PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Summer is here, and the Star City has several youth and outdoor activities on tap.
Camp Invention will return June 26 to the Campus Center at the University of Maine at Presque Isle for students. The event challenges children in grades K-6 to explore science, technology, engineering and math through fun hands-on activities.
“We got kids who come back every single year who enjoy Camp Invention, so [the new programs] liven it up and [the kids] have different materials that they’ll be using,” said Sarah Sines, Camp Invention director. “Every year the modules are completely different.”
This year’s Camp Invention experience is on the theme “Wonder.” Camp lasts a week and will culminate in an inventors showcase from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30.
Four exploration modules are introduced each year. This summer includes Catching Air, where kids build their own skate park for a finger skateboard using physics and engineering.
Invention Celebration has kids take on the role of an event planner, crafting light-up party hats and building musical instruments that will be used for a song written with their peers.
MimicBot uses a stuffed robot that moves and mimics sounds. Sines tried out the MimicBot at the Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton.
Lastly, Pop-Up Venture will introduce campers to the importance and purpose of patents as they choose a type of business they want to pursue.
For the wider audience around town, Presque Isle Recreation and Parks also has activities planned for youth, adults and families.
Superhero Club begins the week of June 26 at the Presque Isle Recreation Center on Thursdays for grades 1-4, while Gardening Club targets grades 2-6. Both end in the first week of August and cost around $35.
Three new summer programs are coming to the Presque Isle Recreation Center: family adventure night, a women’s mountain bike night and golf for kids ages 7-12, according to Andrew Perry, program director.
Family Adventure Night will be held Thursday evenings from June 29 to Aug. 3. Locations, times and activities will vary.
“This year’s Family Adventure night will consist of a kayaking excursion, disc golf, rock climbing, archery, hiking, and brand new to the circuit is a paintball biathlon,” Perry said.
Instead of skiing there will be jogging and hiking in between the paintball shooting for the biathlon.
Ladies Mountain Bike Night started in May at the Nordic Heritage Center and will run at 6 p.m. on Thursdays as long as weather permits.
Finally, summer golf will be offered to kids ages 7-12 in a partnership between the Presque Isle Rec Center and the Presque Isle Country Club. Sessions will be held from 2-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from June 26-Aug. 2.
Participants will pay an activity fee of $100. Transportation to and from the golf course is provided, with no extra cost for golf club rentals.
The department offers many other activities for youth through seniors. For a complete list, visit pirec.org.
Perry expects high participation in rec activities now that the pandemic state of emergency has been lifted.
“The last year we felt we were over the hump, but to have [the COVID state of emergency] lifted feels really great,” Perry said.
