By: Amy Filippone, Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Extracurricular activities have taken on a new level of meaning as the kids return to hybrid school schedules. The fall youth programs range from basketball clinics to Robotics Remote Learning Pods. Get a jump on pie baking for Thanksgiving or learn to make paper from pulp. All classes will adhere to New Jersey State COVID-19 Safety Standard Guidelines.
Get those keyboard fingers dirty with art classes. Two six-week pottery classes will be offered, both from 4:30 to 6 p.m. On Mondays, beginning Sept. 14, attendees can learn the fundamentals of ceramics: slab-building, hand-building and hand-coiling, or make your own jewelry with the pottery bead making class that will be held on Tuesdays (beginning Sept. 22). Beads will be hand crafted from clay and made into jewelry.
Papermaking is a new, two-day workshop on Thursday, Oct. 8 and Friday Oct. 9 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Kids will experiment with adding materials like denim, flowers, seeds and color. After the paper is made from pulp, and it will be transformed into beautiful cards, stationary, bookmarks or plantable seed ornaments.
Outdoor fall basketball clinics including “Ball Handling and 3v3 Skills” will be offered for boys and girls (separately) in two age groups — grades three to four and five to eight. Under the lights at the newly refurbished basketball courts at Maple Dawson Park, boys will play on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 22 and girls on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 23 for five weeks. This is a great opportunity to sharpen fundamental skills and develop game smarts. The first 30 minutes will be a drill of passing, shooting, footwork and ball handling. Learn how to get open, pass and cut, triple threat and be a positive team player. The second part of the clinic will be 3 on 3 games. This is a great way to exercise, have some fun and enjoy the fall weather.
Baking and culinary classes offer a wide range of delicious choices from apple cider donuts and cinnamon rolls to chicken strips and cheddar biscuits. The Thanksgiving pie classes fill quickly so sign up soon. Kids will learn basic knife skills, kitchen safety, baking fundamentals and a life skill that will empower them. They bring home what they make.
Remote Robotics Learning Pods will be offered Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for first through sixth graders. Parents have the option of signing up daily. Children will learn to create fun games through drag and drop programming, building robots and delvin into lego coding.
To register and for full details on all programs (including requirements) visit www.moorestownrec.com.
