Rec Department Offers Healthy Variety of Summer Classes, Camps for Kids

It’s the first day of spring and you haven’t signed the kids up for summer recreation programs yet? 

Better get on it. Popular classes and camp sessions are filling fast, says Recreation Department Summer Program Supervisor Penny Robb. This year, the summer program is planning 292 sessions, an increase of 15 so far.

Some classes, such as “Pottery Wheel,” are already full, and many others are filling quickly. 

Sessions are one week long, beginning June 20 and going through Aug. 19. Prices vary, and range from hourly to weekly.

Transportation is provided for $15 /week, with a requirement to sign up five working days in advance. Highlights of Summer 2011 program and registration information is available on the Piedmont Recreation Department Web site. The non-resident lottery deadline is March 25.

The department has presented an invigorating summer session since the 1950s. It serves about 4,000 enrollees annually, 3,000 of them from Piedmont.

Besides targeted classes and excursions, there are special events for the entire community. Good times for families start with a pancake breakfast at the Veterans’ Memorial Building on the Fourth of July, followed by the annual Piedmont Parade down Highland Avenue, culminating with a concert in Piedmont’s Main Park. Sure, you can start working on your entry now! Call Carla Betts at (510) 597-9900.

There will also be Movies in the Park again this year on three Friday nights: June 3, July 15, and Sept. 9, in Piedmont Main Park. Sponsors may call Erin Rivera at (510) 420-3072. Movie selections will be made in April. All flicks are always G-rated and family friendly.

Special offerings

Piedmont Rec has some distinct offerings for youths. “Serendipity” focuses on empowerment for girls. A new camp for boys is called “Go Wild and Get Dangerous.” “Safe Sitter,” a national program, teaches how to babysit, negotiate fees and what to do if you don’t feel comfortable driving home with tipsy parents. For 11- to 15-year-olds. 

Sports camps

“Flag Football and many more” camp teaches essentials of the game for 7- to 12-year-olds. Other sports camps include tennis, soccer, skateboarding, track, ice skating, boating, sailing, golf, volleyball, pole vaulting, tae kwon do, lacrosse, baseball, softball, basketball along with a couple of multi-sports camps.

Swimming programs change as of July 1, when Piedmont Rec takes over the aquatics program now run by Piedmont Swim Club. Look for a separate brochure with details about swim camps and lessons. The swim club offers lessons until the city takes over. 

Summer camps and classes

 There are several new classes, including:

 “Cartoon Claymation” for ages 8-15. With the Disney/Pixar studios down the street, here is an opportunity to learn from an actual “Gumby” artist, who is a regular summer teacher.

“Cooking, Little Spoons” lets lucky 8- to 12-year-olds learn from an experienced chef, who specializes in wholesome, natural nutrition.

 “Creative Writing and Art Camp” is for ages 7 and up.

 “Digital Film Production”  for 9-to 12-year olds includes making a pirate movie using Freshi’s Pirate Movie Program. It’s a hands-on pre-scripted movie – with no pirate weapons, thanks to Freshi’s Non Violence Policy. 

 “Engineering Camps” are for ages 5-12. Besides the "Pre Engineering with Play-Well Teknologies using LEGO" camp, this year kids can build planes, or even droids with "Motors in Jedi Engineering," for ages 7-12. How about “We Do Robotics,” a new camp for 5- to 7-year-olds? This camp takes computer-savvy youngsters into a virtual drag and drop world.

“Go Wild and Get Dangerous” is offered for 7- to 10-year-old boys, based on the bestselling book, “The Dangerous Book for Boys.”

“Jewelry, Dragonfly” allows budding 6- to 9-year-old crafters to learn techniques like stamping and dapping metal, bead stringing, crimping, copper etching, and how to use resin and wool felted beads.

“Mosaic Making”  is for 6- to 9-year-old kids who like to create patterns and images in a get-your-hands-into-it ancient art form. They may make a mirror, a flower pot or a plaque.

“PeeWee Camp” offers soccer and games 3- to 5 year-olds.

“Poetry Camp” is for ages 9 and up. Poetry has undergone a renaissance in recent years, from spoken word to hip hop. 

“Puppetry Camp” encourages 5- to 10-year-olds to dream while making puppets with “Wild Thing” and “Join the Circus” themes.

“Tie Dye Camp” lets campers age 8 to 14 create colorful samples to take home. Tie Dye is an ancient art that spans continents.

“Write Your Own Fairy Tale” is for ages 7 and up. Anyone who has ever heard a couple of youngsters lost in their own fairyland knows these are among the world’s best story tellers. 

“Camp 1973” honors the idyllic days of hanging out and just doing Fun Things such as water fights, Legos, model airplanes, cooking and fishing.

The drop-in program, “Summer Schoolmates”  for children ages 4 to 10, is a flexible by-the-hour program that combines science projects, excursions and water games, with a different educational theme every week. The program runs from June 20 – Aug. 12.

For kids entering sixth grade and up, Piedmont Rec offers a “Youth Employment Service called P.L.A.Y.” This summer jobs program in its 45^th year. Starting June 20, the city pairs students with residents who need work done. Students offer such skills as computer tech, gardening, babysitting, house care, tutoring, and dog walking. Registration is 3:10-4:10 June 8 and 9 at the Rec Department.  For information, call 653-7863. There is a $20 registration fee.

Another option for students in sixth to ninth grades is “the Junior Counselor in Training Program,” which consists of assisting camp staff, supervising campers and helping with setup and take-down of activities. Graduates may become counselors in training.

For 11- to 14-year-olds who want to plan their own activities, they can join the popular “Piedmont Place” program, where the group gets a budget and staff to help them plan the week’s adventure.  This one fills up fast!

Happy camping!