School's out - now what?
Summer has arrived, and parents everywhere have begun the tortuous process of figuring out how to keep the children busy now that they are out of school.
The time is now to choose which summer programs would be appropriate to keep them amused, out of trouble — and maybe learning.
Summer activities benefit the community as well as the children, partly because they ensure more adult supervision and less opportunity for kids to get in harm’s way.
Most camps and other activities aim to keep children active and help them develop a healthy lifestyle, which in turn has side benefits such as good sleeping habits.
Most importantly, summer programs give children something to look forward to each day.
Here are some of the options:
Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum of Brownsville hosts weeklong camps every week starting this Monday and running through Aug. 12.
Lisa Garza, a weekend associate at the museum, says the sessions include an abundance of activities. The museum website lists nine different camps catering to different age groups, covering ages 4 to 11. The sessions include Petite Chef, Hikes and Bikes, Mystery Camp, Dancing With Li’l Stars, My First School, Groovy Artists, Mad Scientists, Jedi Training and Glow Party.
Camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. . Price per child is $115 for members and $125 for nonmembers. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Weekend workshops are also available on Saturdays and Sundays.
The registration form can be found online at www.cmofbrownsville.com. For more information please call (956) 548-9300.
Gladys Porter Zoo
“Part of our mission is to educate our community about wildlife, and one of the main ways we are able to do so it through our summer programs,” said Cynthia A. Garza Galvan, director of marketing at the Gladys Porter Zoo.
Summer Safari Camps will run June 6 through Aug. 12. Camp hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday at 6:30 p.m. to Saturday morning for the Starlight Safari Sleepover. Meals and refreshments are provided. Children have to be at least 7 years old to participate in the sleepover.
Parents and other family members may register for the sleepover along with the student. The cost per camp is $120 for members and $140 for nonmembers (sleepover included).
Regular classes are also offered every Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Ages vary depending on the class. Cost per class is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers.
The registration form and schedule can be found online at www.gpz.org. For more information, email Educ@gpz.org or call (956) 548-WILD (9453).
Kids’ College
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College again will offer Kids’ College.
Children can start engaging in learning activities as early as age 5 and may choose from a variety of courses, including art and dancing.
Children ages 7-13 have other options, including archery, robotics, computers and more.
The objective is for children to learn or enhance a skill but at the same time have fun.
There are two sessions: June 13-30 and July 11-28. Tuition is $185 for each session and is open to children ages 5-6 and 7-13. Hours of the program are 8:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call (956) 882-4192 or 882-4175, e-mail kids.college@utb.edu, log on to www.utb.edu/kidscollege, or stop by 301 Mexico Blvd. Suite D3A-175, Brownsville.
THE W.A.G.
The We Are Graduating program is a first for Brownsville and will be held at Tony Gonzalez Park, Oliveira Park and the Recreation Center.
The program is designed to teach youth how to make right choices, live a healthy life, understand life situations and ultimately inculcate new goals and habits.
The curriculum covers health, nutrition, exercise, relationships and more.
The program will be offered to children and youth ages 7-14. The fee is $66 and may be paid in installments.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For more information call Parks & Recreation at (956)- 542-2064.
Sabal Palms Nature Camp
The Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary is offering a nature camp consisting of four sessions of three days each.
Hours are 8:30 a.m.-noon. Camp dates are as follows: June 21-23, June 28-3, July 5-7, July 12-14.
Activities consist of discovering and learning about birds and mammals at Sabal Palms. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Tuition is $35 and includes a three-month pass to Sabal Palms. The camp is offered to children ages 7-12.
Sign up via phone at (95) 541-8034 or (512) 782-0895, or email gsfinc@gmail.com.
BISD Summer Recreation
The 2011 BISD Summer Recreation Program will run from June 13- July 7, Monday through Thursday. Program sites are Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Porter, Rivera and Veterans Memorial high schools.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for middle school students, and 1 to 6 p.m. for high school students. The program features basketball, volleyball, weight training and other activities.
Summer tennis will be held in the same locations. Hours will be 8 to 9:30 a.m. for elementary school students, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for middle school students, and 10:30 a.m. to noon for high school students.
Summer track will also be available and will be held at Sams Stadium. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon, and the program is open to all ages.
Summer golf, also open to all ages, will be held at the Fort Brown Golf Center and will run from 8 a.m. to noon.
Summer swimming will be held at the Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center. Hours will be 8 to 9:30 a.m. for elementary students, 9:30 to 11 a.m. for middle school students, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for high school students.
For information, call Tom Chavez, BISD Athletic Program administrator at (956) 548-8261.
Gus & Goldie Learn to Swim
The city of Brownsville Parks & Recreation department offers its annual learn-to-swim program beginning Monday at Sams Pool at Dean Porter Park, Tony Gonzalez Park pool and Oliveira Park pool.
The cost of the program is $20 per participant. The program includes a T-shirt and a certificate of the level completed.
The classes will run Monday through Friday for two weeks and will be 50 minutes long. Registration will be held at Parks & Recreation, 1338 E. Eighth St.
“In each program there are always kids that are eager, motivated and look forward to getting in the water,” said E.Marie Moreno, pool supervisor.
For more information, call Adrian Gamez, aquatic supervisor at 956-547-6856.
