PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge Elorza today joined members of the City Council, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Wendy Nilsson, Recreation Director Michael Stephens, Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., and recreation center directors and staff from across the city to announce the opening of the registration period for the summer recreation programs offered by the City of Providence.
“Our Recreation Department provides a wide range of activities for kids and support for families through its robust and affordable summer recreation programs,” said Mayor Elorza. “Finding affordable childcare can be challenging, especially during the summer. That is why we have expanded our sports, learning and rec camps at a cost of only $5 per week for Providence residents.”
The 2016 line-up offers diverse and affordable programming including: ten (10) weekly sports camps ranging from soccer to volleyball to sailing and tennis; five (5) specialty camps that will focus on Creative Arts, Museum, Nature, Music, Dance, and Biking; thirteen (13) Water Parks and five (5) Municipal Swimming Pools for young residents to enjoy; a new International Day Camp at the Joslin Recreation Center; and exciting full day camps that will include a variety of activities, field trips, and nutritious meals at Davey Lopes, Sackett, Vincent Brown, John Rollins, and Joslin.
Continuing with the city’s efforts to address summer learning loss and in collaboration with the Providence Community Library, day camps and sports camps will provide campers with free literacy programming to enhance reading skills.
“Collaborating with the city’s Recreation Department provides a tremendous opportunity for Providence Community Library to reach youth who may not have the opportunity to visit a library during the summer and therefore lack access to reading materials and engaging literacy activities,” said Cheryl Space, Youth Services Coordinator for the Providence Community Library. “We feel confident that the Summer Recreation Reading Initiative staff will transmit the joy and pleasure of reading to participants, creatively promote literacy skills, and help Providence youth maintain their reading skills over the summer months.”
Registration is limited and based on a first come first serve basis. Those looking to register can do so at Providence Recreation Offices, 11 West Drive, Providence. Residents can call 401-680-7300 for more information, or visit https://www.providenceri.com/parks-and-rec/recreation/programs.