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closeSUMMER ESCAPES
Rediscover your hometown with local events
Joan Cronk / for The Herald
Parents in the Puyallup, Sumner and Bonney Lake area may still be experiencing that sigh of relief that comes with the last day of school. Soon, however, they will begin to hear those two little words that every parent dreads — “I’M BORED.”
Do not worry. Puyallup, Sumner and Bonney Lake are rich in opportunities this summer for children and teens to learn, grow and just hang out for a while.
Puyallup Park and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of classes, workshops and opportunities for children of all ages, said Dick Weber, recreation manager. There are 59 acres at Bradley Park just begging to be explored and with the addition of two new ball fields, a baseball game can start up at the drop of a hat. Bradley Park will offer a Cinema Series with movies beginning at dusk, and two concerts in the park on July 23 and Aug. 13. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.
The rec department has a reciprocal agreement this year with Fife Swim Center so folks in Puyallup can swim at the Fife pool by paying at resident rates.
Puyallup’s Concerts in the Park series at Pioneer Park will be happening every Thursday for family concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays for children. The wading pools will be open for business on most days when weather permits, with special activities for the little ones taking place at 4 p.m. Fridays.
Puyallup’s Got Talent will be auditioning from 1 to 6 p.m. July 21 at the Liberty Theater for youth and adults. For details, access the Puyallup Parks and Rec Web site to download the entire 2008 summer brochure at www.cityofpuyallup.org.
Puyallup also offers a wide variety of day camps, including but not limited to a Mad Science Camp, baby-sitting camp, martial arts, overnight camps for teens and a NASA camp where youth ages 5 to 12 can journey to outer space and look for comets and stars.
Cara Cross of Meridian Habitat Park and Community Center is very excited about what they are offering this summer.
“We have a couple of different things we are going to do,” she said.
One of them is working with the Pierce County Environmental Educators of Public Works on Mountains to Sound Echo Adventure Camp.
“They will do some ecology stuff, some hiking, some experiments and tours of local places all around Pierce County,” Cross said.
The camp, for children ages 11 to 15, has two sessions: July 14 through 18 and July 28 through Aug. 1.
Ryan Misley, environmental educator for Pierce County, is enthused about this camp where children will meet professionals and learn about sustainability and the choices that we make. Educators will take the kids on the Trail of the Giants, a one-mile loop through old growth trees, and talk about things like forest fires and their effects.
“We never want them to feel they are in a classroom,” said Misley.
Students will journal and learn map reading.
Meridian Habitat Park and Community Center offers a Mad Science Camp in August and a Tweens Cooking Camp.
Rebecca Giles, community recreation and education director and Sumner High School pool supervisor, said Sumner also offers a “wide variety of programming for all ages during the summer.”
There is an action day camp for children 6 through 12, for example.
“We take 55 kids to our Robert Miller Gym location in the Valley and to our location up in Bonney Lake at Emerald Hills Elementary,” said Giles.
The camps run for one week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and costs $115 per week. The children will also go on field trips and swim.
“All the regular things that camps do,” said Giles.
Sumner offers a variety of camps and clinics through their high school coaches. NFL football players Dane Looker from Puyallup, who now plays for the St. Louis Rams, and Mike Karney from Covington, who now plays for the New Orleans Saints, will be on hand to give tips and some hands-on advice.
David Wells, special events coordinator for Bonney Lake, said his area has a whole list of activities and opportunities for kids this summer, ranging from an opportunity to “Touch a Truck” where children can check out all the city vehicles ranging from dump trucks, police cars and construction rigs, to Kids Club at Cedarview every Tuesday at 11 a.m. from July through August.
On Friday nights at Allan Yorke Park you can bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy a family movie night and on Wednesday evenings starting at 7 p.m. outdoor entertainment will take place and consist of local bands.
The Missoula Children’s Theater will provide a week-long residency starring 50 or 60 local students in a full scale musical.
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Top 10 things for adults to do this summer
1 Stars on Stage competitions, featuring local bands, start at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at Allan Yorke Park in Bonney Lake.
2 Spend an evening relaxing in Pioneer Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for the Concerts in the Park series.
3 Enjoy reggae and big band music at Sumner’s Music Off Main concerts at 6:30 p.m. Friday nights in July.
4 Learn about crime prevention at Bonney Lake’s National Night Out from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 3.
5 Buy some local produce at the Farmers’ Market Saturdays and Sundays in Pioneer Park.
6 Take in the arts at the Sumner Summer Arts Festival, Aug. 1-2.
7 Friday Night Flix features local bands starting at 7 p.m. to dusk, followed by Disney movies.
8 See classic cars at the Goodguys Car Show, July 25-27 at the fairgrounds.
9 Want more cars? Try the 9th Annual Classy Chassis Car Show on Aug. 26 in downtown Sumner.
10 Watch family friendly movies at dusk during the Outdoor Cinema Series at Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup.