Summer campers get Olympic experience complete with medals, ceremonies

Communities around the world tuned in to see the spectacle of the Paris Olympics this summer, and Children’s Discovery Centers used the international hubbub to keep kids across northwest Ohio engaged.

“We had an opening ceremony at the beginning of our summer camp experience, and we're closing out our summer camp experience after 12 weeks with a closing ceremony,” said Tamara Glassbender, the summer camp coordinator for the Children’s Discovery Centers.

The five separate locations for the centers formed different “countries” and competed in field day activities at Side Cut Metropark in Maumee on Thursday. First, second, and third-place medals in the classic gold, silver, and bronze were presented to the kids for kindness and helpfulness.

Sportsmanship and exposure to other cultures were the main focuses for Laura Burrell, the co-director of the Talmadge center location.

Adriana Ramirez, the school-age coordinator for the Perrysburg Harbor Town location, said she wanted the kids to come away from the camp and the closing ceremony experience with strong friendships and an ability to work as a team.

“A lot of the older kids helped out the younger kids, and I really enjoyed watching them come together,” she said.

Perrysburg’s Harbor Town location was given Greece as its Olympic country, and as Greeks the kids and teachers donned togas over their red shirts and put laurels on their heads. Hands-on lessons like these in addition to German parting gifts and French macarons helped create an impression on the kids.

“I learned that Switzerland is known for their mountains,” 8-year-old Ivan Blair said. “And they have really good chocolate.”

For Ivan getting a gold medal was the most memorable part of the day. He said he got it for “being nice and helping others.”

This kind of recognition meant more to the kids, because they watched the Olympics at home with their families.

“They could do backflips and somersaults and stuff like that,” Ari Patti, 8, said of the women’s gymnastics team.

Ari went on to say he would remember this day: “We had lots of fun and ate pizza. And it was one of the best days of my life.”