INUVIK - It's the first day of summer day camp and nine-year-old Paul O'Connor's face and hair and coated in sweat. He can barely tear himself from an all-out game of dodge ball.

"I'm just happy to be here with all my friends," he said at the rink on Monday afternoon. "If I didn't have this, I know I would be bored all summer."

These summer day camp participants took some time out of their busy schedule Monday for a group shot with camp counsellor Jasmine Brewster. Back row, from left, Shaquella Kaglik, Olivia Lennie, Paris Wainman, Emily Rutherford and Nora Amos. Front row, Paul O'Connor and Seth Kassem. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

O'Connor is just one of many kids ages five to 12 who have signed up for an action-packed summer with their buds at summer camp. Already they've had a solid afternoon playing games like cat and mouse and mushroom.

For O'Connor, one of the highlights of the day came when camp counsellors Richard and Kyle performed a few of their own magic tricks.

Emily Rutherford had just joined the camp, which runs each weekday, earlier in the day. Not only was she stoked about the spontaneous magic show, she was relieved not to be working for her dad, Bill Rutherford, aka the Fruit Man.

"I like my dad, but this is a little more fun because you're not lifting boxes and a whole bunch of stuff during the summer," she said. "I've had a good day: fun, fun, fun."

Both Rutherford and O'Connor said they could hardly wait to go swimming the next day.

Leandra Grenier-Green, summer day camp co-ordinator, has spent the last two weeks hiring and training camp counsellors and perfecting a schedule for the kids that will last until the final week of August when the kids celebrate their own Olympic-themed event. Before that she's also planning a talent show for the kids.

The 19-year-old Edmonton resident has worked at summer camps for the last three years as well as winter camp. Her goal is to have fun with the kids with an emphasis on outdoor activities, including some canoeing and swimming.

"We're going to do lots of swimming every day," she said. "There's been some drownings in recent years in Inuvik and kids need to know how to swim."

She's also planning a camping trip on Wednesday at Jak Park for the older kids, one of two overnight expeditions planned for the summer. To keep things interesting there will be a theme for each week. This week the theme is pirates. Next week will be wacky water week.