The Recreation Department continues to update the town web page on a regular basis to keep you informed regarding youth sports in Bolton. Information can be found at http://bolton.govoffice.com/. Click on "Town Governments/ Departments" and then "Recreation" in the left-hand column.

  Babysitting Workshop

Participants will learn basic principles of First Aid and Rescue Breathing. Diapering techniques, safe play, child development, responsibilities and roles of safe babysitting will all be presented in an entertaining and interactive manner. Each student will receive a text and supplemental information and a certification will be issued upon completion of the workshop. Participants should bring a snack and a bag lunch.

Location: Herrick Park
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Ages: This workshop is intended for youths age 11-15
Fee: $40 per person

  VERB - Activity Zone - It's What You DO!
April Vacation program being led by Tracy Verrastro

A fun-filled week of activities aimed at getting you up and moving. An educational mix of nutrition, sports, and exercise! This is a great opportunity for all ages and abilities to get up and move instead of sitting in front of the TV during April vacation. All activities are modified for age groups and participants are motivated to beat their own records for some activities, as well as be a part of a team for others. Health and nutrition education play a large part in this program as well! A few examples of activities include: disc golf, triple time footbag, hip hop scotch, dance tag, pig ball, end zone hoops, kung fu ball, silly obstacle courses, and much more! Never heard of these games? Well that's because they were specially formulated by the VERB Activity Zone people. Mix a game of football with a game of basketball and you get an ultimate fun game of End Zone Hoops. There will be time set aside for participants to relax, play their own games, work on some themed arts and crafts, free time, etc.

Who: This program is open to students in grades 1-6
When: April 14-18, 2008 (April vacation)
Where: Herrick Park
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 per registrant
        $10 before care (drop off as early as 7:30 a.m.)
        $10 after care (pick up as late as 5:00 p.m.)

  News Regarding Youth Sports

      Information regarding youth sports in Bolton can be found at http://bolton.govoffice.com. Click on "Town Governments/Departments" and then "Recreation" in the left-hand column.

Bolton Youth Baseball and Softball
      Please visit the Bolton Youth Baseball/Softball website for information about the upcoming season: http://eteamz.active.com/BoltonYouthBaseball.

Bolton Youth Soccer
      Spring Soccer gets underway this month. Best of luck to all of the teams! Beginning with fall 2008 soccer, the program will be run by the newly formed private, not-for-profit "Bolton Soccer, Inc." (BSI). For information please check the website for updates: http://www.boltonctsoccer.com.
      Registrations for the fall 2008 soccer program will begin in April with tryouts for Division 4 teams scheduled for early June. Registration information will be sent home through the school system and posted on the BSI web site prior to the April break.
      If you have questions or concerns or would like to become actively involved with the BSI program going forward please e-mail them at info@boltonctsoccer.com.

Youth Basketball
      I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very big thank you to Pete Phelon for handling all of the scheduling for this past basketball season. The Recreation Department certainly appreciates all his time and efforts on behalf of the approximately 300 kids who participate every season. I would also like to thank all of the coaches and parents who volunteered their time (a lot of it)! A post-season meeting was held on Tuesday, March 18. Minutes from that meeting can be viewed on the town website. If you missed the meeting or simply have some thoughts about the program that you would like to share please contact the Recreation Department.
      Hot Shots Contest: Congratulations to our local contest winners: Rose Zimmerman - Girls 9/10, Emily Wimer - Girls 11/12, Nate Goldsnider - Boys 9/10, Colin Cordero - Boys 11/12, and Ryan Wieczorek - Boys 13/15. In addition, Nate went on to win the State competition! There were 45 total participants at the State Finals from eight different counties each representing their age group. Congratulations to all who participated in this fun event!

  Red Cross Swimming Lessons
      Pending the hiring of staff, American Red Cross swimming lessons will be offered. Lessons will be held Monday through Thursday (rain date is on Friday) for three weeks per session. The American Red Cross Learn to Swim program is divided into six course levels. The prerequisite for each level is successful demonstration of the skills from the preceding level, except for Level I, which has no prerequisite. Swimming lessons are scheduled for the following dates:

Session 1: July 7 - July 25
Session 2: July 28 - August 15

      Please continue to check the town website for more detailed information regarding the sale of season passes and swim lesson registration dates. Information will be posted as it becomes available.

  SUMMER 2008 CAMPS

Summer Camp at Herrick Park
      It's that time of year again! As in the past, the Herrick Park camp staff will strive to engage your child in a variety of activities that include outdoor games, sports, nature, arts and crafts, and creative games and special events--usually all geared toward a specific weekly theme. Camp is held rain or shine and is open to children entering grades 1 through 6 in the fall of 2008.

