“Be Active Montgomery!” with these 3 Summer Games, Check Out Website for More

We want to help you and your family Be Active Montgomery! this summer so we have created a Be Active Montgomery! page on the Montgomery County Recreation website that is filled with lots of ideas that are easy, fun, and exciting for the whole family! PLUS – you’ll want to clear your calendar for June 8^th to join us for a day of free programming at the BeActive Montgomery! Kickoff at South Germantown Recreational Park from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

You can find wellness tips, check out local resources, find out where you can Be Active Montgomery!, and check out a list of games to play outside or in the pool. Below are some of the game suggestions that offer a great alternative to electronic games or TV. Get everyone up and outside running around this summer! For more game ideas, visit Be Active Montgomery! games. 

Image Credit: Wikipedia commons

Flash Light Tag

This can be played several different ways. Here are three suggestions that will work inside or outside. The only requirement is that it needs to be dark, and you have to have at least one flashlight!

Method 1 – Everyone hides and only the seeker has a flashlight. You are ‘out’ when seeker finds you, flashes the light on you and calls your name. First or last person to be found becomes the next seeker.

Method 2 – Everyone has a flashlight and runs around finding the other players. Flash your light quickly or you’ll be ‘out’.

Method 3 – Everyone has a flashlight and pairs up. Pairs choose a flash ‘signal’ then hide from the seeker. Pairs are safe when they find each other using their ‘signal’ but are not found by the seeker. Game is over when someone is ‘out’ and found/flashed by the seeker.

Sardines

This can be played in daylight or in the dark. One person is “it” (the sardine) and finds a roomy hiding place while everyone else is in another area. After counting to 25 everyone tries to find the sardine and join him/her in the hiding place. The last person to find the sardine is “it” in the next game.

Freeze Dance
Grab a radio, or iPod, some friends, and make room to dance! One person is in charge of the radio while the other players dance to the music. When the music volume is off, the players must stop dancing. Anyone who keeps moving (or giggling) after the music stops is ‘out’ of the dance competition. Winner gets to hold the music in the next game.

RecAssist Financial Assistance in 5 Easy Steps

Montgomery County Recreation is pleased to offer financial assistance to local families. We have broken down the process into 5 easy steps to help you or someone you know determine if they are qualified for assistance and how to apply to use the funds. For more information visit the financial assistance page of the website.

1. Gather documents to prove that you are eligible for RecAssist funds (you will need proof that you receive one of the following: Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance, Care for Kids, Supplemental Security Income)

2. Starting June 3^rd, download the form to apply for financial assistance or pick up an application at the Montgomery County Recreation main office (4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring)

3. Receive approval and find out the amount of assistance dollars that you will have to use toward Montgomery County Recreation programs.

4. Call 240-777-4980 or come to the Montgomery County Recreation office to speak with one of our recreation specialists to decide how you might best spend your assistance dollars. You can apply the funds to either summer camps or any recreation class.

5. Starting July 1^st register for the summer camp(s) or class(es) either in person (at the Montgomery County Recreation main office on 4010 Randolph Rd.), via fax or online using RecWeb. Your RecAssist funds will already be in your account.

Summer Fun Centers Are Flexible, Affordable, and the Perfect Solution for Busy Parents and Kids!

Not ready to commit to a summer filled with weekly camps? Or maybe you’ve signed up for camps but still need to fill a few extra weeks with safe summer fun? Try our Summer Fun Centers where kids ages 5-12 can enjoy lots of activities all summer long for one low price. This is an occasional use program with no requirement of regular attendance and participants are not required to stay all day and may participate on a drop-in basis. You decide how much or how little you need to visit!

Summer Fun Centers offer a variety of supervised and organized indoor and outdoor activities for all levels of play including sports, arts and crafts, group games, and even some water games outside to keep things cool.

Choose from over 25 convenient locations throughout the County. Community Recreation Centers and schools are open starting June 24^th through August 2^nd from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm for one low fee of $350. 

Bauer Drive Community Center  #348018

Chevy Chase Elementary School  #348014

Clara Barton Community Center  #348022

East County Community Center  #348025

Flower Hill Elementary School  #348029

Fox Chapel Elementary School  #349601

Gibbs, William B. Elementary School  #348034

Good Hope Community Center  #348028

Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center  #349604

Harmony Hills Elementary School  #348027

Loiederman Middle School  #348033 0

Long Branch Community Center  #348016

Longwood Community Center  #348010

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Center  #348026

McNair, Ronald Elementary School  #348023

Ride, Dr. Sally K. Elementary School  #348019

Rock View Elementary School  #348015

Rocky Hill Middle School  #348021

Ross Boddy Community Center  #348017 0

Sequoyah Elementary School  #348032

Seven Locks Elementary School  #349603

Sligo-Dennis Ave. Local Park (Sligo Comm.)  #348013

Upper County Community Center  #348020

White Oak Community Recreation Center  #348012

Woodfield Elementary School  #348024

Great Deals on Half and Full Day Summer Camps!

