Family Jams at Hogan Family YMCA to explain Camp Cha-La-Kee options

MADISON – With a little more patience, families finally can venture outside quarantines to summer sunshine. One option for fun in the sun is Camp Cha-La-Kee, a property of Heart of the Valley YMCA.

YMCA branches will host Family Jam info sessions for parents in March and April about the camp.

“Bring your questions to one of four safely socially-distanced, question-and-answer Family Jam sessions in Madison or Huntsville. Huy Lu (pronounced Hoo-ee Loo) is Executive Director of YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee, and he knows that you have a lot of questions about camp this year,” Mary Anne Swanstrom said. Swanstrom is Director of Communications with Heart of the Valley YMCA.

“I am excited to be at Cha-La-Kee and am eager for the summer to begin,” Lu said. “Camp is a great place for children to grow, gain new experiences and make lifelong memories and friends. I believe Camp Cha-La-Kee is the perfect place to do all three.”

Lu will work in the YMCA association office during winter and will transition to the Guntersville campus in spring to prepare for summer camp and group camping.

“There’s just about everything you need to know about Summer 2021 in the camp catalog, but if you have any questions, you can always reach out to Huy by email or phone,” Swanstrom said. “You also can attend an open house at the camp or one of our Family Jam info sessions.”

Open houses at the camp are scheduled for April 25 and May 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. Camp Cha-La-Kee’s address is 4380 Chalakee Road in Guntersville.

Family Jam sessions will be held March 4 and April 13 at Hogan Family YMCA in Madison, and on March 11 and April 6, Southeast Family YMCA, Huntsville. All sessions will meet from 4 to 6 p.m.

The YMCA staff has planned four different camp options for children:

* Drop-Off Day Camp – June 7 through July 30. Day campers will experience action-packed days on the water and in the woods but return home in time for bed.

* Overnight Camp – June 6 through July 30. Overnight campers will attend daytime activities, along with traditional night activities like sitting around a campfire and sharing stories.

* Mini Camp – July 5-8. “A camp experience perfect for first-timers! Mini-Overnight Camp is chock-full of traditional camp activities,” Swanstrom said.

* Leaders in Training — Designed to develop leadership skills in boys and girls from 13 to 15 years old while they enjoy traditional camp activities. Two sessions are planned for both boys and girls.

For more information, call Lu at 256-428-9622, ext. 3013, email huy.lu@ymcahuntsville.org or visit ymcahuntsville.org.