Become an official "Park Rat," by having fun in the summer sun at Ketchum's Atkinson Park. The Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department is planning another active summer for local kids.
Tennis, baseball, flag football, golf, swimming and skateboarding are some of the activities. So are volleyball, mountain biking, soccer, rugby, art in the park, lawn games and plenty of playground time.
You'll make new friends and have a ton of fun outdoors. The Ketchum park has provided a recreational resource for the valley's kids for over 30 years.
Among newer offerings are the family-friendly "Tennis 101" program on the fundamentals of the game, and the Pump Park dirt track across the street from the park. A new Kids Community Garden should be a great resource for the kids.
Recreation supervisor John Kearney said, "We're offering programs to excite, delight, challenge and educate youth participants. All kids from the Wood River Valley and youth visitors are welcome."
On hand to guide the kids and run the programs are Kirk Mason, Jen Smith, Doran Key, Joney Otteson, Maggie Burbridge and Kearney, plus a youth staff consisting of college and high school athletes, and past Park Rats summer participants.
Dedicated to your child's well being, the park staff boasts years of summer experience.
Open registration begins Friday, May 7 at 8 a.m. at the Atkinson Park Recreation Center for the Summer 2010 Youth Recreation Program. It offers two sessions—June 8-July 8 and July 12-Aug. 11. The sessions are split into Monday and Wednesday, and Tuesday and Thursday.
Enrollment is open to kids entering third grade and up. Some activities are planned for high school kids. The Atkinson Park Dolphins Swim Club and tennis programs are attractive offerings for many campers.
"The bulk of our programs are for fourth and fifth graders, but even middle-school kids and some high school kids can find activities," Kearney said.
Affordability is a key feature of the park programs. Scholarships are offered. No child is turned away due to finances.
Fees are $40 per each activity over each five-week session. Or you can pay $20 daily (from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) and enjoy all activities. Kids in grades 3-6 who plan to stay at the park all day must either register in four activities or pay the daily rate.
To help insure your child's space in any activity, it is best to hand-deliver your form to the Atkinson Park office. You may also fax it to, 726-5501, or mail it to City of Ketchum Parks & Recreation, P.O. Box 2315, Ketchum, ID. 83340.
Checks should be made payable to the City of Ketchum.
Friday Fun Days
Very popular are the Friday Adventures pioneered by the Ketchum summer youth program that send first-come, first-served entrants ages eight and older on trips and out-of-town activities. They start June 11 and last through Aug. 6.
Friday Adventures include:
June 11—Frisbee golf extravaganza up and down Baldy;
June 18—Gooding City of Rocks and Banbury Hot Springs;
June 19—U.S.T.A. tennis block party;
June 25—Easley Hot Springs "Mount Park Rat" extravaganza and Junior Chuck Gates Invitational golf tournament;
July 2—High Altitude Masters golf outing in Mackay, and a mountain bike trip;
July 9—Singles tennis tournament;
July 16—Caving with a trip to the farm;
July 16-17—Team tennis districts in Boise;
July 23—River rafting down the Salmon River day stretch;
July 30—Rock climbing and canoeing;
Aug. 6—Dierkes Lake swimming trip;
Aug. 11-12—Doubles and singles end-of-summer tennis.
Special are the United Kingdom Recreational Soccer Camp Aug. 16-20 and an end-of-summer campout Aug. 25-27. Crazy Dress Day is June 23, and the Park Rat Olympics are July 7 and Aug. 11. The Park Rat Idol Talent Show and Bake Sale will be fun to watch July 22.
Kearney said Friday Fun Days for incoming second-grade students have been continued for this summer.
As for all park activities, children are grouped by the grade they enter in the 2010-11 academic year. So, children who attended first grade in 2009-10 are eligible for Friday Fun Days that run from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. June 11, 18, 28, and July 9, 16, 23, 30, and Aug. 6.
For the second-grade Friday program, cost is $60 for all eight Fridays, or $10 per session. Parent volunteers are welcome to help the staff.
Program sponsors include the City of Sun Valley, Blaine County Schools, Zenergy at Thunder Spring, Blaine County Recreation District, Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Spring, Sun Valley Suns, Atkinsons' Market, Sun Valley Golf Course and DDRM Companies (golf course and tennis facilities).
The majority of the youth activities are conducted at Atkinson Park, but "out-of-park" programs are also run in partnership with Zenergy and Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Spring, White Otter River Company, Sawtooth Mountain Guides and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
For more information, contact the park at 726-7820 or visit www.ketchumidaho.org
