Summer activities have learning experiences and lifelong skills

Children, teenagers and adults can enjoy the summer with recreation and reading.

In Socorro, the youth center has a fun-filled summer program and a variety of activities for children, starting June 4. At the center, children will learn lifelong skills, and can enjoy playing games at the same time.

The summer program at the youth center will keep children active with field trips, free breakfast and lunches, as well as arts and crafts projects.

Director Cindy Rivera said the children will be separated into age groups and will have set schedules starting with school in the morning. When they return, there will be an assigned activity for them to enjoy when they finish.

“The center enriches life skills for the children for a better tomorrow,” Rivera said.

The kids are required to attend school at the center in the mornings to help give them a jump start for the next grade level, Rivera said. After class, the children will then be able to participate in baseball, badminton and horseshoes. Every age group will have a youth leader who will teach them hands-on activities and have a designated outdoor activity in Sedillo Park.

“Children will know manners and discipline while they’re here,” Rivera said. “We also have them serving meals to the senior citizens.”

The children will stay active through the summer months, and at the end of the program, on July 31, there will be a talent show. Everyone enrolled in the program can show off their best talent at the center. Following the show, there will be an end of summer barbecue for parents and city officials.

The cost to enroll in the summer program is $40 per child per month.

At the Library

The Socorro Public Library has plenty of reading and arts and crafts projects for children to stay busy and intrigued in new timeless tales. Starting June 7, there will be numerous performances, such as Ken and Renee Karter, who will entertain children with “The Funny Dummy Show.” This show includes ventriloquists and their dummies and children will create their own puppets from socks or paper bags.

At the end of June, Nino’s Flamenco’s will enlighten audiences with their dance moves on the Finley Gym stage. On July 24, there will be an end of the summer party, featuring storyteller Indiana Bones, who will fascinate audiences with his enduring adventure story-time tales. “The summer reading program is important, students who don’t read over the summer lose half of a grade level from where they stopped at the end of the school year,” said Jeanne Griffith, youth services librarian.

Griffith has been at the Socorro library for 14 years and said the summer reading program continues to get everyone involved. The program has been around for 20 years and the age groups include pre-school to 6-year olds, first to sixth grade and 13-year olds and up.

Adults can also enjoy the summer reading program with “Between the Covers.” This program includes young adult novels, such as “Gone With the Wind” and “Frankenstein.” There are also special prizes, including three bikes for the children who read the most books. The summer reading program runs from June 5 through July 24. The program is partially paid for by a grant from the McCune Foundation, which also supports libraries in Alamo and Magdalena. The other half is paid for by the friends of the library.

“We try to include everybody — even grown ups. It makes a busy summer, and that’s a good thing,” Griffith said.

Youth Sports

Sports are also a hot catch with parks and recreation. All ages are welcome and those interested in joining a sport over the summer can sign up for baseball or swimming.

Director Norbert Peralta said children can get involved in baseball, which runs from June through August. Swimming lessons start June 11, and kids also have an opportunity to sign up for the Socorro Stingrays swim team.

During his 18 years as director, Peralta said he has seen an increase of children participating in sports — as many as 250-300 kids per sport.

Children can also get involved playing golf. The junior golf program is holding registration today (Saturday, May 26) from 10 a.m. to noon at New Mexico Tech Golf Course. The program is open for kids ages 6 through 18 and there is no charge to enroll in the program.

AYSO soccer starts July 23-27 at Sedillo Park. Registration takes place anytime before the first of July. For more information, visit the website at www.challengersports.com.

And in Magdalena…

At the Magdalena Public Library, students can also enjoy the summer reading program called “Dream Big-Read.” This is a nationwide summer book reading program and starts on June 8 and ends on July 28.

The program will include activities, such as making dream catchers, stick horses and clay making. These activities are held on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Children get a book log and are encouraged to read as much as they can within the two months. Volunteers are also encouraged to help with the activities for the children, including parents who also like to read.

“Reading is very important,” said Librarian Yvonne Magener. “The more they (children) read in the summer, the more they have improved reading skills for the school year.”