From sports lessons to kids’ camps, the Powell Recreation District’s broad lineup of programs offers little excuse to spend the summer on the couch.

Over the coming months, “we’ve got stuff for kids ages 2 on up to 17,” plus some adult activities, said District Director Colby Stenerson.

“We just want to get the kids out and do activities and find something that they want to do,” Stenerson said.

Among the options are youth golf and tennis lessons, gymnastics and youth cheer.

Participation has generally been growing in recent years, particularly with the district’s Kids’ Camp, which saw its largest enrollment ever in 2022. Each of the weeklong sessions drew more than 30 kids, and one had about 50 participants, Stenerson said.

“We had some really big sessions,” he said.

The size can make it challenging to find enough space when the weather forces the campers inside — and the jump in attendance meant hiring an extra helper last year.

“But that’s great,” Stenerson said. “That’s a good problem to have.”

Kids’ Camp sessions run from early June through late July, with themes ranging from “Gardening Adventures” to “Outer Space.”

Kids between ages 5 and 10 can join the camp for the morning (8 a.m. to noon), the afternoon (1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or both. Half-days are $40 a week, while a full day is $80.

Activities include arts and crafts, trips to the Powell Aquatic Center, games and snacks.

Campers — and any other interested children — can get a free lunch served up daily by Powell Valley Healthcare from noon to 1 p.m. at Homesteader Park.

Also in June and July, those in kindergarten through eighth grade can sign up for a host of Summer Academy classes. Offered in conjunction with Park County School District 1, the weeklong classes run for two hours, Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m.

Among the options for younger students are: “Bike Stars,” which will teach bike safety and maintenance tips and offer an obstacle course; “Cupcake Wars,” in which participants craft sweet treats; and “Kid Detectives,” which will involve solving codes, puzzles, riddles, mazes and mysteries before taking on an escape room.

Meanwhile, older students can spend a week building and launching bottle rockets in “Blast Off,” learn braiding, curling, crimping and other hair care tips in “Hair Aware,” or learning fishing, camping, shooting and survival skills in “Kids vs. Wild.”

Classes are $22 per student, or $19 for the second child in one household.

Another educational opportunity will come later in the summer, when the district again teams up with The Science Zone of Casper for “GSK Science in the Summer.” It’s a free program that aims “to inspire the next generation of scientists by providing opportunities for children to embody science careers, think scientifically, practice authentic science techniques, and have fun!” Details will be announced at a later date.

Meanwhile, a trio of special “Adventure Trips” to Billings, Montana, are already on the calendar. Children aged 6 to 14 can travel to the Get Air Trampoline Park on June 14 (it was a big hit last year, Stenerson said), to Zoo Montana on July 13 and to the outdoor waterpark at Rose Park on Aug. 2.

A perennial favorite is Kids’ Fishing Day, set for Saturday, June 3 at the Homesteader Park Fishing Pond. Kids 16 and under need to sign up in advance for one-hour slots, which can fill quickly. Some 175 young anglers tried their luck last year, Stenerson said, and many took home not only fish but a prize.

Following fishing day, the public is welcome to fish the pond from 7 a.m. to dusk through the summer.

Meanwhile, the Homesteader Museum is offering “Museum Mondays” to local elementary schoolers. Across three workshops, participants will get a chance to explore history in a fun and interactive way. A June 12 program will cover butter making, followed by “Fun with Farming” on July 10 and “Homesteading Arts and Crafts” on Aug. 7.

For those wanting to plan their own adventures, the recreation district rents out “summer picnic packs” stocked with volleyballs, horseshoes, frisbees, softballs, kickballs, soccer balls, wiffle ball sets, basketballs or footballs. The district also rents portable volleyball nets and disc golf baskets.

Other summer options for adults include pickleball — a group plays on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Westside Tennis Courts — and softball. Though the men’s program again failed to draw enough participants to form a league, the relatively new coed league has seen interest; sign-ups are due by June 19.

Residents can find more details, programs and information by visiting www.powellrec.com, picking up a physical copy of the district’s Summer 2023 Activities Guide or calling 307-754-5711.

Thanks to donations from the family of the late Art Coughenour, some scholarships are available for youth who can’t afford the program fees. Applications for assistance can be picked up at the rec office, 501 Homesteader Ct. The office is also stocked with forms for other programs, such as Powell High School and Northwest College sports camps.

“If we can be the one stop place to get that information, I think it helps a little bit,” Stenerson said.

He added that, if a particular program fills up, it’s still worth giving the district a call to explore options for your child.

“We usually find a way to get them in,” Stenerson said.