The Darien Times

Parks & Rec offers kids winter programs; beach sticker sales start soon

Monday, January 23, 2012 07:00 AM

The Darien Parks & Recreation Department offers a variety of programs for the residents of Darien. Registration for programs takes place online at darienct.gov/parkrec, at the Parks & Rec office in Town Hall, or through the mail. For more information, call 203-656-7325. Here are some programs:

Spring and Summer Brochure: Registration for 2012 spring and summer programs, as well as the sale of 2012 beach permits, will begin on Wednesday, March 7, online at darienct.gov/parkrec.

Here you will find a link to the online registration website. Program registration and beach permit sales will also be accepted starting March 7 in-person in Room 110 of Town Hall or through the mail. The Parks and Recreation Department currently accepts payment by credit card (Visa/MasterCard), check, or cash.

Registrants are reminded that they will need a client barcode number and family pin number to sign up for programs or purchase beach stickers online. If you have misplaced your access numbers, or if you would like to start a new account, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 203-656-7325.

Program offerings will be accessible online starting Friday, Jan. 27. The 2012 spring and summer brochure, which includes the beach permit application, will be mailed out to all Darien residents the first week of March. This brochure will include popular programs such as Tiny Tots Soccer, New Level Tennis Lessons, guitar lessons, horseback riding lessons, and many fun-filled summer sports camps.

Winter programs for youth

February Vacation Camp: The Parks and Recreation Department and Overtime Athletics have joined forces to bring this fun-filled camp to the youth of Darien the week of February 21-24. Parents have the choice of registering for Tuesday-Friday, from 9-4, for $245; Tuesday Friday, from 9-noon, for $130; or daily from 9-4 for $65/day.

This variety sports camp for children 5-12 includes instruction in the fundamentals of such traditional sports as basketball and soccer as well as utilizing Overtime Athletics signature curriculum incorporating non-traditional sports such as kickball, relay races, and cooperative games. The camp will be held at the Darien Town Hall. Camp fee includes snacks. Full-day participants should bring lunch each day.

Tiny Tots Soccer: Blue Wave Kickers Tiny Tots Soccer engages children in physical activity while developing their motor and basic soccer skills. Mommy & Me classes are offered on Monday, Friday or Saturday mornings and classes for children 3-5 are Monday-Saturday.

Jon Bradley, DHS varsity soccer coach will run this program. Classes start the week of Jan. 30. Vist the Parks & Recreation website for a complete list of classes and fees.

Video Game Design: Students will be using the software program Scratch, developed by MIT Media Institute, to create animation, music videos, Pac-Man-like video games and more. Creations from this class, along with a copy of this software, will be sent home so students can continue to have fun.

Classes meet each Monday in March in Room 119 of Town Hall starting March 5. This program, for children 8-12, will meet from 4-5:30. The fee is $120.

Horses 101: Introduction to horses will be offered at Mead Farm in Stamford this winter. Each session will include a half hour horseback riding lesson in the outdoor ring and half hour horsemanship class covering general horse care, grooming, tacking & untacking. Participants must fill out a waiver packet before the first session. Lessons are offered on Sundays, March 4-25, from 12:30-1:30; or Tuesdays, March 13-April 3, from 6-7. Program fee is $185.