It may be cold and dreary outside, but inside the Suffolk Family YMCA, our childcare team is busy planning the 2009 Summer Camp schedule.

This summer our camp theme is Mission Possible. Each week, campers will have a mission, including outdoor survival, go green, Y-CSI and friends forever. Summer Camp participants develop positive self-image, create lifelong friendships and learn to live our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith during our camp programs.

This year, campers also will have the opportunity to attend swim lessons during the day at a reduced rate. For busy working families, this is a great way to give your children the gift of water knowledge and safety without sacrificing valuable family time together.

The Suffolk Family YMCA also offers a Counselor In Leadership Training program for 14- and 15-year-olds from June 15 to Aug. 21. This is a full-day program that teaches young adults leadership skills and the fundamentals of working with children in a safe and structured environment. This training program is a great opportunity for teenagers who are interested in pursuing careers in education or childcare or who would like to build their resumes for summer jobs.

We will also offer two specialty camps this summer. The Cheerleading Camp runs July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon. This camp teaches cheerleading and dance skills to children ages 6-12. The Cheerleading Camp is conducted by Spirit Unlimited, an ultimate cheerleading and dance company with staff comprising some of the best professional and college teams.

The Basketball Camp runs July 27-31 from 9 a.m. to noon and focuses on teaching children the fundamentals of basketball, while helping them learn the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Basketball campers will participate in sports-specific training, strength and conditioning drills and a variety of speed and agility exercises to improve their basketball skills and fitness level.

Registration for all summer camp programs begins Monday for members and returning campers. Open registration begins March 2. Spaces are limited, and our camp weeks filled up quickly last year.

The Summer Camp program begins June 15. Camp days run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents may enroll campers in one or two weeks or in all of our summer camp weeks, depending on their needs. As with every YMCA program, Open Doors Scholarships are available to reduce the costs for qualifying families.