Registration open for summer camps
Registration is now open for the 2018 Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Summer Camps program for children as young as 3 years old.
Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department Marketing Coordinator Michelle Dean said they have 10 different divisions offering summer camps this year. Traditionally the departmetn’s youth center and youth service divisions offered more traditional youth camps.
“That is your traditional summer camps . . . arts and crafts, field trips, guest speakers with different themes,” she said.
Over the years, specialty camps have been added to the lineup of summer fun.
Some of the specialty camps include Fine Arts for Kids Camp for 7- to 13-year-olds at Cape Coral Arts Studio; an Eco Adventure Nature Camp for 7- to 12-year-olds at Rotary Park; Kids Kayak Camp for 9- to 14-year-olds at the Yacht Club Community Park and a Splash Camp for 8- to 12- year-olds at Sun Splash Family Waterpark.
“There’s a really good variety of camps that are offered whether it’s traditional or more specialty camps,” Dean said.
At Four Freedoms Park, the city has started offering preschool camps for youngsters 3 to 6, that are half day camps. There is also an afternoon version that is two hours long. Dean said it’s a great addition because it provides an opportunity for parents who might not want their child in a full day camp to still participate.
There are such themes as outer space, gardening and bugs, Happy Birthday America, zoo animals and barnyard for the preschool summer camps.
The full-day camps run from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., while some of the specialty camps, such as tennis and kayaking are offered for a few hours a day.
“Our camps are set up for one- week intervals. If someone stays with the same camp, (such as) art camp, they have a different theme each week. If someone likes a particular location they are not going to be stuck doing the same thing every week,” Dean explained. “Some families find that it works to have the same location and same camp all summer long.”
With the themes changing weekly, it provides families with the opportunity to mix and match what type of camp and location their child attends, she added.
“It gets more specialized, so if your child might be interested in art and nature, they can mix it up,” Dean said.
Three years ago, Parks & Rec began offering a staycation camp at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, 2817 SW 3rd Lane. The non-traveling camp, Dean said is more affordable due to the cost being $75 a week, compared to $99 for a traveling camp.
“It still has weekly themes and arts and crafts,” she said.
The staycation camp, which is offered for kindergarten through eighth grade students, will feature guest speakers, special events, arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor recreation activities and outings to the Jim Jeffers Park.
Dean said all of the camps are open for registration, which can be done online at www.capeparks.com. She encourages parents to sign up their kids sooner rather than later, so they get their camp of choice.
“The Eco Adventure Nature Camp fills up quickly,” Dean said of one of the choices.
The website provides an interactive component allowing parents to register with a click of a button. Dean said the online registration will inform parents what paperwork needs to be filled out as well.
“Online is the best place to go to get directly to the online registration,” she said adding that the printed copies became available at various centers April 19.
The locations offering summer camps include Four Freedoms Park, 4818 Tarpon Court; Sun Splash Family Waterpark, 400 Santa Barbara Boulevard; Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road; Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Boulevard; Yacht Club Community Pool, Yacht Club Tennis Courts and Yacht Club Community Park, 5819 Driftwood Parkway; William “Bill” Austen Youth Center, 315 SW 2nd Avenue; Cape Coral Arts Studio, 4533 Coronodo Parkway and Eagle Skate Park, 315 SW 2nd Avenue.
Although most of the camps begin June 4, some of the specialty camps are only offered a couple of select weeks during the summer.
There is also an opportunity for kids 16 years and older, who are too old for summer camps, to have some fun this summer. Dean said they are holding a Parks & Rec Job Fair at Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21.
Dean said they are looking to fill such positions as camp counselors and camp assistants.
“They are going to be doing interviewing on site and interviewing for jobs at Sun Splash and Parks and Recreation that day for part-time summer jobs. You just have to be 16 in order to apply,” she said.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/events/750184245170478/.