LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Lackland Youth Center will be a beehive of activity starting next week with the release of students for the summer.
More than 700 youth will pass through the doors of the center daily from dawn through beyond dusk to participate in a myriad of educational and fun activities.
"It won't be boring for the next 11 weeks," said Susan Brasel, Lackland Youth Center director. "It will be one of the most exciting places on base."
Along with several special camps, regular camps are ongoing all summer.
The school age group, for ages 5-12 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., has 450 enrolled with skating, swimming, bowling and field trips each week.
The 9-12 year olds, with parents' permission, can leave the regular camp to sign out for open recreation from 3-7 p.m.
Open recreation includes swimming, pingpong, video games, community service projects, full service art and Torch Club meetings.
Teen camp, for ages 13-18, has 24 spots for its program. Ms. Brasel said teen camp will focus on leadership and job sharing through educational activities and field trips.
"Job sharing will be at Old Navy and the San Antonio Zoo," the director said, "so the youth get an opportunity to see what it's like working in those fields."
Air Education and Training Command has also provided special funding for several Lackland camps this summer.
Two June camps at Lackland, sideline sports and All American dance, for ages 9-17, are already filled. Registration is still open for two more camps, photography, July 18-22; and ropes around Texas, July 25-29.
Each has 12-slot limits for ages 13-18.
Cost for the afternoon photography camp is $45; cost has yet to be determined for the ropes camp, which involves out of town travel.
In August, an archeology camp and zumba exercise dance camp are scheduled.
Scholarships will be available for the archeology camp, which includes job sharing at the zoo, to 12 youth ages 9-12.
The zumba camp is open to all campers, and part of an emphasis by the youth center on exercise and nutrition.
"We're focusing on childhood obesity and good nutrition," Ms. Brasel said. "We'll have good nutritious food, and stress an hour of daily exercise.
"One goal this summer is to qualify as many as we can for first lady Michelle Obama's physical fitness initiative: an hour of exercise for five days a week over six weeks to receive a certificate from the President."
Other activities at the center for those not attending camp include summer basketball leagues, ages 5-17, and the teen center. The teen center is open 3-9 p.m.
For more information about the youth center and summer activities, call 671-2388 or visit
www.lacklandfss.com.