Wildcat campers share a week of fun and field trips

Sheri Trusty
·4 min read

WOODVILLE - Each summer, when he could be enjoying the slower season of an educator’s life, Woodmore Middle School Principal Kevin Ball spends weeks preparing to host Camp Wildcats, a weeklong, free camp open to any middle school or elementary student on an Individual Education Program (IEP). This year, 47 campers took trips to Cedar Point, Imagination Station and the Toledo Zoo.

But Ball does not create the camp by himself. This year, 28 adult and teen volunteers helped Ball plan, organize and implement the camp. They work behind the scenes cooking meals and ordering supplies, and they attend camp, traveling with the group as chaperones. Among the volunteers is Woodmore High School senior Bryce Brzeczek, Ball’s unofficial but much-appreciated assistant who has been helping Ball in many ways since middle school. Ball called him “a great leader and role model for our students.”

For one week each summer, Woodmore Middle School Principal Kevin Ball, shown here with a group of campers, creates fun memories with his students at Camp Wildcats.
For one week each summer, Woodmore Middle School Principal Kevin Ball, shown here with a group of campers, creates fun memories with his students at Camp Wildcats.

“Bryce does all the organizing for Cedar Point. I don’t work much that day,” Ball said.

Cedar Point was a hit with campers

Cedar Point was a huge hit with the campers, some of whom were visiting the park for the first time. Thomas Sondergeld, 11, spent much of his time in the arcade and rode the train three times.

“I liked the new ride, the Wild Mouse,” said 8-year-old Jalynn Kroetz.

Bentley Cruthers, age 12, agreed with Jalynn. His mom tagged along as a volunteer chaperone.

“My favorite place to go this week was Cedar Point. I like the rides, and I like going with my mom,” Cruthers said. “The best one is the Wild Mouse. It’s a spinning coaster.”

Camp Wildcats visited the Toledo Zoo on Friday, the final day of a full week of fun that included trips to Imagination Station and Cedar Point.
Camp Wildcats visited the Toledo Zoo on Friday, the final day of a full week of fun that included trips to Imagination Station and Cedar Point.

Jayden Kroetz, age 14, said his favorite ride was MaXair.

“It does spins in the air, and you go high, very high,” he said. “If you look it up, you’ll see it’s really scary.”

Camp Wildcats gave Colton Squires, 13, his first experience on a twisting roller coaster.

“Cedar Point was definitely my favorite this week. I’ve been here before, but this was the first time I got to ride a loop de loop ride – the GateKeeper. It was my favorite,” he said.

Campers also visited the Toledo Zoo

On the last day of camp, Camp Wildcats got to see real wild cats at the Toledo Zoo. As campers and volunteers rode the Safari Railway through the Africa exhibit, stopped by the Aquarium, and visited the Aviary, everyone picked a favorite. Alexis McCormick, 14, said she enjoyed seeing the giraffes and polar bears.

“I liked the monkeys because they’re so adorable,” said Sawyer Palmer, 6.

“I liked looking at the fish because I like the ocean,” said Carlyn Grant, 14.

A camper gently holds her hand out in the Aviary hoping a bird will use it as a perch.
A camper gently holds her hand out in the Aviary hoping a bird will use it as a perch.

“I liked the Aquarium because I like looking at the fish through the weird glass,” said Owen Melnek, 6.

On Monday, Camp Wildcats kicked off with rocket launches by Woodmore Elementary Principal Gary Haas and a visit to the Pemberville Pool.

“My favorite was probably the pool because it has diving boards,” said London Hernandez, 13.

Wildcat campers also visited Martin Marietta

On Tuesday, Camp Wildcats took a tour of the Martin Marietta quarry.

“They really loved that,” Brzeczek said. “They liked seeing the big trucks.”

As 7-year-old Skylar Young sipped on an icee that Mr. Ball bought her at the zoo, she said she enjoyed visiting Imagination Station earlier that week.

“But the best thing this week is this icee,” she said.

Camp Wildcats was made possible thanks to donations from Materion, Martin Marietta, Genoa Bank, Woodmore Athletic Boosters and the Camp Wildcats Golf Scramble. The Lockwood family set up a Go Fund Me account to help pay for campers’ meals.

“The Lockwoods heard we were going to have the kids pack lunches on two days, so they set up a Go Fund Me to pay for meals and raised $1,800. The golf scramble raised $2,000. I am very grateful to everyone for the donations,” Ball said.

As the campers and volunteers talked about the fun they had this week, Ball shared his favorite part: making kids happy.

“I just enjoy seeing the kids. They’re always on the go. They’re always having fun,” he said.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at  sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Camp Wildcats gives students with IEP a little extra summer fun