The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department will offer summer registrations for youth programs. Houlton residents, who have a physical address in town, can sign up for the program on Tuesday, May 6, from 5:30-7 p.m., while open (Houlton as well as non-Houlton residents) registrations will be held Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All registrations will be accepted until June 1; however, several programs have limited registrations, so early registration is encouraged. All registrations will be held at the Gentle Memorial Building; no telephone registrations will be accepted.
The summer flyer has been distributed through the local schools systems or flyers may be picked up at the recreation department.
The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department tries to keep youth programs at an affordable level for all residents. Anyone in an unusual financial situation that may limit participation due to the fee, should contact Marie Carmichael, recreation director, prior to the day of registration to make payment arrangements.
New this year during the first three days of registration, recreational staff members will be accepting credit/debt payments if desired. Please have the card and a photo ID available.
For more information, call the rec department at 532-1310.
Programs being offered this summer are as follows:
“Just for Kids”: playground program is open to youth ages 5-13. Youth must be 5 years of age by June 16, 2014 and must have completed kindergarten for 2013-14 to stay all day. The full-day program runs form 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and Fridays 9-11 a.m. This program will run June 18-Aug. 7 and a parent’s handbook will be given out at registration.
“Just for Kids” is limited to the first 150 children to register. Cost for the program is as follows: one child $150 for Houlton resident, $225 for non-residents; and two children $200 for resident, $295 for non-residents. Each additional child is $50 for resident and $100 for non-residents.
This program is held at Community Park on good weather days and at the Houlton Recreation Center on rainy days. The RSU 29 food service will provide free lunch to all participants from June 18 through July 31. More information will be given out at the time of registration.
The “Just for Kids” program has been developed to keep the children happy, busy and safe throughout the summer. A tentative schedule and listing of rules will be given out at the time of registration.
“Just for Me” is a new playground program open to youth 4 and 5 years of age. Youth must be 4 years of age by June 16, 2014 and must have completed pre-k for the 2013-14 to stay from 9-11 a.m. Monday through Friday. A parent’s handbook will be given out at registrations. Cost for this program is $75 for Houlton residents and $115 for non-residents. This program will run from June 18 through Aug. 7.
Red Cross Swim Lessons: Lessons will be held for six weeks each Tuesday and Wednesday starting on Tuesday, July 8. Times will be given out at registration. Lessons this summer will be held at the Shiretown Motor Inn Pool. Youth must be 6 years of age by July 8, 2014 to participate. This program is for Houlton residents only. Cost for this program is $55 per participant. More details will be given at registration.
Tennis Lessons: Classes will be held again this summer starting on Tuesday, July 8, for beginners and intermediates levels. Youth must be 7 years of age by July 1, 2014 and older to participate. Lessons will be held each Tuesday and Wednesday for six weeks at the Community Park Tennis Courts.
Times will be announced at registration. Class size is limited to 12 students. Rackets may be provided if needed this year by the Houlton Parks and Recreation Department. Cost is $30 for Houlton residents and $45 for non- Houlton residents. Lucas Anderson will be this summer’s instructor.
Youth Basketball Camp: The summer camp will be held Wednesday, June 18–Saturday, June 21 at the Gentle Memorial Building. Youth entering grades K-2 will meet from 8:30-11a.m., with youth entering grades 3-8 meeting from 12-3 p.m.
This camp is set up to focus on the basic fundamentals of basketball through the use of drills, fun games and competition. Instructors will be Bruce Nason and Erica Tweedie. Cost is $45 for Houlton residents and $65 for non-Houlton residents.
T-Ball and First Pitch: T-ball is for 5-6 year olds (must be 5 by April 30, 2014). This program will introduce baseball with the use of a batting tee.
First Pitch is for 7-8 year olds (must be 7 years by April 30, 2014). This program is designed to teach fundamentals of baseball and introduce batters to a pitch.
Both programs will begin the week of July 7 and run for four weeks. Practices and games will be held Monday-Thursday at the baseball fields in Community Park. Cost is $25 for Houlton residents and $38 for non-Houlton residents.
