PRINCESS CAMP: Princess Campers enjoyed all things magical, danced a
princess dance, made their own tutus, and were surprised by a visit from
Prince Charming himself with a real glass slipper!
ART IN THE PARK: Park artists got to enjoy four local parks as the Art in the Park
program travelled to a different park each day. Campers let their creativity
soar and learned to draw and paint masterpieces while enjoying the beauty
of our local parks and, of course, have some fun times on the playgrounds!
ANIMAL BOOGIE DANCE CAMP: Campers kept active and busy learning
different dances each day, culminating with a final performance for
families. They were treated to a surprise visit from Snickers, the Horse
mascot and the campers got to teach him their dances!
JUNIOR NUTS ABOUT NATURE CAMP: Nature Campers learned about aquatic
life at the Wetlands facility at Murrysville Community Park and got to
race their hand-painted rubber ducks in Steele’s Run stream after a very
enthusiastic stream-stomp to investigate the many tiny creatures that
inhabit the stream. They also enjoyed nature walks and a presentation
about birds from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
PIONEER LIVING CAMP: Offered in conjunction with the Murrysville Area
Preservation and Historical Society, this camp was held at the Staymates
Barn and Homestead on Round Top Road where campers enjoyed visits
from George Washington, an American Indian, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
They also learned how to make candles and soap, homemade ice cream,
saw logs with a two-person saw, tin punching, cook in an outdoor bake
oven, grind corn, and more. Their week was completed with a field trip to
the Compass Inn and Museum in Ligonier.
NATURE CAMP: Nature Campers were delighted with a presentation about
birding from the Pennsylvania Game Commission and got to build and
take home their very own bluebird boxes. Campers also got to appreciate
the park at night with a campfire session at the Scouting Knob area of
Murrysville Community Park and learned about nocturnal animals, hunted
for insects, and roasted marshmallows over an open campfire!
ALL-STAR OUTDOOR GAMES AND SPORTS CAMP: Campers kept active running,
jumping, playing and learning a vast array of new games, sports, and
silly activities including hikes through the park, kickball, archery with the
Pennsylvania Game Commission, paintball target challenges, flag football,
water balloon battles, slip-n-slides, swimming at the Franklin Regional
School District pool and more. It was truly an active, healthy week for all!
In year 2013, the Recreation Department offered 10 summer
camps over a 10 week period and hosted over 175 campers.
Winter Playground Program
The Recreation Department proved that winter does not mean
fewer opportunities for recreation by offering the 2nd annual
Winter Playground Program at the Murrysville Community Center
on four Friday nights at the approach to the holiday season. More
than 100 youth, ages 6-12, enjoyed crafts, board games, movies,
snacks, video games, and more, including story time with the
Murrysville Children’s Library and a visit from Santa and Mrs.
Claus! The growing success of this program garnered a need for
pre-registration as families took advantage of these “child-free”
evenings to prepare for the holiday season.
Murrysville | Spring 2014 | icmags.com 51
MU N I C I PAL I T Y OF MU RRYSVI L L E N E WS
Recreational Facilities
Murrysville continues to offer its citizens many
recreational facilities to meet residents’ needs.
Throughout Murrysville, there are 5 neighborhood
parks, 8 community parks, the historical Staymates
Log Cabin and Barn and the Murrysville Community
Center. Some of the highlights within the parks include
9 baseball/softball fields, 2 multi-use fields for Lacrosse
and midget football, 6 full-size soccer fields, Miracle
Field, 5 basketball courts, 4 tennis courts, 2 street hockey
courts, and 8 playgrounds. For the passive recreationist,
the Municipality offers biking and walking trails, Bark Park,
campfire ring, 10 pavilions available for rent, a charming gazebo
for wedding/prom pictures, 2 historical buildings, and a newly
constructed fishing deck for the Townsend Park fishing pond. In
2013, the Murrysville Community Center played host to over 100
gatherings, which included: graduation parties, birthday parties,
baby and bridal showers, religious gatherings, Christmas parties,
meetings, banquets, family socials, fundraisers, community health
and wellness programs, retirement parties, Halloween parties,
business meetings, and a mystery dinner.
Please visit the Murrysville website at www.murrysville.com to
view all of the amenities that each park and facility has to offer, or
call the Recreation Department at 724-327-2100, Ext. 115.
Summer Camps
The Recreation Department offered five (5) new Junior
Summer Camps for preschool-aged children in 2013.
Programs included: Fizzy Foamy Physical Science, Royal
Princess Academy, Art in the Park, Animal Boogie Dance
Camp, and Nuts About Nature Camp, which allowed more
than 65 area preschoolers to enjoy time with their friends and
learning new ideas, while having fun and playing in our local
parks and facilities!
SCIENCE CAMP: Science Campers got to spend their week in a real classroom
at the Franklin Regional Middle School and learn how to make their very
own volcano erupt, make their own slime, and learn how science works!
Murr ysville
and Standard Bank. Across the room was S.L.A.M. serving hot
chocolate, coffee, and hot apple cider. On the main stage were
beautiful Christmas trees made from recycled products, as well a