While the Grinch may believe Christmas is all about vengeance, Vicksburg youth will have the opportunity to learn about the real reason for the season during the upcoming YMCA day camp.

Director of camping and childcare Mille Wolfe said the theme will be all about the Grinch. The Grinch himself is even expected to make a surprise appearance.

“I had been bouncing back and forth between a few ideas, and when Tim Brown did the devotion for our board Christmas lunch on the Grinch and tied it in to scripture, I knew that was it,” she said. “He takes the fact that Christmas comes even without the presents and all that. The true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus came.”

The camp will be eight days total over the next two weeks, excluding weekends, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. Camp begins each day at 7 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

Children attending the camp will participate in swim and gym time, in addition to snacks and crafts centered around the weeks’ theme.

“We’re making a Grinch out of grapes and strawberries and bananas,” she said. “It’s a healthy snack too.”

Wolfe said if you’re going to send your child somewhere because you have to work or shop or otherwise prepare for Christmas, they may as well go somewhere where they will have a Christ-focused environment.

“Y camps are wonderful all the time, but especially during Christmas when we really emphasize the C in YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), and we’ll talk about the birth of Jesus,” she said.

For the full eight days, the price for nonmenbers is $90, and for members the price is $80. Children from ages 5 to 12 are encouraged to attend.

“For members it’s $10 a day,” she said. “It comes out to less than $1 an hour if they come every day.”

Wolfe added the camps are well attended, but there are still a limited number of spots available. The program will cap at 80 children. Director for the camp will be Belinda Watkins.

To register, visit the YMCA at 267 YMCA Place or call 601-638-1071. The YMCA recently changed its hours of operations to include Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.