Summer camps, programs in East Gainesville
The last day of school is fast approaching for Alachua County students.
As usual, there will be summer camps and programs to keep children active and engaged in learning, while also having fun.
Some of the camps and programs will be free, and there will be some to suit all ages, interests and pocketbooks.
Some of the free co-ed teen summer programs for middle and high school students include:
• Teen Midnight Basketball for kids ages 11-18 will be held on the first Friday of the month from 8 p.m. to midnight through August. The program is free. Locations will rotate between the MLK Center (June 3 and Aug. 5) and the YMCA (May 6 and July 1).
• Heatwave Basketball, a co-ed program that builds character and leadership by teaching participants life skills to use on and off the court. The program encourages fairness and respect for all players, regardless of skill.
It will be held from June 6-July 27 at the King Center, Eastside High School and Lincoln Middle School. Ages and game times will be as follows: Ages 9-10 and 11-13, Friday evenings after 5 p.m., ages 14-15, games Monday-Thursday after 5 p.m. and ages 16-18, games Monday-Thursday after 5 p.m.
• Pool parties with free swimming, dancing, music and food will be sponsored by the Gainesville Police Department.
They will be held from 5-8 p.m.May 27 at Dwight H. Hunter Pool, 1100 NE 14th St., 2-6 p.m. June 18 at Hunter Pool and from 1-5 p.m. July 24 at Andrew Mickle Sr. Pool, 1717 SE 15th St.
Register for heatwave at https://bit.ly/36MoAkk.
“All camps have limited registration, so please get your applications in quickly,” said Rossana Passaniti, public information officer for the City of Gainesville.
The Gainesville Fire and Rescue will be offering free and low-cost programs including:
• The ABC’s of Safety Summer Camp for incoming kindergartners will be free, but make sure to sign up by July 1. It will be held from 9 a.m.–noon, Aug. 1-4 at Kiwanis Gainesville Fire Rescue Safety City, 1025 NE 13th St..
Contact Krista Ott at 352-393-8461 or by email at ottkk@cityofgainesville.org.
• The Community Heroes Camp will be held for first-fifth graders.
The free camp will consist of one week of learning about different community heroes including firefighters, police officers, lifeguards and others. Make sure to sign up by June 1. The camp will be held from 9 a.m.-noon July 18-21 at Safety City.
Contact Krista Ott at 352-393-8461 or by email at ottkk@cityofgainesville.org
*The Junior Fire Academy will be for sixth–eighth graders.
The cost will be $50 for city residents and $60 for non-city residents. It will be held from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. July 11-14 and at Safety City, and will travel to three to four fire stations per day by city van.
• The Public Safety Camp will be run jointly by GFR and GPD. The cost to attend will be $50.
It will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from June 27 to July 1 at GPD's Oscar Lewis Center, 524 NW First St.
The City of Gainesville will be offering camps from June 6 to July 29 for elementary, middle and high school students. Camps will be held from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday– Friday.
• Camps for children entering the first through fifth grades will be held at the Clarence R. Kelly Center, 1001 NE Eighth Ave., Eastside Community Center, 2841 E. University Ave., Porters Community Center, 512 SW Second Terrace and Albert “Ray” Massey Westside Recreation Center, 1001 NW 34th St.
Camp hours will be from 7 a.m. -6 p.m. Monday-Friday in four, two-week sessions: Session 1: June 6-17. Session 2: June 20-July 1. Session 3: July 5-15. Session 4: July 18-29. Registration for each one week is $58 per child for city residents, $97.25 per child for non-city residents. Proof of residency, a GRU bill or voter ID card, will be required at time of registration.
The city of Gainesville will be offering scholarships for eligible families who qualify for free or reduced lunch through the School Board of Alachua County. You can request proof of free or reduced lunch by calling 955-7539 ext.1569. If eligible, you will receive a 50 percent discount. Families can also qualify through the city of Gainesville Family Application for Reduced Fees. Proof of the past 4 weeks of income will need to be submitted with the application at the time of registration.
Registration is available from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Thomas Center, Building B, 3rd Floor, 306 NE Sixth Ave. Registration is also available online https://bit.ly/2LHF2XEa
For more information, call 352-334-5067.
"Summer Camp curriculums are filled with opportunities to experience nature, recreation and culture in such a way that memories can be carried for a lifetime," Donald Johnson, recreation supervisor for the city of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, wrote in an email. "Every child is included in an experience that aims to make the campers want the last day to be the first day."
Star Center Children's Theatre.
The Star Center will again offer its annual Super Smart Super Camp from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 31-June 17 at the theatre at 11 NE 23rd Ave.
The camp offers academics, computer lab, piano, violin, dance, math, science, social studies, voice and speech, acting, physical fitness, arts and crafts and other classes. There are scholarships available for eligible campers.
For more information, call 352-222-3699 or email angetrrl@aol.com
Upper Room Ministries
Upper Room Ministries at 3575 NE 15th St, will be offering opportunities for teens to earn money while learning job skills. Also, the ministry will once again operate its UR Fun! Camp for children five and older.
"The sole purpose is to keep kids off the street and keep them engaged and occupied," said Superintendent Karl "The Rev" Anderson, senior pastor at Upper Room Ministries. The theme for the church's summer programs will be "Our Youth Matter Summer 2022."
"Your child can earn money while they learn job skills at the UR Pre-Employability Program," said Anderson, adding "if your child is 14-21 and has a disability based on either an IEP. 504, standardized tests, doctor's exams, counselor's assessments or grades, in or out of school- in middle, high, private, charter, trade school or college.
Children can also make money as counselors in training this summer with the UR Fun Camp. They have to be 14 to18 years old and can earn $10 an hour for up to 25 hours per week for up to six weeks.
To register for the programs, call 352-264-0006 and register any and all your children ages five and older for the UR Fun! Summer is a camp participant.
• People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE) will host "Pave on the Pavement," a free parent/youth symposium from 3-5 p.m. on June 28 at Upper Room Ministries, 3575 NE 15th St.
For more information, visit www.urwelcomehere.org
• Minority Business Listing Inc. will be offering its inaugural TeensWork Alachua Summer Youth Employment program for ages 14-18.
Participants will earn $10 an hour for up to 25 hours per week for up to six weeks.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/37LbJiW.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Summer camps, programs in east Gainesville offer lots for children
