Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Go ask the lifeguard," YMCA grade school program coordinator Scott Wagner said to the child on the other side of the glass.

Within the space of five minutes, three swimsuit-clad children, with water dripping from elbows, chins and ears, ask about the diving board.

It's free swim Monday afternoon at the Missouri Valley Family YMCA for the children in the Adventure Camp, a day of activities set up for those scheduled days off from school.

More than half of the 18 children there for Adventure Camp chose the pool over the other afternoon activity: computer games. But for the more daring children, the pool with the yellow slide wasn't enough.

They wanted in the other pool with the diving boards. Chances of that could be slim because of the high school teams that use the pool to practice, Wagner said.

But for the children in Adventure Camp, there's more to do than swim.

"I like coming here, and it's a lot of fun," 10-year-old Tristen Hoffer said.

He likes doing arts and crafts the best, he said. He's also played in the gym and played games on the computer.

He's come to Adventure Camp before, and there have been times they've gone outside; and when there's snow outside, they've gone sledding, he said.

Adventure Camp is held whenever there is no school in the public schools, Wagner said. It's a program that's been around about five years.

"(Children) are more physically active. They do not just sit and watch TV," he said. They also get a chance to be with other kids and kids from other schools.

The Adventure Camp is available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. It costs $35 for the day or $25 for a half-day. YMCA members get a $5 discount. The next Adventure Camp is March 9-10. For more information, contact the YMCAat 255-6122 or register at the front membership desk.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)