A host of activities offered by Powell Rec

Posted 5/28/21

From golf to taekwondo to day camps, youth looking for things to do this summer have no shortage of options through the Powell Recreation District.

“We try to reach as many people as we …

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A host of activities offered by Powell Rec

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From golf to taekwondo to day camps, youth looking for things to do this summer have no shortage of options through the Powell Recreation District.

“We try to reach as many people as we can,” said district director Colby Stenerson.

After being hampered by COVID-19 precautions in 2020, “there’s a few things that we’re doing that we didn’t do last year,” Stenerson said. For example, with more access to Powell school buildings, the district’s Summer Academy is being “beefed up,” and gymnastics classes and a youth basketball league have returned, along with new instruction in ballet.

     

Kids’ camp and academies

Many of the offerings kick off in June, including Kids’ Camp. Children ages 5 to 10 can attend in the morning, in the afternoon or stay all day. The camps, which start at 8 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m., are offered in nine one-week sessions that run from June 1 to July 30. 

Camp activities include arts and crafts projects, trips to the Powell Aquatic Center, walks, educational programs and games. The sessions are based out of the Homesteader Park Warming House, with a cost of $37 per week for half-days or $74 per week for a full day. Free lunches will be provided by Powell Valley Healthcare.

In partnership with Park County School District 1, the recreation district is also offering a series of Summer Academies for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Students will be split into different age groups. For instance, classes for kindergartners and first graders include learning about gardening and bugs, treasure hunts and cooking sweet treats based on children’s books. Meanwhile, fourth and fifth graders can build and launch water- and air-power rockets, learn the basics of robotics or wilderness survival skills.

Other classes — which generally run from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1-2:30 p.m. over the course of a week — include martial arts, watercolor painting and sewing. The cost is generally $22 per child, or $19 for a second child in the home.

The Powell Recreation District is also organizing three adventure trips for children ages 6 to 14.

On June 17, a group will travel to Billings to make a splash at The Reef, an indoor water park. Then on July 22, youth will load up in the rec bus and head to Big Horn County — first heading to Lovell for some bowling at Rose City Lanes and then moving on to Cowley to enjoy the splash pad.

Kids will also have a chance to splash around at the third and final excursion on Aug. 12, when the bus will head to Cody for miniature golf and time at the Mentock Park splash pad. Fees range from $15 to $20 for the adventures. After the trips were iffy last year, “we’re hoping those take off again,” Stenerson said.

     

Sports camps and classes

A series of youth sports camps are also on tap, including basketball camps for boys and girls, hosted by Northwest College players and coaches and Powell High School coaches, and a June 2-4 football camp for ages 8-11. From June 1 to July 13, PHS head coach Mike Heny is also leading a Panther Basketball Skills Academy for third through eighth graders on Tuesdays ($50).

Boys and girls entering fifth through eighth grades are also welcome to join the Youth Summer Basketball League, which will feature only light instruction but plenty of competition on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-10:30 a.m. Hosted at the Powell Middle School Gym, it will run from June 7 to July 1.

Stenerson noted the inexpensive $8 fee, describing it as part of an effort “to get that middle school age group out and doing some things in the summer.”

In other sports, pee wee (age 4-7) and youth (8-13) tennis lessons will be offered through June at the Westside Tennis Courts, split into four-day sessions at $14 or $16 each.

Kids 3 through 13 can also develop strength, balance, coordination and flexibility through gymnastics classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June ($27-$30). Ballet is also being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Powell Middle School gym for beginners ages 7-12.

The $28 class is new to the recreation district, but Skylar Cooley brings “a lot of experience,” said Stenerson. Not only has Cooley taught in Cody, “her dance experience is pretty tremendous,” he said, “so we’re hoping that takes off.”

As for budding golfers, junior golf camp is set for Wednesday mornings from June 2 through July 28 at the Powell Golf Club. Youth 7-17 will be split into three different age groups, with the $60 camp culminating in a tournament and barbecue. Last year’s golf camp saw a 20-year high in the number of participants, Stenerson said.

“We’re hoping that continues,” he said. “We really would like to see that grow a little bit even still.”

Junior golfers can also compete in the Big Horn Basin Junior Golf Tour, which will include events in Cody, Worland and Powell on July 16, 22 and 29, respectively.

    

Other events

Additionally, youth have the year-round option to learn taekwondo and self-defense through Big Horn Martial Arts Academy or Lone Wolf Taekwondo.

Youth in fourth through eighth grades who are looking to get a jumpstart in cheerleading can sign up for classes in August ($25), with a culminating performance on Aug. 13.

As for activities for adults, the recreation district is hoping to start up a coed slow-pitch softball league in July ($150 per team).

Community members are also invited to join in regular pickleball games, held at 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, at the Westside tennis courts.

And while Northwest College recently added a disc golf course on campus, those wanting to design their own course or play at home can rent six portable baskets and discs from the district for $12 a day or $20 for a weekend. Other sports equipment — such as volleyball sets, horseshoes, Frisbees, softballs, kickballs, wiffle ball sets, basketballs and footballs — can be rented for $5.

Meanwhile, anglers are welcome to fish the pond at Homesteader Park starting next month. The stocked pond will first open up to youth ages 16 and under on Saturday, June 5, for Kids’ Fishing Day. To participate in the event, kids will need to be signed up for a time slot by contacting the recreation district at 307-754-5711. Then, starting on Monday, June 7, the pond will be open to any anglers. Wyoming Game and Fish Department regulations apply.

To learn more and to see all of the district’s offerings for the summer of 2021, check out their activities guide by visiting www.bit.ly/3f4KkJH or visit the district’s webpage at www.powellrec.com.

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