As kids (and their parents) begin looking for things to do on summer vacation, they’ll find a host of options offered through the Powell Recreation District.

The lineup includes everything from gymnastics to tennis lessons to day camps.

“We’re busy all year long, but the summer is sometimes very busy, all day long,” said Powell Recreation District Director Colby Stenerson.

Like last year, Stenerson expects strong participation in the district’s programs.

Among the most popular offerings are the Kids’ Camp and Summer Academy.

Kids’ Camp

The camp, which serves children between the ages of 5 and 10, runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays in June and July (kids can stay until 5 p.m. if that works better for their parents’ schedules). Powell Valley Healthcare is again serving up free lunches over the noon hour at the Homesteader Park warming house, which is “a pretty big bonus for us,” Stenerson said. (Any child is welcome to pick up a free lunch, regardless of whether they’re participating in a program.)

Each week-long camp will take on a different theme, ranging from “Pirates & Mermaids” to “Camping Adventures.” One session costs $80, or $40 for half-days.

Summer Academy

The rec district also partners with Park County School District 1 to offer a slew of fun and educational classes through the Summer Academy. Each class runs for two hours a day — Monday through Thursday — from either 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m.

Classes are split up by the child’s upcoming school year: kindergartners and first graders; second and third graders, fourth and fifth graders and middle schoolers.

Younger kids can learn the basics of golf, soccer or basketball, get creative with arts and crafts, hunt for treasures, garden, play with water, or solve mysteries.

Older kids, meanwhile, can learn to sew, paint with watercolors, build water- and air-powered rockets, cook up cupcakes or pick up outdoor survival skills.

The fee is $22 per class, or $19 for a second family member in the same household.

Special events

A series of special events are also on the rec district calendar for the summer — including three Adventure Trips to Billings.

On June 12, children 6-14 will load up on a bus and head to the Get Air Trampoline Park ($28), followed by a July 10 trip to Zoo Montana ($16) and an Aug. 7 trip to the Rose Park outdoor waterpark ($18).

Also on tap is a Science Zone-hosted “Country Critters” field trip, where kids will explore the plants and animals of Powell and play games like food-web tag, observation bingo and collection curation along the way. Details are still being finalized.

In a new offering, the Christian youth outreach program The Link will present an auto detailing workshop. Spread across five days of two-hour sessions, the workshop is intended to equip youth with skills they can use to set up their own detailing business.

A session for middle schoolers is set for June 17-21, with another for high schoolers June 24-28. The fee is $22.

Sports and activities

Youth can also participate in a variety of sports and activities through the summer. Gymnastics are offered for ages 3 to 13 in June ($27-$30) while tennis lessons for kids 4-13 are in July ($15-$17) — a later date than past years.

Golf lessons will also be a bit different, with kids meeting for a four-day Powell Golf Club Junior Golf Camp on June 4-7 rather than once a week. The camp costs $60 and is for youth 7-17. 

Meanwhile, instructor Kelsey Nguyen and her staff will offer a July 29 to Aug. 9 youth cheer session for those in second to eighth grades. It’s $35 a session.

Swim lessons are offered through the Powell Aquatic Center, with the  Powell Swim Club also offering year-round instruction and competition.

Other ongoing offerings include ballet and tap classes through the Redemption Story Dance Company (starting at age 5) and martial arts through the Big Horn Martial Arts Academy (starting at age 4). 

Build your own adventure

Pickleball is also offered year-round, and it’s open to all ages. In the summertime, a group plays Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. at the Westside tennis courts.

You can also build your own program by renting disc golf baskets, horseshoes, softballs, kickballs, wiffleball sets, basketballs, footballs or a complete volleyball setup from the district. Meanwhile, Northwest College’s recreation equipment co-op lends out bikes, stand-up paddleboards, camping equipment, canoes and more (co-op members pay $25 a semester).

Anglers can also try their hand at the Homesteader Park fishing pond anytime between 7 a.m. and dusk, starting on June 3 and continuing through the summer. (The pond’s season kicks off June 1 with Kids’ Fishing Day.)

Fall programs

More offerings — including soccer for children from age 5 through second grade, volleyball for third through sixth grade girls, and football for third through sixth graders — start up in September. (Adults can also get in on the fun with co-ed volleyball, which will run from late September through mid December.)

To sign up for programs or to learn more, visit www.powellrec.com. Call the rec office at 307-754-5711 with questions.