Summer approaches, and with it come long lazy days for children out of school. What’s a kid to do?
Although some may prefer to stay home and play video games or be on their own during the summer, parents may not agree.
Several programs aim to give kids plenty to do, including field trips and activities to keep them busy. And because they’re organized and licensed, working parents don’t have to worry about latchkey kids.
The Lee Beran Recreation Center is once again planning its SummerScape program, for children aged 6 to 12.
SummerScape is a 10-week day care program licensed through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This year, the program will be based out of Timmerman and Walnut elementary schools.
“Each school is licensed to hold up to 60 kids,” said Adraina Holopirek, program supervisor for the rec center. “Basically we just provide daily activities and field trips for the kids to do.”
Participants will take field trips every day of the week to various places, including Rollers skating rink, Flint Hills Lanes, Jones Aquatic Center and the summer movie program at Flint Hills 8 Cinema.
The program also includes activities at the playgrounds and gymnasiums of the schools.
“We try and vary the activities we do at the school,” Holopirek said. “We do a talent show every year and a spelling bee, things like that.”
Breakfast, lunch and a snack will be provided to each child.
The program is scheduled to run Monday through Friday from May 26 through July 31. The hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
SummerScape is a day-by-day program, available on a daily or weekly basis. By the week, the cost is $75 for the first child and $65 for any additional children. By the day, SummerScape costs $19 for the first and $17 for any additional children. The program also works with children in summer school. They will pay a half-day rate.
Packets for SummerScape will be available starting April 27 at the rec center, 313 W. 4th Ave.
“And this year we’re registering on a first-come, first-serve basis, so your spot is only held for the days you pay for,” Holopirek said.
Teens
In past years, Emporia has had no programs for children who’ve hit 13. This year, the rec center is starting a new program for the older kids, one that mirrors SummerScape.
Teen Extreme will run on the same dates and times as SummerScape, with programs added that are geared toward children age 12 to 14.
“It will be run similar to SummerScape,” Holopirek said. “We’ll do some of the in-town field trips. The difference is, once a week we’ll go on an out-of-town field trip.”
The out-of-town trips already have been planned, and include trips to Worlds of Fun, a Royals baseball game and the Crown Uptown Theatre in Wichita to see a performance of “High School Musical.”
Teen Extreme will be based at Emporia Middle School, and will cost $125 per week.
“When they sign up, they sign up for the whole week, so there’s no day rates,” Holopirek said.
There will be a maximum of 20 children.
Packets for Teen Extreme also will be available April 27 at the rec center.
For more information about either program, call 340-6300.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army has offered a summer day camp for more than 20 years. Similar to SummerScape, it brings schoolchildren through age 12 to the center for supervised playtime, chapel and organized field trips.
The summer camp program at the Salvation Army has not yet been planned for this year because it lacks the money, according to youth director Rose Colunga.
“We’re right now in the process of trying to raise the money to do the camp,” Colunga said. “At this point, we don’t have the funds for it, but we’re working on trying to do that.”
Last year’s program was threatened by a lack of funds, but the Salvation Army managed to keep it going.
For now, the organization has set April 12 as the deadline to raise money for the camp.
“We’ve sent out grant applications, but we haven’t gotten any type of response from those,” Colunga said.
The Salvation Army will take donations for the camp program. To donate, write a check and write “Summer Day Camp program restricted fund” in the memo line so the money will get into that fund.