10 local programs to keep your kids busy, engaged during the summer months

Gershon Harrell, The Gainesville Sun
·5 min read

As the school year comes to a close on May 27, parents are going to be looking for ways to keep their keeps busy and productive during the summer months.

Luckily, the city of Gainesville is offering a host of family-friendly programs, camps and activities.

Here are 10 free or affordable ways to keep your children active until August:

Summer Day Camp

The Summer Day Camp is for students in grades 1 through 5. A similar Teen Life Summer Day Camp is for 6-8th grade students. The camp will take place in four, two-week sessions from June 6-17, June 20-July 1, July 5-15 and July 18-29.

The program will be held at various locations around the city. The registration fee is $116 per child for city residents; $194.50 for non-city residents. Show a GRU bill or a voter ID registration card for proof of address. Parents that want to take advantage of the Summer Day Camp should fill out registration info on the city of Gainesville's website at www.cityofgainesville.org.

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Earth Academy Day Camp

The Earth Academy is for students in grades 1-6 and will take place for five weekly sessions at the Morningside Nature Center. The program will run from June 6-10, June 13-17, June 20-24, July 25-29, and Aug. 1-5.

Space is limited and it is a first-come, first-served basis. Fees associated, for city residents the program is $140.75; for non-city residents its $211.25. Fees are due at the time of registration. Show a GRU bill or a voter ID registration card for proof of address. Parents can register online on the city of Gainesville's website, at cityofgainesville.org.

Teen Midnight Basketball

Looking to shoot some hoops? Anyone who is age 11 to 18 can participate in the free Teen Midnight Basketball program. The event will take place on the first Friday of each month from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. The program rotates between the MLK Center and the North Central Florida YMCA. Those under 18 years old need to a signed registration form before playing. You can find the registration form on the city's Parks Recreational and Cultural Affairs website under youth programs and teen summer programs.

Heatwave pool parties

The Heatwave pool program is geared toward children who are between the ages 9-18. The program will begin May 27, at the Dwight H. Hunter Northeast Pool from 5 to 8 p.m. Two other parties will be held on June 18 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and July 24, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Heatwave Basketball

The basketball program is for children who are from the ages of 9-18. The program will be at the Martin Luther king Jr Multipurpose Center, Eastside High School and Lincoln Middle School. It will run from June 6-July 17.

Swim Lessons

The Dwight H. Hunter Pool will be offering swim lessons for six-month-old babies and adults. Lessons will begin on June 6. Morning and afternoon lessons are available. The cost for city residents is $54.25 and for non-city residents $82.25. The lessons will be held in four-week sessions and held Tuesday and Thursday. Parents can inquire more on the swim lessons on the city of Gainesville's website at cityofgainesville.org.

The Andrew Mickie Sr. Pool also has a swim program geared toward 4-year-old children and young adults. Swim lessons are held on Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program will take place from May 31 to Aug. 8.

Junior Lifeguard Camp

The Junior Lifeguard Camp program encourages the building of leadership skills by teaching teenagers the responsibility of being a lifeguard. The program is for kids between the ages of 11 to 14. There will be three summer sessions from June 6-10, June 13-17, and June 20-24. Session times will be from Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Drop off time can be as early as 7:45 a.m.

For city residents, the cost to attend the program is $95.75 and for non-city residents, it's $143.80, $25 field trip fee may apply. Proof of residency will be required, to show proof show a GRU bill or a voter ID card. Parents can register their children online on the city of Gainesville's website at cityofgainevsille.org.

Junior Fire Academy

Water not your thing? Try the fire academy. The summer program is for students in 5-8th grade. The cost is $50 for city residents and $60 for non-city residents. The program will take place from July 11-14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register, email ottkk@cityofgainesville.org.

Community Heroes Camp

The heroes camp is a free program for students in grades 1 through 5. It will take place from July 18-21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To register, email ottkk@cityofgainesville.org.

Safety summer camps

The ABCs of Safety Summer Camp program is free for children who are about to enter Kindergarten. The program will run from Aug. 1-4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To register, email ottkk@cityofgainesville.com.

The Public Safety Summer Camp is for students in grades 6 through 9 and will take place for June 27-July 1. The cost to attend the program is $50. To register, email the organizers at ottkk@cityofgainesville.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 10 fun ways for Gainesville families to keep kids busy during summer