Camp Tumbleweeds gives working parents and others an option for where to put their children during the day while school is out for the summer.

In session each summer for enough years that some of the children who attended are now part-time employees, Camp Tumbleweeds has apparently met the expectations of many young people.

Second-year college student Chris Wren and high school students Shelby Sexton and Andrew Buist work with camp supervisors to provide valuable skills to the campers.

Wren works with kids from age 5 to 11 some weekdays and helps the ComPASS program teen program on other days. Sexton, a senior at Fernley High School, works with the younger attendees on art instruction, such as sidewalk chalk art.

All three have been in the program through their grade school years. When they turned 14, they returned to be assistants to the Camp Tumbleweed supervisors.

The three work for Lyon County Parks and Recreation Department year round. Before and after school, they help with the Just Kids Program during the school year. This 6 a.m. program is for students whose parents must drop them off before work and pick them up after school by 6 p.m.

On June 17, Wren helped teens in the Adventures in Exploration Summer Teen Program through ComPASS paint a ball wall at Fernley Elementary School with the school logo.

The early morning is "quiet free time," according to Jodi Miller, the supervisor of Camp Tumbleweeds' early shift. She also explained that each week has a theme, and each day is carefully planned out.

Monday Mania includes sand art, sidewalk chalk art, games and making applesauce pops. Tuesdays, a walk to the Green Valley Park is planned. Wednesdays is Wicked Weather Day. Thursdays, a field trip is scheduled. Fridays, either a movie is shown or the youngsters travel to Oats Park Pool in Fallon.

Miller moved to Fernley two years ago and immediately became involved with Camp Tumbleweeds. She and other supervisors work six-hour shifts overseeing approximately 50 children a day with the assistance of the teens.

Camp Tumbleweeds' Summer of Adventure runs through Aug. 15. It is open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. The fees are $100 per week, plus a one-time fee of $25 per child due at time of registration. The registration fee includes a backpack and T-shirt for each child.

If there is more than one child in the family, it costs $80 for the second child and $60 for the third. A single day at the camp is $25. The fees support the operation of the camp. Registration forms are at all Fernley elementary schools or the Lyon County Human Services office at 460 W. Main St., No. 109.

For more information, call Joellen Hines at Lyon County Human Services at 575-1703.