Has anyone sent their kids at ages 9 to 10 years old to the Summer Camp program at the Redwood Heights Rec.Center? How were the counselors? Program quality? Were the kids friendly? Clickish? Any bullying? This year everyone must wait in line to sign up their own kids, no piggy-backing off another family. I've heard that the program sells out fast and that parents arrive early in the morning to reserve a space in line. Is this true? How early must one arrive? Helene

The program itself is good, standard ''rec center'' care. Large groups of kids and decent counsellors. They go swimming at Holy Names Pool every day, but they don't have swimming lessons. The do Arts and Crafts depending on the individual counselors. They go on one field trip a week, usually some high-kid appeal place like Great America or Water Slides.

My child got mostly quite good, early college age counselors. One thing they do that I like is keep kids entering first grade separate from the largish groups.

The children were a mixed group from a wide variety of public and private schools, with the largest contingent from Redwood Heights and St. Lawrence O'Tooles. They seemed like a friendly diverse bunch who could get a little wild, but not unreasonably so.

We liked it fine, and will probably do a week or so. They have a new payment and sign up system which should make things a little easier to get signed up.

All in all, we had a good experience, and we are generally pleased with the staff at the Rec Center. Myriam