Summer camp: More expensive, harder to register kids, parents say
Some parents face an uphill battle trying to register their kids for summer camp, saying that certain programs become full within minutes.
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Summer break is here! Now what? For parents looking for activities to keep their kids off a device or from declaring they’re bored, there is a long list of low-cost youth summer programs still taking registrations across Detroit.
Here are some of the choices:
Adventure Camp
Teen HYPE, a non-profit organization based in Detroit that looks to educate youth on future leadership development, will be hosting its second annual Adventure Camp at 1938 Franklin St., Suite 103 in Detroit. The 4-day camp will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17-21. Students will have June 19 off in honor of Juneteenth, according to a news release.
The program is available to 100 middle school-aged youth for $20 per person, which includes daily breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Participants will begin each day with an interactive lesson focused around healthy decision making. Topics include finding a trusting adult and internet safety. After lunch, there will be either an indoor or outdoor activity, which will include bike riding and visits from mobile bowling alleys and arcades.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Detroit Parks and Recreation
The Detroit Parks and Recreation department will be running events for youth throughout the summer, including basketball, T-ball and soccer, according to Megan Murphy, recreation, athletics, activities coordinator for the department.
A co-ed 3-versus-3 basketball league will be held July 9-27 at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd. The league will be open to youth ages 9-14 and will cost $25 per player to register. The league will run 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
From July 10 to Aug. 7, a T-ball and coach pitching league will be available to youth ages 4-9 at Jayne Field, near Davison and Conant and O’Hair Park, on the city’s northwest side. The leagues are a partnership with Tiny Tigers, a youth-focused program that is part of the Detroit Tigers’ Play Ball Detroit initiative to help grow the game of baseball. The program will provide uniforms to all participants.
Children ages 4-6 will be placed into the T-ball league and children ages 7-9 will be registered into the coaches pitching league. A $40 registration fee is required for both leagues.
The city recreation department will also be hosting two skills and drills camps beginning in July that will cost $20 per child.
Flag football will be available for youth ages 6-12 every Thursday beginning July 11 through Aug. 1 at the Tindal activity center, 10301 W. Seven Mile Rd. Sessions for children ages 6-8 will run from 6-7 p.m. and from 7-8 p.m. for those who are 9-12 years old.
Similarly, a tennis camp will also be held every Tuesday and Thursday at Van Antwerp Park, near 8 Mile and Livernois, July 9 to Aug. 1. The camp will be available to youth ages 7-14.
For first time tennis players, sessions will be available from 6-7 p.m. Thursdays for kids 7-9, followed by a session from 7-8 p.m. for kids aged 10-14. For youth 10-14 with a bit more experience, sessions will be available from 6-8 p.m. for a higher level of competition.
Early registration for Soccer in the D is now open through June 14. The annual event will run from Aug. 10 to Sept. 22 and will open for kids ages 3-14. Children 3-4 will have a $20 registration fee during early registration, the price will increase $10 after that. For youth ages 5-14, early registration is $35 and will increase to $45 starting June 15. The last day to register for the program before being placed on a waitlist will be July 15.
To register for these and other upcoming events, go to the Detroit Parks and Recreation website.
Chandler Park
The Chandler Park Conservancy will host a six week sports and environmental summer camp at Chandler Park beginning July 10. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Monday through Thursday until Aug. 17, said Alex Allen, president and CEO of the conservancy.
Children ages 6-13 are eligible to participate in the camp. The $150 per student cost will go toward the cost of participating in various sporting and environmental activities that will be provided by the conservancy, along with daily lunches. A welcome orientation will be held at 6 p.m. July 6 at the Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner St.
Chandler Park will also provide free tennis lessons to youth aged 7-17. Lessons will be held 1-3 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.
Registration for these events can be completed on the Chandler Park Conservancy’s website.
Eric Guzmán covers youth sports culture at the Free Press as a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support this work at bit.ly/freepRFA.
Contact Eric Guzmán: [email protected]; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @EricGuzman90.
Gregory Daniels is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, he explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture. Gregory enjoys staying ahead of the curve and sharing emerging trends with his readers.