Dutch Soccer Camp: Rob Krul and staff will return once again this summer to offer his annual soccer camp the week of June 30-July 3 at the Houlton High School soccer fields. Youth going into grades K-3 will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. each Monday-Thursday. Youth going into grades 4-8 will meet from 12:30-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Within each camp session, youth will be divided into age appropriate groups for camp activities.
Cost for this camp is $75 per participant with a $5 discount for each additional sibling attending camp.
Hershey Track & Field: This program is open to girls and boys between the ages of 9-14. Age groups will be determined by the Dec. 31, 2014 cut-off date.
The first practice will be held on Tuesday, May 13 at 3:15 p.m. for ages 9-10 years and at 4:15 p.m. for ages 11-14. Practices will be held outside the Millar Civic Center. If it rains, participants will meet at the Houlton Rec Center. Cost for this program is $20 Houlton residents and $30 for non-Houlton residents. This program introduces youth to the basic fundamentals of track and field events. Youth must attend weekly practices to be eligible to attend the District Track meet in Caribou. More information will be given out at the time of registration.
Sneakin’ In Science Camp: This program will be held on Aug. 18-21 at the rec center with Sara McQuarrie as the instructor. It will be held from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Children between ages of 7-12 are invited to this fun program. Cost is $40 per child. The program will include four days of science! In these action-packed classes, participants will learn about chemistry by mixing up some exciting concoctions and making ice cream. Learn about biology, while exploring organisms that live in pond water and other habitats. Learn about physics by making ramps for toy cars, marble rollers and more. Finally, learn about space and the stars. Students will take home anything they make along with a science “toy” to show friends and family what they learned.
Mini Science Camp: This activity will be held on Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 19-21 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children ages 5-6 are invited to attend this camp; there will be a limit of seven children. This will be held at the Houlton Recreation Center with instructor Sara McQuarrie.
Cost will be $ 15 per child. Kids will get excited about science with these fun hands-on classes. Sink or swim? No swimming, but different items will be tested to see which ones float and which ones sink. Youth will experiment with bubbles and even put kids in a bubble. Youth also mix up some simple, but exciting concoctions and look for and observe bugs that live in pond water.
Soccer Skills Clinic: The Houlton High School varsity girls soccer coach Tim Tweedie and his players will conduct a soccer skills clinic. It will be held on Aug. 11-14 at the Community Park soccer field. Grades K-2 will play from 8:30-10 a.m., with grades 3-6 following from 10:15-11:45 a.m. Cost will be $20 for Houlton residents and $30 for non-Houlton residents. The clinic will include soccer skill drills, mini games and contests. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes, bring a water bottle and soccer ball.
Little Musterds Running Camp: New this summer is the Little Musterds Running Camp with instructor Chris Rines.
Each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30-5:15 p.m. youth in grades 5-8 will meet, while each Monday and Wednesday youth in grades 3-4 will meet from 5:15-5:45 p.m. Both programs will begin on Monday, June 16 at the Houlton Recreation Center. Cost for grades 5-8 is $25 for Houlton residents and $38 non-Houlton residents, while cost for grades 3-4 will be $15 for Houlton residents and $22 non-Houlton residents. This three-week program will introduce youth to running and work towards participating in the July 3, Miracle Mile Run. Youth will need running sneakers, comfortable clothes and a water bottle.
Family Walk Nights: This new activity will be held on June 10, 17 and 24, starting from the Houlton Recreation Center. This free activity is open to all area families. It is important to take time to do things as a family and the department wants to promote healthy lifestyles to the whole family. Participants should meet at the recreation center at 6 p.m. Each walk will last a half hour. Bring water bottles, comfortable sneakers and strollers are welcome.
Fall Soccer: Registrations will be taken until June 1 at the Houlton Recreation Department for youth soccer. Soccer divisions are as follows: coed grades pre-K and K; grades 1-2; grades 3-4; girls only, grades 4-6; and boys only, grades 4-6. Practices will begin the week of Aug. 27. Cost is $20 Houlton residents and $30 for non-Houlton residents. More information will be given at the time of registrations. There is limited participation in the program.
