Parks and Recreation offers lots of summer fun for kids

When you’re growing up, there always are two different summers.

First, there’s the summer you plan during those last, dog days of the school year. The big plans. The expected leisure. The grand fun. Kids wonder how they’ll ever have enough time to do all the fun things they’re planning.

And then there’s the real summer that sets in about a week into the break.

That’s the time when kids start looking for something to do.

Here are three things kids can do through the city of Spokane Valley’s Parks and Recreation Department to have fun this summer.

First, they can go for a swim at one of the Spokane Valley’s three outdoor pools: Valley Mission Pool, Terrace View Pool and Park Road Pool.

Each pool not only offers open times for kids who know how to swim, but also offers accredited lessons for those who can’t.

“We contracted with the YMCA to provide swim lessons at each of the pools,” administrative assistant Carol Carter said. “The lessons are according to Red Cross guidelines, and all you need to do is sign up at the pool where you want to take the lessons.”

The two-week swim course costs $25.

If you have something a bit more private in mind for your swimming pleasure, the pools are available for rent when not in use for lessons or open swim.

The second option is Play Time in the Park.

Park staff is available at three Spokane Valley parks to conduct a variety of fun activities, including games and arts and crafts.

Mission Park runs a morning program from 9 a.m. to noon. Browns Park and Edgecliff Park operate from 1 to 4 p.m.

“This is a drop-in program, not a drop-off program,” Carter explained. “There’s a difference. This isn’t a daycare program. Parents can drop off their kids for the program, and if a kid is capable of walking to the park themselves, they are welcome to do so.”

A grant through the East Valley School District allows the department to offer a free lunch program at both Browns Park and Edgecliff Park and a free breakfast program at Mission Park.

“We ask that kids sign up a day ahead of time for the meal program,” Carter said. “We always have a few meals extra for kids that drop in, but we do need to plan ahead to make sure we have enough.”

The third option is to sign up for camp.

There still is space available in two of the Spokane Valley’s summer camp programs: Summer Day Camp and KinderCamp.

Summer Day Camp is designed for kids 6 to 11 years of age and there is a new theme planned for each week during the summer. For example, this week’s theme has been “Final Frontier,” and kids have been on a scavenger hunt throughout Spokane County so that kids can learn about both pioneer and Native American History.

Activities include swimming, field trips, games, sporting activities and arts and crafts. Cost is $89 per week.

KinderCamp is designed for kids age 3 to 5, and the camp also offers a new theme each week to go with a program of field trips, music, fitness and arts and crafts.

For example, this week the kids have been making their own musical instruments and puppets as well as learning and singing songs.

The cost of KinderCamp is $50 per week.

“You can sign up for one these camps a week ahead,” Carter said. “These programs will all run through Aug. 26 – that’s pretty much when all our programs shut down for the season.”

That will be just in time for the September opening of Mirabeau CenterPlace, the hew headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Department as well as the Spokane Valley Senior Center near Mirabeau Point Park and the Spokane Valley YMCA.

“The one thing we do is provide people with a complete listing of summer activities, even if they aren’t programs we offer through the city,” Carter explained. “All people have to do is check out the city Web site (www.spokanevalley.org) and find the Parks Department to access that listing.”