RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The 2010-11 school year will soon be over, but there will be no shortage of educational and recreational opportunities for youth at Randolph this summer.
The 902nd Force Support Squadron Youth Programs is offering an array of one-week summer camps for students ages 6-18. Building rockets, cooking healthy meals, creating videos and learning how to fish are among the camps that are scheduled.
"It's a great deal," said Andrea Black, youth programs coordinator. "The camps focus on specific topics for a week. They're low cost and they're really neat."
Ten of the 11 camps cost $20 each, but the Missoula Theater Camp, scheduled for Aug. 1-5, is free, she said.
Summer camps will start with Rockin Rockets for 6- to 12-year-olds June 14-17 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Participants will experiment with different kinds of propulsion systems as they launch, track and recover different kinds of rockets.
Other camps in June are Creative Cooking for 9- to 18-year-olds, June 20-24 from 1-4 p.m., and Photography/Scrapbooking for 9- to 12-year-olds, June 27-July 1 from 1-4 p.m.
July camps are Video Tech for 12- to 18-year-olds, July 5-8 from 1-4 p.m.; Destination Imagination, July 11-15 from 9 a.m. to noon for 9- to 11-year-olds and 1-4 p.m. for 12- to 14-year-olds; ArtWorks for 9- to 12-year-olds, July 18-22 from 1-3 p.m.; Teen Adventure for 13- to 18-year-olds, July 18-20 from 9 a.m. to noon and July 21-22 for an overnight camping trip at Canyon Lake; and Wood Works for 9- to 12-year-olds, July 26-29 from 1-3 p.m.
August offerings are the Missoula Theater Camp for 5- to 18-year-olds, a production of "Snow White," Aug. 1-5, including auditions Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. and performances Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Fishing 101 for 9- to 12-year-olds, Aug. 8-12 from 9 a.m. to noon; and Spy Academy for 6- to 12-year-olds, Aug. 16-19 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Ms. Black said the fees for the camps are so low because Air Education and Training Command provides the funding.
"We're grateful to AETC for bringing these camps to Randolph," she said.
Ms. Black encourages parents to register their children for the camps as early as possible because enrollment is limited and the camp slots fill up quickly.
In addition to the summer camps, youth programs' open recreation will give students ages 9-18 opportunities for self-directed activities as well as swimming on Wednesdays and field trips on Mondays.
"The youth center is a great place for students to hang out with their friends," Ms. Black said. "Instead of being at home they can interact with others."
She said summer is a "very busy, high-energy" time of year at youth programs.
Call 652-2088 for more information or visit www.randolphfss.com and follow the "Facilities" link to "Youth Programs" under the Airmen and Family Services Flight.