Session 1: June 23-27
Session 2: June 30 - July 3 (no camp Friday, July 4)
Session 3: July 7-11
Session 4: July 14-18
Session 5: July 21-25
Session 6: July 28 - August 1
Session 7: August 4-8
Session 8: August 11-15

Regular Camp Hours - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Extended Care Hours - 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Pricing Plan A: Full Week (Monday through Friday)
        $85 for camp ($68 for Session 2)
        $35 for extended care ($28 for Session 2)

Pricing Plan B: Three-Day Week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
        This plan is NOT available Session 2 (due to the holiday)
        $51 for camp / $21 for extended care

Pricing Plan C: Two-Day Week (Tuesday and Thursday)
        $34 for camp / $14 for extended care

A complete Registration Package and 2008 Family Handbook can be downloaded on the town website. We are looking forward to the opportunity to spend some time with your kids this summer! Please feel free to contact the Recreation Department with any questions you may have regarding our summer day camp program.

US Sports Institute Multi-Sport Camp & Sports Squirts Program

Multi-Sport Camp: Give your child the unique opportunity to experience 15 different sports from around the world. Children can learn how to bowl a cricket ball, score a try in rugby, shoot hoops and score plenty of goals in a variety of sports from around the world. All activities and games take place in an atmosphere that promotes good sportsmanship, teamwork, and most of all fun. Campers will receive technical instruction in each sport then experience the sport in a realistic game situation. Campers will receive a T-shirt and certificate.

Sports Squirts Program: This is a great way to introduce children ages 3 to 5 to a variety of sports such as soccer, T-ball, basketball and hockey all taking place in a safe, structured environment to ensure learning. Activities are designed to evoke a child's imagination in which they can Find Nemo, send Shrek into a spin or capture jellyfish with Sponge Bob Square Pants. All activities promote hand-eye coordination, movement and balance and most importantly fun, fun, fun.

Dates: July 14-18
Location: Bolton Center School
Specifics: Multi-Sports Camp Option 1: 5 to 7 yrs old
              9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., $140

              Multi-Sports Camp Option 2: 7 to 14 yrs old
              9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., $160

              Sports Squirts Program: 3 to 5 yrs old
              4:00 to 5:30 p.m., $80

Scrapbooking Instruction and Club, a program being led by Tracy Verrastro: Learn new scrapbooking, stamping and crafting skills to use in your scrapbooks. This class is great for girls and boys of all ages who are interested in turning their pictures into memories that will last a lifetime! Last year we had all kinds of scrapbooks being made, from Disney Princess vacations to football and cub scouts.
      Provided for you: cutting supplies, extra background paper, assortment of stickers, a large assortment of stamps, coloring utensils (including on photo markers and red eye markers, gel pens, markers), glitter and more!
      You need to bring: a scrapbook, photos, your choice of glue method (some people use dots, some use tape rollers, some use a scrap booking glue -- it depends on your preference) and anything applicable to your theme that you choose to purchase.

Dates: August 4-8
Location: Notch Road Municipal Center - Room 16
Time: 8:00 a.m. to noon
Age: Open to children entering grades 1 through 8 in the fall of 2008
Fee: $49

Challenger British Soccer Camp
      Mini-Soccer Camp: Fun games, competitions and challenging skill-building activities will captivate and enlighten young players.
      Half-Day Player Development Camp: Gain technical and tactical instruction in all areas of the game. Emphasis is placed upon individual skill development and fundamental tactical awareness through a mix of maximum participation, progressive practices and small-sided games.
      Full-Day Advanced Camp: A more advanced camp for serious players. The full-day camp focuses on game-related techniques, tactical development and coached match play.

Dates: August 11-15
Location: Bolton Center School
Option 1: Mini-Soccer Camp
4 to 6 yrs old (9:00 to 10:30 a.m.)
$90

Option 2: Half-Day Player Development Camp
6 to 16 yrs (9:00 a.m. to noon)
$120

Option 3: Full-Day Advanced Camp
8 to 18 yrs (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
$165

      Sign up online at www.challengersports.com before June 27 to receive a free British Soccer jersey. Registration forms can also be obtained from the Recreation Department.

     Family Housing: This has become a popular element of the soccer camp program. Coaches typically arrive on the Sunday evening before the start of camp and usually stay with you until the Sunday following camp. Host families enjoy a unique week learning about the UK, learning about soccer, and building lasting friendships with the Challenger coaching staff. If you are interested in becoming a host family please contact the Recreation Department.

Back-to-School Wind-Down: a program being led by Tracy Verrastro: Spend the week winding down with your friends before school starts working on a few end-of-summer projects/games and more.
      You could be putting out a Best of Summer Video Game catalogue to be distributed to the school when it starts up. You could be learning how to "grow" a picture from a small image to a big image for those with almost no artistic ability to those expert artists out there. Weather permitting, go on an outdoor hike, learn about nature, make walking sticks, take photographs and learn what makes good photographs good. Water balloon fights, health and nutrition lessons, maybe some getting in shape! There will be a bunch of free time where you can catch up on some summer scrapbooking, finish reading your summer reading choices, play outdoor games, etc.
      NOTE: Activities will change based on what the camp's participants would most like to do! The schedule of activities will be made with the help of the participants on the first day of the program. It's possible groups will be formed based on interest, and different groups may work on different projects.

Dates: August 18-22
Location: Herrick Park
Ages: Open to children entering grades 1 through 6 in the fall of 2008
Specifics: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. / $85
Before Care: 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. / $15
After Care: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. / $15