It's not too soon to make summer plans. Here's a sampling of youth programs to help.

The Herald-Mail
·4 min read

Got kids? Looking for something fun to keep them occupied when school's out?

Lots of summer youth programs are on tap, and here's a sampling of adventures to get you started.

Registration begins Monday for Washington County Parks and Recreation's summer day camp programs for children aged 5 to 12.

Seven weeklong camps will be offered beginning June 26 at four different locations: Maugansville, Rockland Woods and Williamsport Elementary schools, and Marty Snook Park in Halfway.

What will Washington County's camps offer?

"Classic Camp" programs will be offered at Maugansville and Rockland Woods schools. These programs include both indoor and outdoor activities featuring arts and crafts, sports, games, performance art, STEM activities and academic challenges.

Registration fees for these two camps are $120 per week for county residents — but if you register early (at least seven days before your camp begins), it's $110. For out of county residents, regular fees are $130 per week and early bird fees are $120.

A classic camp also will be offered at Williamsport Elementary, but, in addition to the other indoor/outddor activities, will include swimming at Byron Memorial Park on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, weather permitting. Swimming fees are included in the registration.

For this camp, fees are $140 per week for county residents; early bird fees are $130 per week. For out of county residents, registration is $150 per week; early bird fees are $140.

Kids attending Marty Snook summer camp play at Marty's Mythical Woods, a new playground area featuring all natural playground equipment and carved wooden creatures, at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway.
Kids attending Marty Snook summer camp play at Marty's Mythical Woods, a new playground area featuring all natural playground equipment and carved wooden creatures, at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park in Halfway.

If your kids are particularly adventurous, consider the all-outdoor offerings at Marty Snook Park. They'll get arts and crafts, sports, games, STEM activities and academic challenges, and swimming on Tuesday through Friday afternoons.

For this camp, fees are also $140 per week for county residents; early bird fees are $130 per week. For out of county residents, registration is $150 per week; early bird fees are $140.

Parents must provide lunch and snacks for all the camps, but — on certain days, campers will be treated this year to Kona Ice, and on Fridays, a couple of slices of cheese pizza. These treats are included in the registration fee.

Check-in time each day is 7 a.m. and pick-up time is 4 p.m. For more information and to register, go to www.washcorecfit.com, email recsupport@washco-md.net or call 240-313-2805.

Hagerstown's offering a ton of activities, too

If you're looking for specific summer recreation offerings, check out the city of Hagerstown's Parks & Recreation schedule.

Programs for all ages, ranging from yoga and gymnastics to dance, geocaching and golf, are available now through summer.

For detailed information, pricing and registration, go to hagerstownmd.org/145/Parks-Recreation. There's also information about all the city's recreational facilities as well as special events — including this year's schedule of free movies at City Park.

(Here's a scoop: They'll feature swashbuckling animated cats, maverick aviators, an enchanted Colombian village with an unlikely heroine, and Guardians of the Galaxy.)

Let your kids learn new stuff

If your kids are into the arts, the Barbara Ingram Foundation is offering its Summer Arts Academy with a series of short courses beginning June 26.

Course offerings range from music and dance to creative writing, art, photography, filmmaking and gaming. For course requirements and pricing, go to barbaraingramfoundation.org/class-descriptions/.

Authentic Community Theatre is offering summer programs, too. They include:

  • A two-week intensive in July and August for a production of "Seussical Jr."

  • A weeklong art camp in July for students entering first through eighth grades

  • A weeklong performing arts academy in July that includes a performance at the Maryland Theatre for students aged 5 to 18

  • A new "Wizarding Camp" in June for Harry Potter lovers in grades 3-12

For complete listings, pricing and registration, go to actforall.coursestorm.com/category/summer-camps-and-programs

Your kids can also spend the summer learning at Hagerstown Community College's College for Kids (grades 2-8) and Discovery Academy (grades 9-12). The series of weeklong camps runs from June 20 through Aug. 11.

In the College for Kids program, the youngest students can attend day camps focusing on everything from "backyard bugs" to robotics to the Hogwarts Academy. Intermediate students can take on ecology, crafts, fantasy writing, and computers and science.

Older students can immerse themselves in more STEM, arts, podcasting, babysitting and more.

In the new Discovery Academy, high school students can choose weeklong, career-oriented offerings in the fields of medicine, art, communications and engineering/technology.

For full listings, pricing and registration, go to hagerstowncc.edu/youth-programming.

If your organization is offering summer youth programming, let us know! Drop us a line at lifestyle@herald-mail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Local summer youth programs abound this year. Here's a sampling