MONROE, CT — Monroe’s Parks and Recreation is offering a wide variety of summer camps this year, with themes ranging from science and art to tennis and other sports.
Mad Science
Mad Science camps give kids entering grades 1-6 the opportunity to learn about science through interactive and hands on science activities.
Summer science programs allow children become junior scientists for the summer and embark on a series of science adventures. These virtual camps will be live streamed from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom with the five day activities materials dropped off to your home.
Fee per session: $125 resident/$150 non-resident. To place a $10 order for a lab coat and goggles, register online (not applicable to the Crayola Artist’s Passport program).
Fizzy Sticky Boom Lab (Aug. 3-7): Get ready to dig your hands into MAD giant experiments. This camp will be jam packed with massive, fizzling eruptions and explosions! Investigate, test, and explore all about chemical reactions, matter, density, polymers, bubbles, and many more … not to forget Parks and Rec.’s special Mad Science dry ice fun session.
Getting messy with science has never been more fun. Campers will receive Mad Science branded activity kits with worksheets (some simple household items may be required). Registration deadline July 23.
Freaky Zap Lab (July 20-24): This hair raising camp will train you to become a mad scientist. Using the powers of the Van de Graaff & MAD electrifying tools, test and discover unusual science phenomena!
Explore the mysterious lab with hands-on creepy experiments like chemical worms, lab snot, Oobleck, and more. Explore the freaky science behind bed of nails, illusions, and levitation. Campers will receive Mad Science branded activity kits with worksheets (some simple household items may be required).
Registration deadline June 25.
MSI: Spy Lab (Aug. 17-21): Welcome, future Mad Science Spy Agents! Learn how to send secret messages using invisible ink and color coding, and experiment with Morse code. Learn about spy tools, dead drops, and the art of disguise like a real 007! Investigate a “crime” seen, lift finger prints, find clues, and become a forensic science expert.
Campers will receive Mad Science branded activity kits with worksheets (some simple household items may be required). Registration deadline Aug. 6.
NASA’s Blast Off Lab (July 20-24): Blast off with a NASA-designed space camp! Explore outer space like a real astronaut! Learn about living in space, space phenomena. Rockets will be launched, stars and comets will be bursting, planets will be spinning, and gravity will be nonexistent!
This camp will be one black hole you won’t want to leave! Campers will receive Mad Science branded activity kits with worksheets (Some simple household items may be required).
Registration deadline July 9.
Crayola® Artist’s Passport Travel the World Through Art! (Aug. 3-7): Children embark on an around-the-world cultural adventure — explore far-off places and learn about the people who live there, from the Americas to Polynesia, from the cosmopolitan to the countryside.
They experiment with Crayola® products, while trying art techniques developed by local artists and artisans. They make different masterpieces each week such as drums, masks, canvases, prints, buses, and more!
Registration deadline July 23.
Summer Tennis
Monroe Parks and Recreation will welcome back Greg Sansonetti for a 10th year, along with his adult staff. Based in Fairfield County, Sansonetti brings over 25 years’ worth of tennis teaching experience.
For information, visit www.fairfieldcountytennis.com or call Sansonetti at 203-414-9453. All participants need to bring their own racquets (or buy one through an instructor for $25). The Fairfield County Tennis cancellation line is 203-283-5629 after hours.
Summer Tennis Camp
Weekly sessions are being offered at the Wolfe Park tennis courts once again this summer. Participants will learn a different stroke daily. Lessons include instruction on the forehand, backhand, serve and volley.
Cross-training will include games such as hoccer, soccer and kickball to facilitate coordination, as well as improve endurance. Match Play will be offered as an option in addition to field games.
USTA 10 and under tennis Match Play, designed for the junior player, will be played on a modified court with tennis balls designed for their specific skill level. This will provide players with an opportunity to play “real” tennis and learn the rules of the game. Children will receive a minimum of two hours on-court instruction each day and should bring a nut-free snack daily.
The schedule is Monday to Thursday with a rain date of Friday. Week 3: July 6-9, Week 4: July 13-16, Week 5: July 20-23, Week 6: July 27-30, Week 7: Aug 3-6, Week 8: Aug 10-13, Week 9: Aug 17-20, Junior Camps (ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-16) meet at 9:30-12:30.
Early bird rate available through June 29 (must be fully registered and paid): $175 resident/$192 nonresident. Beginning June 30, $195 resident/$214 nonresident. Early bird discount reflected upon checkout.
Junior Summer Clinic: Wednesdays evenings, July 8-Aug 5. Ages 5-7 meet 6 to 7 p.m. Ages 8-13 meet 7: to 8 p.m. Fees: $115 resident/$126 nonresident through June 29 (must be fully registered and paid; $130 resident/$143 nonresident beginning June 30. Early bird discount reflected upon checkout.
Future Stars Multi-Sport Summer Camp: A full day multi-sport camp for children ages 5-12 will run at the Sports Center of CT, “The Rinks,” 784 River Road, Shelton. Basketball, baseball, soccer, mini golf, fun bowl, laser tag, arcade and more.
For information, visit www.FutureStarsSportsAcademy.com or 203-926-6822. Session 1: June 22-26. Session 2: July 6-10. Session 3: July 13-17. Session 4: July 20-24. Session 5: July 27-31. Additional options include lunch ($50) and early drop off ($40). Fees vary, see website for details.
Additional Summer Programs
Additional summer programs include Summer Fun Days Camp, Play-Well Tecknologies, ArtSmart! Studio and Skyhawks. Webb Mountain Park is open for camping; permit request forms are online. For information and program registration, visit www.monroerec.org.
The Monroe Parks and Recreation Department is located at 7 Fan Hill Road. Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30-4:30, and Fridays, 8:30-1:30. Though the office is currently closed to routine public access, staff will be onsite during regular hours to provide assistance via calls or emails.
For information, call 203-452-2806 or send an email to [email protected]. The Information/Cancellation hotline is 203-339-6106. For those who need to bring paperwork to Town Hall, a drop box is located in the police station lobby, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff collects items daily.
For program information and registration, visit the Monroe Parks and Recreation website atwww.MonroeRec.org. Register early to secure your spot and avoid having programs cancelled due to low enrollment. There is a point (usually three days before a program is due to start) that a program must be cancelled if there aren’t enough people registered.
