Hawk, our Summer Camp Sweepstakes winner, has a magical first week of camp

For Hawk, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Summer Camp Sweepstakes winner, “summer camp magic” has taken on a whole new meaning.

The eight-year-old incoming fourth-grader has been enjoying his first week of Fantasy Fanatics Camp at the Elmhurst YMCA, a specialty camp in which young wizards, witches, and warlocks aged 5-10 engage in all sorts of magical mischief.

An avid reader, Hawk spent the pandemic finishing the Harry Potter novel series, and he was particularly excited to bring some of his favorite characters and motifs to life at camp.

Proudly holding a cup full of soil with googly eyes on the outside, Hawk explained that a mandrake, the magical equivalent of what he and his fellow campers planted, “is a magical plant that’s pretty much a baby in dirt whose screams can make you faint.”

And while the “mandrakes” growing at the Elmhurst Y won’t make deafening screams, they will grow, showing youth like Hawk that, with some diligence and a little help from science, magic can happen in your own backyard.

In addition to this introduction to botany, the Elmhurst Y’s Fantasy Fanatics campers made slime, played a magic-themed game of “Would You Rather,” and engaged in duels, casting spells with their “magic wands” in a test of their wits and agility. 

Amid all these enchanting activities, Hawk’s happiest during the moments when he can enjoy the company of his fellow campers. “I’m definitely looking forward to playing Quiddich,” Hawk said. “But my favorite part of camp is our free time—when we can just have fun outside and be ourselves.”

Whether your child wants a spellbinding summertime experience or is interested in art, cooking, sports, robotics, and more, explore and sign up for the Y’s summer camps today by visiting our website!