The Harrison Township Recreation Commission has announced it will partner with the USA Sports Institute to provide the Spring Squirts program this spring.
The program will take place on Thursdays at Ella Harris Park from April 18 through June 6. It is aimed at introducing kids who are 2-and-a-half through 5-and-a-half years old to sports.
“It’s nice, since there are parents who want their kids to start getting into sports,” said Recreation Coordinator Sharon Chew. “Most programs, like Little League, start offering programs at 5 years old, and this helps them prepare for things like that.”
Split into three age groups, the program will feature multiple sports, including soccer, flag football, basketball, hockey and T-ball. The USA Sports Institute will provide instructors and equipment.
Up first is the Squirts program for kids 2-and-a-half to 3 years old who must be accompanied by a parent to help them with the group’s activities. Hours will be 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. The Squirts sessions for ages 3 to 4 will take place from 4:20 to 5:05 p.m. The third Squirts group is for kids 4 to 5-and-a-half and will run from 5:10 to 5:55 p.m.
Chew said Spring Squirts benefits both parents and kids by allowing them to interact with each other and build friendships in the program.
“It gives parents the chance to talk to one another and how to be better as parents,” she explained. “Kids get the chance to meet new people and make friends to hang out with later in the year.”
“In addition to having a great time playing sports,” the recreation commission posted on Facebook, “children will develop social interaction and communication skills. All sports are developed through a series of games and activities designed to ensure learning, and most importantly, fun, fun, fun.”
The partnership between the institute and the commission is not new, but Spring Squirts is the first time in 10 years they have hosted a program together, according to Chew.
“We just rekindled a partnership with them and created the Spring Squirts program together,” Chew noted. “We initially started when I took over in 2007, and it was real popular for a while. It ended eventually, and this is the first time we’ve had the program in a decade.”
Parents can register their children for the Spring Squirts program on the USA Sports Institute website, where there is information on fees.
Said Chew: “We’re ready for spring.”
