SILVER SPRING, MD—The last bell rings Thursday, June 14 on the 2006-2007 school year for Montgomery County public school kids, but for parents still looking for summer camp options for their children time’s not up yet. The Montgomery County Department of Parks is still accepting registrations for its slate of 2007 summer camps and programs in the parks.
“We have a variety of camp and program options this summer to suit just about any age, any skill level and any interest,” said Montgomery County Department of Parks Manager of Camps and Special Programs Rob Elmore. “Our signature summer camp, Week in the Park, also accommodates just about any parent’s busy schedule.”
Week in the Park is the department’s day camp run out of Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road. Week in the Park runs the entire summer, from the last day of school through the Friday before the first day of school, June 18 through August 24, 2007. Parents can register their children for any week(s) of camp throughout the summer without being bound to registering for consecutive weeks of camp. With the Week in the Park day camp, parents also have the option of choosing mornings or afternoons only and extended care, with drop off as early as 8:00 am and pick up as late as 6:00 pm. Week in the Park provides campers with a sampling of everything the department’s parks system has to offer: tennis, ice skating, nature, miniature train rides and more.
The Department of Parks also has some of the following unique options for pre-teens and teens this summer:
- Gifts From Nature, Tuesday – Friday, July 10 – July 13, 2007, 1:30 – 4:00 pm, Brookside Nature Center, cost $100, ages 10 -14. Basketry and weaving, leaf printing, pottery (using clay and homemade doughs) and soapmaking. ParkPASS #29473.
- American Girls On The Road, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, July 2 – July 6, 2007, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Brookside Nature Center, cost $175, ages 11 – 14. Daily field trips to experience life like the American Girls-swing time with Kit and Molly; discover Kaya’s world, Felicity’s horse adventure, Addy’s underground railroad and more. ParkPASS #29475.
- Rockin’ Geology, Tuesday – Friday, July 17 – 20, 2007, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Brookside Nature Center, cost $170, ages 11 – 14. Experience hands-on geology with activities and experiments and field trips for rock and fossil collecting. ParkPASS #29474.
- River Adventures Kayak Camp, Wednesday – Friday, July 18 – July 20, 2007, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Black Hill Visitor’s Center, cost $125, ages 12 – 17. Beginner paddlers learn the prerequisites for successful kayaking on flatwater and in gentle river waters. Equipment, safety considerations, basic strokes, entries, exits (wet and dry), boat control, self-rescue, reading the water, river hazards, transport of kayaks safely, knots and hitches, kayak characteristics and associated equipment and their use will also be covered. Kayaks, personal flotation devices and all necessary equipment provided. Participants must be swimmers. ParkPass #29101. (A second River Adventures Kayak Camp is available, Wednesday – Friday, August 15 – 17, 2007, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, ParkPASS #29102).
Last year, more than 2,000 campers enjoyed summer in the parks through the department’s summer camps and programs. Registration for county parks camps is open now through www.ParkPASS.org also view from this site a complete listing of the more than 50 different summer camp and program options available through the Department of Parks this year.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866