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By CRAIG LYONS
Correspondent Sunday, July 1, 2007

With many of the same games and activities other camps offer, the uncommon thing about Camp Fun and Games is that two teenage girls run it.

Despite this fact, McCormac has been coming to the camp for the past five years.

"I know both of the instructors," said McCormac. "And all of my friends are here."

Since Beth Preston and Renee Robilliard were very young, they always dreamed of running their own summer camp.

Inspired by a day camp two neighborhood girls held charging $1 for a day of games, Beth and Renee had a blueprint of how to start their own camp.

When the girls were only 10 years old, they decided to start their own camp based on the one they had attended several years before.

"It was something we could do together," said Renee. "It's a good summer activity to keep us occupied."

Since the girls were so young, they had never really run something on their own, according to Beth.

"It was really nerve-racking that first year," said Beth.

The first year the camp included reading a story and creating crafts going along with the story, as well as games and mask-making. The week ended with a production of "The Very Busy Spider," according to Beth's mother, Janet.

"I offered my help, but it didn't work," said Janet Preston.

Now only teenagers, the girls are in their fifth year of running the camp and continue to expand the activities.

"This is their fifth year, and they still love doing it," said Janet Preston.

The camp also still fills up the sessions every year.

"We just let them have fun, and I think that's what they like about it," said Beth.

One change made to the activities was dropping the play at the end of the week and starting an art exhibit for the crafts the children make during the session, according to Renee.

"I think they like it better; it's easier for them," said Renee. "They get to be really creative while doing it, and I think the play is too structured."

Although the number of activities has expanded, the girls insist on keeping the number of campers to just about eight per session. "It's less stressful for us," said Beth. "It gives us more of a connection with the kids."

"I think eight is not too much and not too little," said Renee. "It's a good number for us."

But keeping the group small since the campers are getting older and still want to attend Camp Fun and Games.

To deal with this, the girls have started another session for ages 10 to 12 and ages five to nine.

Beth and Renee now offer a three day session for older kids but still have two, five-day sessions for ages five to nine.

"Beth and Renee have a really nice way with working with each of the kids," said Jenny Clair. Clair's daughter Annie has been attending Camp Fun and Games since it was started.

When they first started the program, the pair only charged $10 and many of the parents said they could be charging more for the program, according to Beth. In order to have more supplies for the camp, the teenagers have increased the cost.

According to Beth, they are still charging much less compared to other camps.

The pair plan to keep the camp going at least until they go to college, said Renee.

The children participating in the camp are not the only ones who get something out of the program. Preston said it is good experience since she wants to be an elementary school teacher. Robilliard also said she wants to have a job where she can do something with kids.

"It's a really good experience for the kids in the community," said Renee. "It's good experience for our entire lives."

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