As of about 9:00 a.m., children between ages six and twelve were still arriving and taking up hula hoops, soccer balls, basketballs and dodge balls on a day when they will also be furnished with crayons, markers and paint brushes to create their own artistic masterpieces.

Summer Chambers, Hope Parks Superintendent, said that on the program’s first day, Tuesday, about 35 youngsters had registered.  With a combination of Parks staffers and volunteer parents, Chambers will be running the program in its eighth year.  Children from the area can enroll for free and come to sessions that take place every Tuesday and Thursday until July 17th.  

“We have different [activities] planned all summer,” Powell said. “Today, since it's raining, we're going to do arts and crafts. We have crafts for all summer. We have plenty to do for rainy days like this. Some days we will go outside and play kickball and relay races and things like that, just keep the kids moving. On Thursdays, of course, we swim.”  Those swims will occur under the watchful eyes of trained lifeguards.

Parents who have yet to register their kids can still bring them when the sessions start.  Kids will be treated to activity and exercise but also to learn.  “We have a couple of days when the [Hempstead County] extension office is going to come in, do an educational program and some games. So we have a little bit of everything to keep the kids moving and keep their brains engaged and learning,” Powell said.