If you are looking to keep the kids busy a few more weeks this summer, Recreation has a number of great camps that are easy to get to, filled with fun activities, and affordable! Here’s a quick guide to some camps that still have spots left.

WATER SPORTS

Aqua Sports

Two age groups: 7-11 or 12-15

Four locations: Germantown Indoor, Germantown Outdoor Swim Center, Olney Swim Center, Martin Luther King Swim Center

This is a week-long, full-day program (8:45 am – 4:00 pm) for just $245

For course numbers, dates and to register, visit Aqua Sports Camps on RecWeb

ART

Art Destinations Specialty Camp (ages 8-15) held at Wood Middle School and Kingsview Middle School.

This is a week-long, full-day camp from 9:00 am – 3:30 with some weeks just $184

For course numbers, dates and to register visit Art Destinations on RecWeb

Wow! Comic Book Cartooning (ages 6-12) will appeal to kids who love to draw, doodle, or love to read comics and books like those in the Wimpy Kid series. Half-day camp 9:00am – 12:00 pm just $175 for the week.

#349258 at Cashell Elementary School 7/22 – 7/26

#349257 North Bethesda Middle School 6/24 – 6/28

#349363 Noorwood Local Park 7/29 - 8/2

#349359 Thomas W. Pyle Middle School 7/15 – 7/19

#349369 Shady Grove Middle School 7/7 – 7/12

DRAMA

Creative Theatre (ages 9-13) held at Kingsview Middle School will engage kids in a full stage production over this three-week session. Kids will get a taste for production, auditioning, choreography, improvisation and costuming. This is a full-day camp for just $540 per 3-week session.

#347967 6/18 – 7/12 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

#347968 7/15 – 8/2 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

Theatrical Teens! (ages 11 -15) Teens will learn improvisational theater techniques and will write their own dramatic sketches, learn about production, directing, set design and more. This is a full-day camp for just $275 per one week session.

#347184 7/8 – 7/12 at Wayside Elementary School 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347185 7/15 – 7/19 at Flower Valley Elementary School 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347183 7/22 – 7/26 at North Bethesda Middle School 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347186 8/5 – 8/9 at Damascus Community Recreation Center 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347187 8/12 – 8/16 at Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

MAGIC

Mystery Academy Circus Arts (ages 8-11) held at Rock Creek Valley Elementary School will show kids puppetry, magic, balloon sculpture, face painting, balancing, juggling and more.

#347162 6/24 – 6/28 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Mystery Academy Magical Fun (ages 5-7) will work with campers on a little magic, a little puppetry, magic-themed crafts, and more. This is a full-day camp for just $235 per one week session.

#347169 7/8 – 7/12 at Ashburton Elementary School 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347170 7/22 – 7/26 at Stonegate Elementary School 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347171 8/12 – 8/16 at Germantown Community Recreation Center 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347172 8/12 – 8/16 at Mid County Community Recreation Center 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

OUTDOORS

Camp Explorer (ages 9-12) at Tilden Woods Local Park in Potomac offers campers a full day of wildlife and outdoor exploration including hiking, canoeing, team building games and swimming. Full day of camp for just $245 per week long session.

#347878 6/18 – 6/28 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347879 7/1 – 7/12 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347880 7/15 – 7/26 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

#347881 7/29 – 8/2 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Camp Hidden Spring (ages 9-13) at Rock Creek Regional Park in Derwood offers lots of outdoor activities including animal tracking, plant identification, and other wilderness skills that come in handy in the wild. The beautiful Lake Needwood is your background plus you’ll enjoy a trip to an MCR pool and possibly another field trip during each session. Sessions vary in price.

#347951 6/18 – 7/1 ($280) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

#347952 7/1 – 7/12 ($280) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

#347953 7/15 – 7/26 ($310) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

#347954  7/29 – 8/2  ($158) 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

SPORTS

UK Elite Soccer Half Day (ages 5-14) will focus on teaching the techniques and skills appropriate for the age of the player. Sessions vary in price and camp runs 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

#349165 6/18 – 6/21 at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School ($148)

#349166 7/8 – 7/12 at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School ($185)

#349167 6/24 – 6/28 at Falls Road Local Park ($185)

#347769 7/1 – 7/5 at Darnestown Local Park ($149)

#347770 7/15 – 7/19 at Gwendolyn Coffield Community Recreation Center ($185)

#347773 7/22 – 7/26 at Damascus Community Recreation Center ($185)

#347768 7/29 – 8/2 at Burning Tree Elementary School ($185)

#347776 8/5 – 8/9 at Meadowbrook Local Park ($185)

Challenger Multi-Sport Camp (ages 6-12) provides campers with the opportunity to learn new skills, experience team-building activities, and work on sportsmanship qualities such as respect, responsibility and leadership. Full ($250) or half day ($185) camps available in one-week sessions. For course numbers, dates and to register visit the Challenger Multi-Sport page on RecWeb.