Children trade in pool for Darlington Youth Summer Camp

By Candace Jarrett
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 3, 2008

Children in Darlington might not have a pool to swim in, but they now have another place to go to enjoy their summer.

People concerned about a lack of summer youth activities approached Darlington City Council in April, with support from councilwoman Dyan Cohen, asking for some type of support for a summer youth basketball league and a double-dutch jump rope camp.

The council agreed to put city services to work for the Darlington Youth Summer Camp with the stipulation that more activities be provided.

Staffed by members of the Empowerment Christian Center (ECC), funded by the city and supported by its police and recreation departments and the Darlington Housing Authority, children attend the camp at the B.A. Gary Complex gymnasium.

The camp is for ages 8 to 17. The camp will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day until Aug. 8.

“It’s empowering positivity of the youth this summer and keeping them in good spirits,” Mary Bess, program director and ECC member, said. “They wanted to be in the pool this summer, but so far, so good. We have approximately 45 kids signed up so far and are expecting a lot more when summer school is over.”

Upon entering the gym, the sound of whistles blowing, balls bouncing and children squealing is all that can be heard.

Fifteen-year old Henry McMillan said he comes to the camp for mentoring.

“I come to talk to the older kids that graduated and try to learn what to do to get into college,” he said. “It’s a good environment for the little kids and they get to play.

“It’s something to do in a safe place. You’re learning about life in the classroom and how to deal with it after high school.”

Recent Darlington High School graduates are counselors at the camp, helping Bess and the other adults with the children.

Zerrod Gibson, one of the counselors, was hired through the school’s Workforce Investment Act program. He’s headed to training for the National Guard soon, but said he sees the need for youth mentors.
“They look up to us,” he said. “You have to set a positive example when you have all these little eyes on you. You have to lead them in the right direction.”

Darlington Police Sgt. Ken “Big House” Sumner guest lectures at the camp each week about social confidence, communication skills and self-esteem. He was one reason the pool stayed open as long as it did.

Nine years ago, the police department took over the pool because of a lack of enthusiasm from people to run it. Sumner said it was the only pool in Darlington County people could use for $2 each day, despite the major repairs it needed.

Police Sgt. Kim Nelson — who worked at the pool — is working at the summer camp, too. She has a daily curriculum with times and activities for the youths that include Spanish lessons, math and literature, as well as arts and crafts.

She said the pool, though, is what the community as a whole needs.

“I would like to see the pool open back up,” Nelson said. “The children enjoy this, but they love the pool. It brings the community together so that young and old can enjoy one another.”

Word got out last summer that the pool was at risk of being closed. Community leaders stepped in to help form a committee that would look for funding sources to get the pool fixed, to no avail.

The city council officially announced in April the city’s pool wouldn’t reopen this summer. At a meeting in early June, the council agreed by resolution to set up funding for the pool by January 2009 so it could open that summer.