Port Jervis summer camp program on pause due to extreme heat

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Port Jervis officials did not want to take any risks with the health of young people – cutting short the city's outdoor summer camp program Monday and canceling camp for Tuesday. According to News 12's forecast, heat indices were expected to reach as high as 100 degrees Monday and Tuesday. The camp program serves families from around the tri-state region. "I agree with it because anything can happen with the heat," camp attendee Tyrene Murray said. "[The weather] makes me want to stay home, lock myself in my room, put my fan on and just watch some TV." Attendance was low to begin with, as camp organizers expected. "The heat definitely made an impact on our number count," camp leader Stephanie DeJesus said. "We do our best. We try to live with it and stay hydrated of course." Instead of hockey and kickball, they threw out the schedule Monday – choosing to do some basketball shootarounds and card games under a tent. Emmilynn DeJesus said that while camp is out, she still plans to be outside in the heat. "I like to ride bikes around Port [Jervis] with my friends," she said. "Every hour or so, I just stop at my house to get a drink of water, and then I leave again." Camp attendees can still spend the daytime hours at the city's youth center where the air conditioning was on high Monday and several video gaming consoles were available to play. "