Not leaving town for Blaine County School District spring break that starts Friday, March 23? There are plenty of things to keep pre-teen and teenage kids busy next week.
The Blaine County Recreation District has a full slate of spring break recess fun. Also, baseball and softball programs in the Wood River Valley are holding special one-day clinics next week for kids ages 7-14.
Youth baseball, softball and track and field programs are also starting up in April and are already accepting sign-ups.
Here are details:
BCRD Spring Break Recess
BCRD Recess from School is a great way for kids to be active and enjoy their days off from school. The program is designed for youth in grades 1-5 and space is limited.
The BCRD Hub staff at the Community Campus in Hailey provides a safe child care option from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 26-30. Child care costs $30 per child per day, and $20 for a second child. You pay $35 per person for the week full of special activities.
Activities are planned each day from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Next Monday, the kids will create cars from boxes in the morning and then "drive' the cars to a drive-in movie in the gym. Next Tuesday, they will be bused to Rotarun Ski Area.
Painting a special art work for the Hub wall is set for Wednesday, March 28. The kids travel to the Wood River YMCA in Ketchum for swimming March 29. They will engage in cooperative games and active play at the Hailey gym March 30.
Kids should bring lunch, snacks and appropriate clothing for playing outdoors. Contact youth coordinator Holly Grootveld at 578-2273 for more details and registration.
Baseball, softball clinics
Young baseball players ages 7-14 are invited to an offense and defense clinic Monday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with noted Gem State baseball coach Russ Wright.
It will be held at Wood River Middle School in Hailey. Bring cleats, glove, bat and baseball apparel. The cost is $25 per person, proceeds going to improvements at the Wood River Middle School fields.
Registration is Monday from 10:30-11 a.m. Defense is emphasized from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by lunch and questions/answers with Wright. Offense is the subject from 1:30-3:30 p.m. There will be optional scrimmage from 3:30-5 p.m.
Coach Wright grew up in Rupert and played high school baseball at Minico High and college ball at New Mexico State University. He started his coaching career as an assistant for the University of California at Riverside. He then head coached for Payette High School and, in 1992, for Minico. He coached high school and Legion baseball from 1992-2002.
In 2002 Wright took over the Treasure Valley Community College program, which he guided for three successful seasons. He returned to high school coaching at Fruitland High School in 2007 and has spent five years as head coach of one of Idaho's best 3A baseball programs. Father of three, Wright has a 931-345 overall coaching record in 25 years as a baseball coach. He has won three state championships.
Meanwhile, young softball players ages 7-14 are invited to a full-day clinic with Wood River High School head coach Dale Martin and his staff on Tuesday, March 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the high school gym and/or softball field, Hailey. Cost is $25, proceeds to the high school softball program.
The softball clinic will follow the same format and time assignments as the baseball clinic. Coach Martin has 49 years of coaching experience including 15 at Wood River. Bring your cleats, glove, bat and softball clothes.
For each clinic, register at sawtoothbaseball.com and, for more details, call 720-5133 (softball) or 721-1948 (baseball).
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Young ballplayers are getting ready to play
It won't be long before Wood River Valley baseball and softball diamonds will be dry and ready for youngsters participating in the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) baseball and softball leagues.
Players, coaches and volunteers are preparing for a great season with plans for spring training when fields dry. Registration is underway.
The BCRD is sponsoring pitching clinics for boys ages 8-12 Mondays and Wednesdays, April 2, 4, 9 and 11 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. in the BCRD gym.
Wood River High School coaches and players are leading the clinics, all proceeds from the $25 per player fee going to WRHS baseball. No pre-registration is necessary.
The equipment swap is Thursday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Nelson Field, Hailey. Sports equipment retailers will bring trailers full of baseball and softball gear, for sale. Tables will be set up for donations.
BCRD's youth programs also provide businesses with an opportunity for sponsorship. Your baseball or softball sponsorship for $350 helps support the overall program and you get your business name on the jerseys along a special team photo and plaque. Call Brad Musbach at 578-5458 for details.
BCRD leagues are divided into Youth Baseball (ages 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12), Youth T-Ball (ages 5-6) and Youth Softball (7-8 coach pitch, 9-11 machine pitch and 12-14 player pitch). Each league has its own player evaluations and season dates.
Registration is underway. Sign up online and save money.
Baseball 9-10 and 11-12 (player pitch): Practices begin Monday, April 16 and are held Mondays and Wednesdays, only. The season ends the week of June 11. Cost of $60 per player includes hat, shirt and instruction. The cost increases to $75 after April 12. Mandatory player evaluations are Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Nelson Field. Team sponsors and volunteer coaches are always needed.
Baseball 7-8 (coach pitch): Practices begin Wednesday, May 2 and are held Mondays and Wednesdays through June 20. Cost is $60, or $75 for late sign-ups. Mandatory player evaluations are Thursday, April 26 at 6 p.m. at Nelson Field. You will have the opportunity for a Hailey or Ketchum team during check-out.
Youth T-Ball: Open to all boys and girls of all abilities, ages 5-6, most games and practices at Woodside Elementary School for the Hailey/Bellevue kids and at Hemingway Elementary School for Ketchum kids. Practices begin Wednesday, May 16 and the season runs Mondays and Wednesdays through June 20. Fee of $50 includes hat and shirt. The cost rises to $65 if you sign up after May 4. There are no tryouts for the program.
Youth Softball: For 7-11 year-olds of all abilities featuring coach pitch for the 7-8s, and machine pitch for ages 9-11. Mandatory player evaluations are Tuesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. at Nelson Field. The seasons run Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 1-June 21. Cost is $60, or $75 after April 24.
Road to Hershey track starts in April
After-school training for May's Blaine County/Hershey track and field meet begins in mid-April for youngsters participating in the Blaine County Recreation District's youth track and field program.
Registration is underway at the BCRD offices at the Community Campus in Hailey or through the Web site bcrd.org. Eligible are boys are girls in grades 1-5 at local elementary schools as well as those in grades 6-8 at Blaine County middle schools.
Cost is $35 per person ($25 at Carey School) for three weeks of twice-weekly after-school supervised instruction plus the Blaine County/Hershey track meet on Saturday, May 5 at Derrick Parke Memorial Field in Carey. You also get a t-shirt.
After-school practices are Mondays and Wednesdays starting April 16 at Hailey Elementary, Hemingway Elementary in Ketchum, Carey School and Woodside Elementary in Hailey, and Tuesdays and Thursdays starting April 17 at Bellevue Elementary School.
