The Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department Summer Youth Program will begin June 8 with the opening of program sites and will end July 16.
The Summer Youth Program is a six week day-camp type program that is offered each summer to youth ages 6-16. Gyms at various locations are staffed with directors and assistants who assist in playtime activities and to provide free, instructional classes such as dance and karate.
Parents can register their children for dance and karate classes onsite on the first day of Summer Youth Program. Dance classes are taught by skilled dancers and provide youth with a firm understanding of the fundamentals of dance. Karate is instructed by trained individuals and presented to the kids in a fun, yet disciplined, manner. Youth are sure to have fun and enjoy these instructional classes that are offered free of charge.
School gymnasiums are modified to a “community center” setting with daily table games, tournaments, arts and crafts and special activities. Parents will be able to register their children on site the first day of attendance. Parents’ permission for children to participate is required at the location you choose.
This year’s Summer Youth Program gymnasium sites are Burt-Cobb Community Center and Crow Community Center (Kleeman Community Center has reached its maximum capacity) as well as Barksdale, Burt, Glenellen, Hazelwood, Liberty, Minglewood, and Byrns Darden Elementary Schools. The Housing Authority at Summit Heights is also providing a site for this year’s Summer Youth Program. Housing Authority will also open its Caldwell Lane facility which will be open from 10a.m. to 2p.m. on weekdays.
The Summer Youth Program participates in the USDA Summer Lunch Program, so each child attending the program will be offered a nutritious lunch daily free of charge.
Youth enrolled in the Summer Youth Program can participate in free swim days that are offered each Friday during the program. Each site has a designated a pool where children can swim free for two hours each Friday morning. Details for free swimming will be available at each site. There is no charge for this activity, but free swim does require parent’s permission. Transportation to the pool is provided from the gym sites.
Summer Youth Program sites are open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. All sites will be closed July 3 in observance of Independence Day. Lunch will not be served this day, as well.
This year’s Summer Youth Program closing event will be held at Burt Cobb Community Center on July 17 from 6-8p.m. The evening event will be a “Family Night Out” with an assortment of games and activities planned for every member of the family.
In addition to the fun gym activities and swimming, the Parks and Recreation Department offers golf and tennis lessons. Golf and tennis lessons are free. Registration will continue this week at the Parks and Recreation Office. Openings are filling up quickly! There are still spaces available for ages 11-16.
Parents can also pre-register their children for this summer’s Roxy Regional Theatre’s acting workshop at the Parks and Recreation office this week. Youth will learn the fundamentals of acting and participate in a theatre performance on July 16 at the Roxy Regional Theatre. This class is for youth ages 10-16 and requires a $30 participation fee for the six week class. Spaces are limited, so hurry in to register.
Registration for the Community Centers began Monday, June 1. All other gym sites will begin registration on June 8, the first day of the program. For more information about the Summer Youth Program, please call the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department at 645-7476 or visit www.cityofclarksville.com/parksandrec.
