MIAMI — Enrollment is open for the Fit to Play, Green It Up Summer Camps offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Located at 38 parks throughout the county from June 11-August 17, the camps will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, offer 7:30 a.m. early drop-offs and 6:00 p.m. late pick-up options, and are managed by recreation professionals.
At $40-$90 per week, Miami-Dade Parks General Camps offer affordability and financial assistance and scholarships to those who qualify. General Camps offer children thrills and challenges, but are fully supervised, offering parents peace of mind, while children enjoy a full recreational schedule with fitness activities, sports, arts and crafts, nature encounters, quiet games and field trips.
Most of the camps offer rolling registration, so parents can enroll their child for one week or for several weeks at any time throughout the summer, but they must register at least one week prior to the desired start date, in some cases.
Parents can register for the general or specialized camp of choice directly at its host park. Parents also can register their child for most of Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps from the convenience of their own home with the new online registration system at miamidade.gov/parks. Families in need of financial assistance must register in person at their selected park.
Specialized camps focus on a specific interest and offer unique experiences that include EcoAdventuresTM, Nature-Science, Sports, Cultural Arts, and Zoo Miami camps. Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services also offers inclusion programs and specialized camps for those with disabilities, managed by certified therapeutic recreation specialists. Learn-to-Swim programs are also offered at most parks with pools, taught by American Red
Cross certified water-safety instructors. Specialized Camps are priced from $100-$225 per week. Camps for children with disabilities are free.
General and specialty camps also feature field trips to sites such as Zoo Miami, Crandon Park Visitors and Nature Center, Deering Estate at Cutler, and Pelican Island. Campers will also enjoy the annual end-of summer bash which includes games, sports competitions and lunch, July 24-27 at the Tropical Park Equestrian Center.
Miami-Dade Parks has teamed up with partner sponsors the University of Miami Health System (UHealth), the UM Miller School of Medicine, and The Children’s Trust, to provide the Fit-to-Play, Green-it-Up general camp program. In it children will learn the fundamentals of living a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, fitness and exercise, as well as safety and prevention. In addition, children will learn about the health benefits of going green as they discover that a healthy planet is essential for a healthy life by learning the basics of recycling, water conservation and other eco-friendly behaviors that are beneficial for the planet.
Free Camps for Children with Disabilities
There are six locations:
Camp Matecumbe, 13841 S.W. 120 St., call Belinda Phillips, 305-752-4966 or e-mail bphilli@miamidade.gov
Coral Estates Park, 1405 S.W. 97 Ave., call Celia Leyva, 305-226-1622 or e-mail leyva@miamidade.gov
Goulds Park, 21805 S.W. 114 Ave., call Jody Cox, 305-234-1673 or e-mail jsanti@miamidade.gov
Greynolds Park,18601 N.E. 22 Ave., call Kim Fowler, 305-954-3425 or e-mail: Kfowler@miamidade.gov
Tamiami Park, 11201 S.W. 24 St., call Arlene Bouza-Jou, 305-222-2128 or e-mail: arleneb@miamidade.gov
Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 S.W. 152 Ave., call Diana Bonet, 305-380-9106 or e-mail: dbonet@miamidade.gov
Learn-to-Swim Programs and Pools
Fees vary for each facility, contact the pool of your interest:
A.D. Barnes Park, 3401 S.W. 72 Ave., 305-665-1626
Arcola Park, 1680 N.W. 87 St., 305-691-5104
Helen Sands Park (South Dade), 16350 S.W. 280 St., 305-248-1386
Little River Park, 10525 N.W. 24 Ave., 305-696-7651
Naranja Park, 14150 S.W. 264 St., 305-258-4534
Palm Springs North Park, 7901 N.W. 176 St., 305-558-3762
Rockway Park, 9460 SW 27 Dr., 305-223-8742
Sgt. Delancy Park, 14450 Boggs Dr., 305-238-5692
Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St., 305-223-7077
Estates Park, 10201 SW 48 St., 305-221-5041
Gwen Cherry Park, 7090 NW 22 Ave., 305-694-4889
Miami-Dade Parks is funded in part by The Children’s Trust. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.
For more information, patrons are encouraged to call their local park, call 3-1-1 for Miami-Dade County Information or visit the Miami-Dade.
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