By Katherine Waters

Sun Staff Intern

SMYRNA – This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Norwich Family YMCA’s day camp at Camp Thompson in Smyrna.

Camp Thompson organizers say the camp offers a fun, outdoor setting for children between the ages of 5 and 16 to spend their day. “It is an outdoor experience that some kids may never have other than here,” said Tom Revoir, senior program director.

The camp is situated on 200 acres of land and features a lodge and kitchen, dining room, sleeping cabins, a pavilion, shower house, playground, boathouse and a 10-acre lake “which holds a lot of fish,” Revoir said.

Campers may choose to participate in almost 200 activities. This style of scheduling allows the campers to take responsibility in the decision making process.

“We have a schedule, and during certain blocks of time we open up a range of activities,” Revoir said. “The kids choose what and where they want to go. In the long run, there are less problems because kids respect their counselors more.”