Youth Day Camp Being Offered

The city's Department of Leisure Services will offer a seven-week Youth Day Camp for children from 7 to 12 years old, as well as other activities during the summer.

The camp will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from June 16 to Aug. 1 at the Anna Woodbury Elementary School cafetorium.

A free lunch will be provided for all participants through the Polk County Schools meals program.

Activities will include indoor table games, video games, video movies, arts and crafts, and outdoor team sports and games.

Weekly field trips will include bowling, swimming, trip to Crystal Springs Preserve in Zephyrhills, Homeland Heritage Park, the IMC Park boardwalk in Bartow, the Department of Environmental Protection in Bartow, and visits to Recreation Station in Lake Wales, Mary Holland Park in Bartow and the Lakeland Fun Center.

The cost is $10 per child per week or a maximum of $25 per family per week for three or more children.

This will include a camp T-shirt for each child.

The weekly field trips will be an additional fee.

Parents may register their children at the Community Center, 10 S.W. Third St.

Only the first 60 children registered will be admitted because of space and supervision requirements.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Additionally, summer beginning swimming lessons will be offered for children in June.

The classes will be for two consecutive weeks beginning June 16 and June 26.

The Recreation Department will provide transportation to the lessons at the Bartow Civic Center pool.

The bus will leave the Fort Meade Community Center promptly at 8:30 a.m. each day and return about 10:30 a.m.

Children must be at least 5 years old to take the lessons.

The cost is $5 per child for the two-week session. The rest of the cost is being paid through a grant from the Polk Health Services Foundation,

FISHING DERBY

The Kids' All-American Fishing Derby will be held July 12 at Patterson Park.

This free event is open to any child 4 to 14 years old.

The derby will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. and fishing will be held from 8 to 11 a.m.

Door prizes will be offered and awards will be given to the top place in three age divisions.

The categories for prizes will be largest, smallest, and most fish caught.

In addition, a casting contest will also be available for the children with prizes for the top finishers in two age divisions.

Parents or another adult must accompany any children younger than 10 years old.

FOURTH OF JULY

The free Fourth of July celebration will start with events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area.

The city's Recreation Department will offer family fun games and contests.

The fireworks display will being at 9:06 p.m. at the Recreation Area.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about any of these programs offered this summer, call the Leisure Services office at the Community Center at 863-285-1111.