NEWBERRY – Bringing a structured, but fun environment to children during their summer vacation is the ultimate goal for the city Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department’s new Summer Mobile Recreation Program.
Employees Collin Shealy and Johnnie Caldwell have set out to do just that with the program that will run through July 21.
Fully staffed by PRT, the program will run Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. for children ages 6 and up. The free program will offer lots of games for children as well as incorporate the city’s arts program.
“We really wanted to incorporate not just sports, but our arts program and to have instructors come in and teach different types of sessions,” Shealy said.
Each day, the “RecMobile,” as it is being called, will be at a designated park within the city and offer games and activities for children who want to join in.
The schedule is as follows: Mondays – Wise Street Park, Tuesdays – Mollohon Park, Wednesdays – Gallman Park, and Thursdays – Marion Davis Park.
The idea for the program, Shealy said, came the department’s Sports Extravaganza which was a prepaid summer program that lasted about a month during the summer and involved sports activities for those who registered.
“We knew there were other agencies in the state that were doing mobile recreation and it was starting to become popular,” Shealy said. “We wanted to incorporate what we were already doing with the Sports Extravaganza with the idea that we could travel to different communities and offer something free of charge for kids to do.”
Shealy said the only thing he wanted parents or guardians to know prior to a child participating was that they need to have a parental authorization/signature to get them squared away for the summer. Once the department gets a signature from the parent, they can participate one time or all summer, he said.
Forms will be on hand each day at the parks, Shealy said or can be obtained at the PRT department at 1323 College Street. While the parental forms are required, Shealy said there is no actual registration, just the permission form.
Caldwell said some of the games played this summer throughout the program will be “made up” or “tweaked” to keep children involved the whole time and won’t be the typical mainstream games or sports they may be used to.
There are also water days planned at different points throughout the program because both Caldwell and Shealy said they have worked well in the past.
Scott Sawyer, director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, said when he was younger, the BookMobile came through his neighborhood and it was always exciting getting to get out and check out some books.
“What we’re looking to do with the RecMobile is create a similar experience for kids to remember and something they can share with their kids when they grow up,” Sawyer said.
Another positive impact Caldwell said they are looking to make with the RecMobile is putting a more structured environment throughout the different neighborhoods in town.
“It gets the kids out and I think that it will give them something to look forward to,” Caldwell said. “It’s good for socializing – maybe they’ll meet a few new people or learn a few new things.”
Shealy said the Summer Mobile Recreation Program was one they wanted to see continue each year for the foreseeable future.
“We want it to continue, to grow and to be around for quite some time,” Shealy said.
For more information on the Summer Mobile Recreation Program or other summer programs visit the website at newberryprt.com or call 803-321-1015.
