Parks and Recreation Departments Gearing Up for Summer

Spring has sprung and the parks and recreation departments in the Granbys are busy preparing for this year’s myriad summer recreation programs. 

Kay Woodford, director of recreation and leisure services in Granby, said most of the programs stay consistent from year to year, but the youths have the opportunity to try something new this summer. 

“Every once in a while, we throw in a new one,” Woodford said. “This year, we threw in 'capture the flag.'”

The Skyhawks Capture the Flag Camp for youths ages 7-12 will take place at Granbrook Park in East Granby and begin just after the July 4th holiday. 

Nancy Lawton, recreation director in East Granby, said this camp is also new this year for East Granby residents as well. 

For the second year, the Granby department is again offering  Mystic Field Hockey Fitness for girls in grades six to 12. 

“That one was very popular,” Woodford said. “It really works with the high school girls that are going out for field hockey.”

The camp will focus on conditioning and techniques of the game during the end of August, culminating right before school begins. 

The nearly 35 programs that Granby Parks and Recreation offers include everything from sports clinics and the arts to music and LEGOs. 

“We try to keep our programs reasonably priced,” Woodford said. “There are scholarships available.” 

For those interested in applying for scholarships, Woodford suggested contacting the department early in the season. All information, she said, is kept confidential.

Similarly, Lawton said East Granby offers 26 programs for children and seven programs for adults. 

“We always offer some new programs,” she said. 

In addition to the Capture the Flag camp, East Granby added science camps, including Junior Scientists Fun Lab, Eureka, Secret Agent Lab: CSI Edition, and Secret Agent Laboratory: James Bond Edition. The Fun Lab will be in both towns, Eureka will take place in Granby, and the secret agent camps will be at the East Granby Farms Recreation Center. 

Overall, Lawton said, sports programs such as golf and tennis are popular, as well as the Play-Well Teknologies lego camp mentioned above. 

“Last year, we had participants from Long Island and Rhode Island,” Lawton said of the LEGO camp. 

And, in addition to the programming, staffing is another element to preparing for the summer season.

“I am in the process of getting the camp counselors hired for our day camp and the Super Sneaker Camp,” Lawton said. “I have been very lucky that for last two years my complete staff had returned.”

For a complete list of the programs in Granby, visit the parks and recreation website. 

The East Granby Parks and Recreation brochure for spring and summer programs was mailed out to residents last weekend. (Note: the town website is not up to date.)