Courtesy photo. Youth Marketing Specialist Sara McElroy.

Published on: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By Nancy Royden

By Nancy Royden

Sentinel Staff Writer

Children of all ages and their families in Prince George’s County don’t have to go far away from home to have summer fun. It’s available in all sorts of ways through the local parks and recreation department.

“Given today’s uncertain economic times, parks and recreation resources within local communities are more important than ever, as they provide low-cost recreational programs that keep youth learning and playing in save environments over summer breaks,” said Sara McElroy, youth marketing specialist with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

McElroy said the agency also offers a large variety of camps, and there are some spots for campers still available in some of them.

Some of the camps they are offering this summer include subjects such as culinary arts, science, martial arts, nature, cheerleading, gymnastics and chess. In some instances, fee assistance may be available if the applicant meets requirements, she said.

“We want people to keep learning and active and engaged. We want families to know they are accessible to them,” McElroy said about programs and facilities the department sponsors.

McElroy said identification cards for children ages 6-17 are available at no charge and they allow cardholders to access community centers for no fee.

“Since last May, they have been free. We have given out more than 17,000 cards,” she said.

During the summer, four-week water safety programs are available. They are held at varying times during the week and day, including Sundays and mornings and evenings, McElroy said.

The parks and recreation department boasts 127 summer playgrounds and teen centers, with a capacity for more than 40,600 youth, according to the agency.

“It’s very broad the types of action the kids are going to be exposed to with us,” McElroy said.

M-NCPPC Chairman Samuel J. Parker Jr. said the agency is heavily promoting the 2009 Xtreme Teens Safe Summer program.

“The Safe Summer Program complements a wide range of quality, affordable programs and activities that M-NCPPC is committed to providing for thousands of Prince George’s County families in these tight economic times,” he said.

According to the recreation department, Safe Summer sites offer activities from five core programs areas. They are: health and physical, arts and cultural, environmental and outdoor/natural, social recreation activities and enrichment.

The program is a late-night recreation initiative held at 27 facilities from the time the public schools are out June 18 for the summer until classes resume Aug. 24. It is an enrichment-based late night program offering safe activities for 12-24 year olds. There are sites for 12-17 year olds and sites for 18-24 year olds. They operate Monday-Friday or Fridays and Saturdays, according to M-NCPPC.

McElroy said Tony Knotts, a Prince George’s County council member for District 8, has been a big supporter of the Safe Summer Program. Last year, more than 7,000 youth participated in it.

Marissa Coleman, the Washington Mystics’ newly-drafted player who grew up in Prince George’s County, said the activities the department offers do not put a strain on family budgets and are constructive and often times, healthy.

“Providing youth with plenty of opportunities to be active and continue learning, growing and exploring while school’s out is immensely important during the summertime. As a lifelong sports lover, that’s something I know about personally. Kids and their families need access to low-cost recreational programs to fill time outside of the classroom with positive, fun activities that help to build lifelong, healthy habits,” she said.

The parks and recreation department also operates several parks and facilities, including Old Maryland Farm in Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro.

At the farm, people of all ages can see an array of animals, including peacocks, llamas, sheep and birds. It is open year-round and closed on Mondays.

Like other facilities within the department, it hosts special events throughout the year, such as shearing and fiber day, a guided garden tour, livestock presentations and pony rides.

McElroy said checking out all the types of activities the department offers is well worth the time and effort.

“You can try your hand at so many things. It builds confidence,” she said. “We want people to know it’s a tough economy, and that makes our resources even more valuable in these times of uncertainty.”