Chuck Frantz, East Allen Township Parks and Recreation director, addressed the board of supervisors at the Aug. 25 meeting to report the status of the summer camp sponsored by the township.

“We had 145 campers and 13 counselors during the six weeks of the camping season,” he said.

Frantz explained the camp activities, which ranged from the expected movies, fun and games to visits from Bethlehem Mounted Police, the township fire department and volunteer ambulance corps and Wildlands Conservancy. Frantz thanked Crayola and Just Born for their donations.

“We had parents of the campers donating things we needed without even being asked,” he said.

This year, the campers were asked to bring in their loose change, which was donated to Lehigh Valley Zoo to help fund a giraffe house. The new giraffe digs were scheduled to be in place later this year, but the project has been delayed so the giraffes could adjust to local weather conditions.

“I think this (summer camp) is an event that we are fortunate to have in this township. It’s done with no taxpayer funds, and it is filled to capacity every year. It is something you can be very proud to have accomplished,” Chairman Roger Unangst said to Frantz.

Frantz said planning is already underway for next year’s events. Township residents have first priority on the slots. There is a limit of 150 campers. Slots are usually filled by May.

Also at the meeting, Deputy Fire Marshall John McDevitt addressed the board on the decline in the number of volunteer firemen in the state.

“We had over 300,000 volunteers 20 years ago, and now the numbers have dwindled to 50,000,” he said.

Suggestions after the meeting to garner recruits included contacting returning local veterans to see if there was interest.

According to McDevitt, the cost for losing local fire support could be in the billions.

“We need to keep this program alive. It has served us well in the past and will continue into the future,” he said.

On a lighter note, McDevitt confirmed there is no Pokemon at the fire station antenna, coordinates given by the popular game.

“We go out of the station, and there is someone there looking for Pokemon. I have to run them off,” he said.

Unangst indicated several have been captured at his business.

“I think the way they run it is when one gets captured, they keep adding a new one to the location,” he said.