Kyndall Guenthez looks over her painting during the Making Messes Art Camp sponsored by the Greenfield Parks and Recreation in 2022. This year’s classes are beach, castle and jungle themes.
Daily Reporter file photo
GREENFIELD – From trekking through nature to letting the creative juices flow, there’s a wide variety of programs open for Hancock County children to explore their interests or try something new. Here’s a list of upcoming summertime programs for children through schools, cities and nonprofits.
Plug Into Nature Camp: The annual PIN program at Nameless Creek Camp will be July 10-14. The day camp is for those entering third grade to fifth grade and includes activities such as kickball, games, nature trail and creek exploration, water games and arts and crafts. Cost is $20 registration and $100 camp fee. Visit namelesscreekyouthcamp.com or facebook.com/NamelessCreekCamp for updates.
Reading summer camp: Bentley’s Buddies and Friends will host a camp from 9 a.m. to noon daily June 12-15 for a donation. Sit Stay Read Summer Camp offers themed activities based on books and will welcome special guest speakers from the community. Pre-registration is required with 15 campers per session; call or text 317-604-7309 or 317-318-2230. The camp will be at Bentley’s Doghouse, 707 N. State St., Greenfield.
Kids theater workshop: A Mt. Vernon Theater Summer Workshop for MV students in fourth through eighth grades will be in June, and registration deadline is today, May 12.
The workshop will be June 12-16 for the production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. June 16. Cost is $200 and includes practice, dance classes, snacks and a cast t-shirt. The play is directed by Rick and Chris Barber; for questions, call 317-626-1573 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Summer enrichment programs: Southern Hancock schools will host 18 camps covering a wide range of subjects for children in grades kindergarten through eighth. Programs include readers theater for exploring scripts; summer space camp; bookmaking; art camp; jewelry making; computer programming; cooking; robotics; kindergarten readiness and more. Participants do not need to be enrolled in the school district to apply, however, priority registration will be given to SH students should the classes become full. For a link to a complete list of programs and how to register, visit www.newpal.k12.in.us or facebook.com/SouthernHancock.
Camp Invention: A day camp for children discovering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts will be hosted at Southern Hancock, Mt. Vernon and Greenfield-Central elementary schools this summer.
Camp Invention features projects with robots, mini skate parks, green energy and more. Mt. Comfort Elementary School and New Palestine Intermediate School will each host the camp June 5-9 at their respective sites. JB Stephens Elementary School will host the camp July 17-21. Camps are for students entering first- through sixth grades. Register at invent.org/camp or call 800-968-4332.
Summer camp: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County offers children ages 5-18 sports, games, arts, hiking, swimming, field trips and even time to learn sign language. Their 2023 Summer Camp opened for registration April 1 and will continue until all sessions are full. Sessions are $75 each week and scholarships are available upon request. Visit bgchc.com, call 317-462-2404 or email Unit Director Robb Reed at [email protected] for questions.
Art courses: Greenfield Parks and Recreation will host three themed summer art camps. Beach Staycation will be June 12-16; Jungle Explorers is June 26-29; and Castles is July 10-13. Camps are for ages 6-12. The program is hosted in the lower level of the Patricia Elmore Center, 280 N. Apple St., Greenfield. For times, pricing and registration, visit parks.greenfieldin.org.
Kathy Dowling Aquatic Center: Pool passes are available now for the 2023 season of the community pool at Riley Park. Individual day entry will also be available. The aquatic center, which has a free splash pad open daily, also hosts summer youth swim lessons. Three summertime sessions are available for $50 for residents and $55 for non-city residents. Register at park.greenfieldin.org; visit facebook.com/greenfieldparks or call 317-477-4340 for more.
Summer reading clubs at libraries: Local libraries will open their summer reading clubs for children, teens and adults. The Hancock County Public Library’s program runs June 1-Aug. 1. For updates and more details or to sign up starting June 1, visit hcplibrary.org.
Kindergarten 101: A free, one-week program that provides incoming kindergarteners the opportunity to participate in many common kindergarten activities is happening this July.
K101 will be July 17-21 for kindergarteners starting the 2023-24 school year. Students will learn about daily reading, morning meetings, small group activities, recess and lunch. The program is sponsored by Purdue Extension of Hancock County and is at JB Stephens Elementary School. For questions, contact Mandy Gray at [email protected] or call 317-462-1113. Registration is due May 25 at bit.ly/2023K101gc.
College courses: Indiana high school students grades 9-12 can enroll in free courses this summer at Ivy Tech Community College.
Free summer courses provide an opportunity for students to explore possible career options while earning college credits. Students who qualify for courses will receive free tuition and textbooks, with no limit on the number of courses students can take. To qualify, students must be Indiana residents at any high school, including current eighth graders entering ninth grade, graduating seniors, homeschool students and students at adult high schools.
For more, visit ivytech.edu/programs/special-programs-for-students/high-school-programs/free-summer-classes-for-high-schools-students.
Teen Police Academy: The 2023 Hancock County Teen Police Academy will be June 5-9 for ages 14-17. Classes will include firearms training, drug investigations, tasers, traffic stops, physical training, drunken driving enforcement, character development and more. The program will be hosted at Greenfield-Central High School, 810 N. Broadway St., Greenfield with lunch provided daily. Learn more and apply at hancockin.gov/447/Community-Outreach or call Capt. Bridget Foy, 317-477-1147.
If your church, business, nonprofit organization or school is hosting a summertime activity for children, email [email protected] to be included in future lists.
