Beat the boredom this summer — Fun activities in Brookhaven for kids
Published 9:13 pm Tuesday, May 23, 2017
- Photo by Donna Campbell/Macy Dantin, 12, and Noah Dantin, 10, race to get higher on the swings Tuesday at the playground at Exchange Club Park.
Schools are barely out for summer and already parents, grandparents and babysitters are hearing those dreaded words: “We’re bored!”
So what do you do?
Fortunately, Brookhaven has a wide variety of fun stuff for them to do from now until it’s time to get back into the school-day routine.
Kids can “Build a Better World” at the Lincoln County Public Library for its summer reading program, learn new skills at the Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department and have a “ruff” time at camp with Brookhaven Animal Rescue League.
Library program
The library’s summer program will start in June.
Several special presentations are on the schedule, said librarian Kasie Beth Brown.
All will be held at 2 p.m.
June 7 — illustrator Chuck Galey.
June 14 — ventriloquist John Lowe.
June 21 — Heritage Family Church puppets.
June 26 — Wink the Juggler.
The Summer Library Kick-Off program is May 31 from 2-3 p.m. Both kids and adults will enjoy this program presented by Sabrina Cummings from the Mississippi Natural Science Museum, Brown said.
Children’s movie matinees will be shown on Fridays during the summer from 2-4 p.m.
BARL
BARL had to skip its summer camp last year, but volunteer Bertha Williams said they’re holding it a bit earlier than usual this time so it will be cooler.
Applications for the camp are available at Petsense at 937 Brookway Blvd. and at the BARL adoption center at 501 North Park Drive. You can also call Williams at 601-754-1301 or email her at bertielouwho@yahoo.com.
The camp will be June 26-30 from 9 a.m. to noon and is tentatively set to be held at City Park, though that location could change, she said.
The cost for campers, age 4-11, is $75 and includes arts and crafts, snacks and T-shirts. A discount of $50 for each additional child in the same family is available.
Spots are also available for junior counselors (age 12-13) and counselors (age 14 and up). Cost for them is $15 for the T-shirt.
Parks and Recreation
The Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department has schedules for T-Ball and softball on its website, www.brookhavenrecreation.com.
Spay parks are open at City Park, Bi-Centennial Park and Bethel Park from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 30.
Registration is first come, first serve for summer classes at the recreation center.
Two cooking classes by instructor Karen Vinson of Monticello will be offered this summer.
“Cooking with a Covered Baker” is offered June 5-8 and features a menu of peanut butter and jelly French toast bake, rainbow sprinkles cake, pizza stuffed peppers and quick and easy fajitas.
“Pizza and Emoji Cookies” meets June 19-22.
Cost for either is $50 registration and a $75 supply fee.
Grades 2-3 meets from 10 a.m. to noon and grades 4-6 meets from 1-3 p.m.
Program director Karen Harveston said rec classes give children and teenagers fun activities to do during their summer break. “The parents are looking for them for something to do instead of sitting at home,” she said.
Other classes include:
• Gymnastics — one week session June 12-16. Ages 3 and up.
• Youth art — Two-day camp begins in July. Age K5-sixth grade. Supply fee includes T-shirt.
• Dance camp — Two four-day session June 26-29 and July 24-27 for age 3 and up.
• Youth ballet workshop — One-week session, Monday-Thursday, July 17-20 from 9-10:30 a.m. for age 3-6 and 10:30-noon for age 7-9.
• Cheer tumble — Four-week workshop on Mondays for age 4 and up June 5, 12, 19 and 26.
• Boys exercise bootcamp — One-week session June 12-16 for boys only age 5-9.
• Youth and adult clogging — Once a week on Mondays at 6 p.m. for age 4 and up.
• Voice lessons — Private and group lessons available for age 3 and up.
• Acting lessons — Group lessons
• Piano lesson — Age 5 and up. Thirty-minute private lessons.
• Soccer camp — Age 3-14.
• Martial arts classes — Tuesday and Thursday for age 5 and up. Register by calling 601-835-2773.
Summer camp has two sessions offered, but Harveston said both sessions are already full.