offers everything from mentorships to sports and fitness, from cooking projects to creative and expressive arts.

“One great thing about this camp is that there are kids coming from all over and around Fort Hood,” Parker said. “So these kids are making friends with other kids who they don’t see at school, it’s a more diverse environment for them.”

Recurring field trips happen weekly at the High Adventure Camp at locations on post. Each week, the children and the camp directors go bowling, swimming, skating and take a trip to see a movie together.

Along with the recurring field trips, the camp fields one large field trip together every Wednesday. These trips have included the Dallas Aquarium, NASA Space Station, Six Flags and Schlitterbahn.

Every week throughout the camp’s duration has a theme. So far the themes have been nature and outdoors week, science week, sports and fitness week, fun-in-the-sun week and more.

Parker said that nutrition and fitness is something they push at the High Adventure Camp every year, and this year is no different. Lunch every day at the camp is on the house and is well-balanced and nutritional.

“Every morning, first thing, we have ‘get-fit hour’ where we get up and get moving for at least an hour,” Parker said. “There is usually some complaining, but they quickly realize it’s fun to get moving. We usually go on a nature walk, something simple but still active.”

Parker said some of the main focuses during the camp’s daily events are team building, life skills and self confidence.

Vickie Jackson, Comanche Youth Center’s facility director, said this camp is important because of the mission of our Soldiers.

“Our military Families know that this is a safe and fun environment for the kids,” Jackson said. “The parents don’t have to worry about their children while they are at work, and our Soldiers are getting their jobs done.”

“I love coming here and I love the trips we take together,” said Jasmine Babers, a camper. “It’s nice because we don’t have to be at home alone all day long.”