The excitement was palpable on the beautiful morning of July 12 at the Mercer County CYO day camp in Yardville where the highly anticipated annual CYO Talent Show had campers, family members and loved ones abuzz for the annual two-tiered dance competition.
“The CYO Camp Talent Show is always one of the highlights of the camp season. Look at the crowd! There are hundreds of people here… close to 300 campers here. They’re so excited,” shared Yardville branch director, Patrick Hardiman. “They’ve been practicing for almost three weeks. It’s an extra field trip for the winners and camp bragging rights.”
So the stakes were set high.
As to the performances, Daniel Bossio, Yardville’s program director and Talent Show emcee said emphatically, “They’re all good! They’re all good!”
Bossio welcomed the family members and friends assembled and thanked the young participants for their hard work to open the festivities. He shared that the Yardville branch is in its 60th year of offering quality programs for area children with wonderful “memories made each and every year.”
Judged on creativity, group involvement and performance, the camp groups were divided into two separate competitions. With music spanning generations, the campers moved to the various beats and gave their all.
Patty Caola, grandmother of four –and seven-year- old camp participants, shared that she was excited to attend her fourth Talent Show.
“The Talent Show is absolutely the highlight of the camp,” said Caola, also the wife of the CYO board chairperson, Art Caola. She gushed over how much the children enjoy camp. “They love the arts and crafts. They love swimming. This place builds character. It gives them self-esteem. My grandson would never think of going out there to dance in front of people… this is a great opportunity for all the kids to build up their self-confidence and show their talents.”
Parents’ comments could be heard from the crowd expressing their pride at seeing their children performing. The parents’ enthusiasm was contagious as the acts got people clapping and moving along.
In the end, the 2018 Talent Show winners were groups 5 and 11 respectively. Group 5 members won for their visionary routine to Toy Story’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” while Group 11 members took the prize for their great moves to “Boyz to Men” in Philly sports’ garb.