EastBrookfieldMa

YMCA Camp Frank A. Day

is an overnight co-ed camp, located

right here in East Brookfield on South Pond Road.

Camp Day has been serving youths since 1916, with programs that are diverse and meet the needs of kids in today’s society. Camp Day is a part of the West Suburban YMCA in Newton Massachusetts. This Camp extends its program to campers’ ages 7-15. Our trained staff works with the campers to help them meet their goals and achieve self-worth and pride. Our participants come from all over New England and parts of New York. Camp Day is fortunate to also have campers and staff from other countries such as Sweden, Poland, Australia, England, Columbia, France, and Japan.

Over the course of a summer, we will touch the lives of about 3,000 people. We are leaders in creating memories and friendships that last forever. Our extensive programs reach beyond the traditional camping experiences that help achieve lifetime skills. Our staff not only helps campers and staff to have fun over a two, four, six, eight-week period but also helps them adjust and manage to work and live with others in close quarters. They will learn to share and be responsible for their own personal belongings; respectful to the environment with recycling; care about each other; and learn to be honest with themselves and to others. Our activities are non-competitive so that they can learn the value of team work, cooperation and perseverance. These activities include most land sports such as basketball, volleyball, softball, biking, archery, climbing tower, arts & crafts along with our intense water activities which include snorkeling, sailing, canoeing, swimming, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Twice a summer we do show a competitive edge with our “Color War” and “Plaque Races”. Within the boundaries of the camp, the campers still demonstrate the value of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

This past summer we were blessed with wonderful weather. Campers were able to enjoy and be a part of the outdoors as much as possible. Even though we were never full to capacity, we had many campers extend their stay because of all the fun they were having and did not want to miss out on any of the up coming events. Each day we celebrate a Holiday or had some recognition of an event. Campers and staff got dressed up in appropriate attire that they would bring from home, just to show their camp spirit and make the most of the day. Wild, crazy and outrageous costumes were the ones that stood out in people’s minds along with creative and imaginative. Memories were made regularly and campers cannot wait to see what pictures are chosen for the yearbook or put on the DVD.

YMCA Camp Frank A. Day is a wonderful place to grow. Be apart of the spirit over the summer that brings enjoyment out of being in the outdoors and finding a home away from home. Tours of the camp property are given upon request.

For special local rates and more information contact :

Scott Elliott

Director of Camp Operations

at 617-244-6050 x3456 or

ScottE@YMCAinNewton.org.

Come and be a Beacon of Light at Camp Frank A. Day.

Giving Animals a Second Chance

by Krista Zalatores

“Every pet deserves a second chance” is the motto at the Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield. The shelter is a refuge for homeless cats and dogs awaiting permanent adoption into a loving family. In addition to facilitating successful adoptions the shelter sponsors other programs to help animals such as low cost spaying and neutering and free spaying and neutering clinics for wild cats.

The Second Chance Foundation was established in 1999 to help better the lives of local pets. The shelter in East Brookfield opened in 2002. The facility has the capacity for fourteen dogs and twelve cats and typically houses ten dogs and twelve cats. Additional animals are placed in foster homes around South Central Massachusetts. Any animal needing medical care upon admittance is either cared for at the shelter’s own veterinarian tech center or at a local veterinarian. When I visited the center, I felt welcomed in its clean, modern, and loving environment. I felt confident that the center is safe-haven for the animals it houses. Each animal appeared happy and well-cared for in its own spacious cage. It was difficult to believe that these adorable animals were orphans; these pets really do deserve a second chance.

Pets are only admitted into the Second Chance Animal Shelter after staying with the animal control center for ten days or through the surrendering program. If a stray pet is not claimed within ten days from the animal control center, it can be taken to the shelter. After the pet passes an aggression test, to make sure it is not a liability, it can stay at the shelter indefinitely. Animals whose families are unable to care for them can be accepted to the shelter through the surrender program. Pet surrenders are not accepted on a walk-in basis; to surrender a pet the owner must make an appointment for evaluation.

To adopt a pet from the shelter, one can fill out an application online at www.secondchanceanimals.org/application.htm. In order to ensure that all pets find perfect family matches, the applications are read on a case by case basis. Due to this policy the shelter does not allow same day adoption. Families hoping to adopt a pet are encouraged to fill out the online application before visiting the shelter. Walk-ins are welcome on Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm for cats, on Thursdays from 6pm to 8 pm for dogs, and Saturdays from1 pm to 4 pm. Adoptions can also be made by appointment.

The Kennel Gate Sponsorship and the Cat Cage Sponsorship programs are a great opportunity to support the shelter. Each sponsorship includes a plaque with three lines of text displayed on the cage for a year, and is renewable each year thereafter. In addition to helping the animals, the publicity of the plaques serves as an opportunity for a business advertisement. Cat cage sponsorships are $150 per year and dog kennel sponsorships are $250 per with a renewal fee of $100.

Volunteers are always needed to help care for the animals. Monetary and supply donations are always accepted. Second Chance Animal Shelter is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax deductible.

On October 2nd, 2005 the Second Chance Animal Shelter will host “Walk ‘N Wag at the Faire” from 10 am to 4 pm at the Spencer fairgrounds. Anyone wishing to help the shelter can raise money with sponsorships in a “Relay for Life” style walk, with or without a dog. The day’s activities are not limited to the walk, and also include: food, raffles, agility courses, K-9 demos, microchipping, pet photos, pet tricks, and a doggie boutique. There will be a $5 gate fee. All proceeds benefit the Second Chance Animal Shelter. Be sure to stop by, with or without a dog, to join in the fun.

For pictures, and adoption stories, and more information on adopting, donating, and volunteering please visit Second Chance’s website: www.secondchanceanimals.org