CENTERVILLE—With spring returning to Centerville, the city’s recreation department is gearing up for summer. Bryce King, recreation coordinator, joined the city last July and said this year he has scaled the summer camp offerings back from previous years.

“I wanted to do quality more than quantity to see this first year how it goes,” he told Mayor Clark Wilkinson and the city council at a March 1 council meeting.

Registration opened April 1 for summer camps which will include a Jr. Chef Class and Creative Craft class for ages 4 to 13. Three-day sessions which are held Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays will begin June 7-9; cost is $40 which includes supplies. 

Centerville Adventures for the same ages will offer opportunities to learn about Centerville and its history. It includes hanging out with a police officer, enjoying a treat with the mayor and exploring Centerville businesses. There will be two sessions for this program: July 26-28 and Aug. 2-4; cost is $20.

New this year the city is offering a British soccer camp, May 21-June 3 at Porter Wilson Park. The camp will be for age 6 -14 for three hours a day; cost is $134. A Tiny Tykes program for ages 3 to 5 will run 8-8:45 a.m. each day and cost $84. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/36AKyXc

The city will be offering a sports and fitness camp which will rotate throughout the summer. They will run for two weeks at a time and there will be multiple sessions. Also planned are a day trip to West Yellowstone on June 23 and a Summer Adventure Series of five different outings which will include visits to Hogle Zoo, the Planetarium, Loveland Living Aquarium and others. Details and pricing are still being worked out on these, King said. 

“Nowadays, recreation is about experiences a lot more than it is about playing in a league,” King said. “People want to have that experience … so we’re going back to that principle.”

Other programs planned include a 3-D printing camp, a CTS coding class, Introduction to Esports and a June 10 children’s entrepreneur market. 

Council member Robin Mecham encouraged King to provide the camps at different parks across the city so that children who do not have transportation can walk or bike to them.

“They don’t have a way to some parks if their parents work,” she said. “I want to see it for the kids that can’t afford some of the other sports.”

“The more options the better,” agreed Parks & Cemetery Director Bruce Cox. “We’re hoping to draw out folks. Everything has kind of died down so this is a build back.”

Council member George McEwan suggested a scholarship program for families who cannot afford to have their children attend the camps. King said he was looking into it. 

Centerville Baseball has more than 300 kids signed up; the majority of them are prekindergarten to first and second grade, King reported. (Registration has already closed).

For July, which is Parks and Recreation Month, the city will sponsor daily events with a larger event on Fridays or Saturdays such as movies in the park or community celebrations, King reported. Details have yet to be worked out. For more information, contact King at 801-677-6435. l