Lily Fisher, 9, of Girard, left, and Hayden Forestal, 8, of Youngstown, enjoy hot chocolate as the two girls stay warm at an outdoor reunion of summer camp participants Sunday at the Jewish Community Center’s winter campus. Children who take part in the summer camps could attend the winter campus with their families to see friends from last summer and see what is being planned in 2021.

YOUNGSTOWN — Children who have spent their summers attending the Jewish Community Center’s summer camps reminisced Sunday about the fun they had swimming and horseback riding while trying to stay warm in Sunday’s frigid temperatures when the high for the day was 24 degrees.

Campers drank hot chocolate and sat near heaters at the JCC’s outdoor recreation area that includes an ice rink. The event was a reunion for seasoned summer campers and an open house for potential campers and their families to see what the JCC summer camp has to offer.

Eight-year-old Hayden Forestal of Youngstown was at the event with her mom, Liza Sniderman, of Youngstown.

“This is really fun to be here, but really cold,” Hayden said as she drank hot chocolate with her friend, Lily Fisher, 9, of Girard.

Hayden has attended the JCC summer camp for the past four years — starting when she was in kindergarten — and has participated in swimming, horseback riding, and arts and crafts.

“I think this is super exciting. After she went to the camps, she wanted us to buy a horse or buy a pool. I can’t compete with the JCC, so I am glad they can accommodate all of their needs,” Sniderman said.

Lily said after hearing about the camp from Hayden, she signed up for this summer’s offerings. Stacy Fisher of Girard said her daughter always likes to have things to do in the winter and also now likes being able to skate.

“It’s nice for her to get out of the house and come here to have fun and see other children. We joined ‘the J’ last summer and swam at the Logan Campus pool. We heard about all the things there are to do here,” Stacy Fisher said.

Hannah Watts, 9, of Cortland, said she likes attending any camp at the JCC because of the many things to do. She was excited to see friends from the summer camp, but Shelley Watts said her daughter also was looking forward to ice skating, which she has not done before.

Camp Director Hunter Thomas said holding a camp reunion during the winter was a way to utilize the new winter campus and also allow the children to come together to see some of their friends who they may not have seen since last summer.

Thomas said the two-hour event drew more than 25 children. Families received a $20 discount toward the summer camp and also were entered in a raffle to win $150 off camp fees.

He said the camp staff is keeping an eye on COVID-19 when planning for the summer camps.

“We are hoping this year to be able to bring back the theater camps, which could not be held last year. We will be offering a Hogwarts Camp from Harry Potter. We will always offer swimming and all the other outdoor camps,” Thomas said.

A circus camp will not be held because the people who help with that camp come from out of the country.

Thomas said during the winter, indoor events for children include a performance of “Willy Wonka” by a musical theater group in February.

Jeremiah Crawford, 10, of Transfer, Pa., was staying warm drinking hot chocolate with his father, Jacob Crawford.

“He had a lot of fun last summer and wanted to come back and have fun with his friends. He likes the swimming and now he likes the ice rink,” Jacob said of his son’s return to the center.

For information on the camp or to register, visit jccyoungstown.org/camp.