AUBURN - The days leading up to the Y-Idol contest were filled with excitement as summer campers at the Auburn YMCA brushed up on their singing and acting skills.

Complete with commercials, judges and a Ryan Seacrest look-alike, the Y-Idol contest was a local spin off of the hit TV show American Idol. Only in this show, all the work was done by students from ages 5 to 12.

"This is a lot of fun because everyone gets to show their talent," said 11-year-old Ariana Dechick. "Everyone is unique, so everyone is doing something different."

In addition to designing backdrops and coloring rats for her group's skit about a pirate's travels on the high seas, Dechick ventured to the stage on her own, singing Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together."

Other performances included "The Yellow Submarine," "The Littlest Worm," "Purple People Eaters," and the alphabet song.

While their parents were at work, this group of children spent their time coloring giant submarines, singing songs and cutting black beards out of construction paper. But that's what the YMCA Camp is designed to do, give students a place to spend their summers while their parents make a living.

"There is a big need for a summer full day care center," said Nancy Henderson, assistant child care director. "Every summer we fill up and have to juggle where we want to put kids."

The Y-Idol contest is just one of the activities students participate in during the summer months. Students also take part in cooking lessons, art classes, and physical education.

Students are split into groups based on their age, and when they are not swimming, taking trips to the beach, and playing games, they work on group projects. Then every Friday they come together for bigger events like the Y-Idol contest.

"Projects like this help the kids work together, be responsible and show respect," said group leader Wendy Myers.

Whether it is silly backward week or potluck week student projects always focus on the YMCA's Y-values: caring, honesty, responsibility and respect.

"Teach children values when they are young and they will carry them with them their whole lives," Henderson said.

Not only does the program provide parents with the comfort that their children are safe, but it also gives students a welcome break from school.

The students who come to the YMCA don't mind that their days are structured or that they are learning.

"I don't want to go back to real school," 11-year-old Nichole Walter said. "Summer school is so much better."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or ashley.lipsky@lee.net.