This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/19/2018 04:00 PMThe school year has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that summer boredom has to kick in. Thanks to the park and recreation departments across the region there are plenty of programs and events to liven up summer vacation for kids and parents.
This year, Chester Park & Recreation is finding success in not messing with what works.
“We revamped the program about four years ago and people seem really happy with it so we’re sticking to it,” said Chester Park and Rec Director Elizabeth Netsch.
The 2018 Chester Park and Rec Children’s Summer Program Day Camp, which has been full since early March, takes priority in the summer, said Netsch. The program is all inclusive, for grades K-7, and covers science, nature, crafts, swimming lessons, and more.
Chester Park & Rec also introduced Kinder-Camp, a camp for children who are entering kindergarten and is designed specifically to meet the needs of younger children. The camp began last year and was such a success it’s returning this year for two separate weeks.
There was also a counselor-in-training program offered to 7th and 8th graders last year that was brought back this year due to not only its success, but also because there were also a lot of 7th and 8th graders who expressed an interest in participating who hadn’t had a chance last year.
“We did leadership, the job of camp counselor, and the job of a lifeguard. They had a night of first aid and a night of first aid and AED,” said Netsch.
While Chester’s Park & Rec summer programs haven’t changed much over the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about the work to be done to North Quarter Park and Netsch said they are very excited to get started on that come fall.
The projected plan for the park will include a basketball court, disc golf, playground upgrades and expansion, the addition of picnic areas, revamping the nature trail, and the addition of a boardwalk that will tie back in to the center of Chester.
“The funding starts July 1, but we have to get through the rest of our summer…so that’s our big, new thing, revitalizing North Quarter Park and making it multigenerational,” said Netsch.
Information on all Chester Park & Rec programs can be found at chesterct.org.
Deep River’s Park & Rec also has a busy summer planned. The season started off with the Deep River Carnival and Food Truck festival, which ran from June 14 to 16 at Devitt’s Field and, for the first time, featured a beer tent.
The summer camp program offered in Deep River runs through Friday, Aug. 17 and has ongoing registration—though spots are filling up quickly and there is very limited availability at this time.
This year Deep River will also offer a new Children’s Intro to Dance Class, offered to both boys and girls ages 5 to 12 in two sessions. One session will take place July 9 to 31 and the second will take place Aug. 6 to 28.
Registration for the Men’s Summer Basketball League is now open. All players will have to register separately, but teams are expected to be formed prior to registration. The cost is $20 per person; register at deepriver.recdesk.com.
Essex Park & Rec Director Mary Ellen Barnes said that her town’s summer camp, which has been offered for close to 30 years now, is opened up “to residents of any area. We don’t discriminate, we don’t care where you’re from, we want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy the camp.”
Essex’s summer camp is offered to students aged 5 to 12 and will have sessions running from June 25 to Aug. 10.
“We’re very proud of the long history of our program and of the fact that our coaches are all local residents and local coaches, which really gives us a sense of community which is what we’re trying to do all the time.”
This year there will be a new basketball program centered on teaching campers how to develop their basketball skills as well as their sportsmanship; it replaces what was previously offered in partnership with Slamma-Jamma.
“We felt really confident in bringing it to just the Valley Regional level,” said Barnes. “It’s Kevin Woods [Valley Regional special education teacher], we call it Junior Warriors basketball camp…We’re really excited that he has taken on the reins of being the entire coordinator for that.”
Beyond the camps and other programs offered to the children, Essex Park & Rec will offer events and activities that are geared toward the parents as well. Summer concerts that will begin on Tuesday, June 26 offer returning favorites as well as new ones.
“Totally new and exciting is our partnership with the Board of Trade and their new offering of the 1st Thursday’s events,” said Barnes. “We’re really excited because we’re offering free yoga in the park and we had an amazing turnout for our first one.”
The instructor for Yoga in the Park is Essex resident Angela Stevens and the goal is to introduce the many benefits of yoga to students ages 18 and up.
“There’s always something going on,” said Barnes. “We really have a lot of great opportunities here in town for different events.”
All that is offered in Essex, as well as any updates, can be found at essexct.recdesk.com or on the Essex Park and Rec facebook page.