Summer 07
Vol. 12 No. 3

Kids bored this summer? Tell them to park it

The scent of chlorine, sunscreen and bug spray are a sure sign that summer is on its way. Days are getting longer and kids are restlessly looking forward to homework-free evenings.

But the sighs of anticipation will all too soon give way to cries of, “I’m bored.”

With plenty of free and low-cost activities, the Parks & Recreation Department has the solution for idle hands.

Summer camps
“The greatest reward of the program is providing a positive summer experience in a safe supportive program,” said Kay Joshua, administration manager with the recreation and wellness division.

Summer camps keep kids physically and socially active. However, the price is often prohibitive. Not so with the Parks’ summer enrichment program, which costs $25 a week for one child or $35 a week total for two or more children.

Children 6 to 13 can attend the 10-week day camp, which runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at community centers across the city. Kids can enjoy arts and crafts, sports, games, field trips, water fun, and more.

For teens, a two-week summer day camp rotates among five community centers throughout the summer. Available at the same price as the enrichment camps, the program offers arts and entertainment, sports, crafts, games and field trips.

Teens 14 to 17 can volunteer at local community centers in the enrichment program, in an office, or at the swimming pool.

“This gives them the chance to give back to their community, gain valuable experience and skills, and explore a career,” said Estella Espinosa, communications division manager.

For those 16 and older who prefer to earn some money, Parks is hiring 350 lifeguards for the city’s 39 pools. Parks provides a free class to help applicants get certification.

Get active and eat up
For some kids, summer vacation means hours in front of a television. Their only exercise is mashing the buttons on a videogame controller. Get your kids up and moving with summer sports.

Parks offers free programs to children 4 to 18 who want to learn the fundamentals of sports, including baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and golf. Participants receive equipment, uniforms, and expert coaching for free.

“The whole point of the program is to educate about the importance of exercise and good nutrition,” said Don Whitaker, Parks media representative. “An active lifestyle helps keep you healthier, and being active is a learned behavior. The earlier the kid starts being active, the better.”

Parks administers the summer food program that offers free nutritious lunches May 29 through Aug. 17, for children up to 18, said Sheila Pous, senior community liaison and food program supervisor.

Lunches will be served weekdays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Parks community centers and nonprofit organizations, Pous said.

“The most important service we can provide a child is to have their tummy full,” Pous said. “Without proper nourishment, a child won’t have enough energy to enjoy summer.”

Take a hike or ride a pipe
Parks offers more than 95 miles of hike and bike trails throughout the city, giving families a great way to spend time together while taking in some fresh air.

The newly acquired Lake Houston Park, just 30 miles north of Houston, is lushly forested with nearly 5,000 acres. Entrance fees are $3 per person 13 years and older, and camping is $7 a night, or $4 a night for primitive sites.

Activities include hiking, biking, camping, bird watching, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding. Bring your bike, binoculars, boat or horse.

Or maybe the children prefer one of five skate parks. Designed for skateboarders, bladers and skaters, amenities vary in each park but include skate ramps, grind boxes, street spines, half pipes and jump boxes.

With more than 340 developed parks and 138,945 acres of green space, Parks has something guaranteed to fend off boredom – at least until school starts again.

return to the top