FREDERICK FAMILIES \\
So Many Programs Geared Toward Kids , SO LITTLE TIME
BY DIANA MOTA
Frederick County offers parents many ways to keep their children entertained and active yearround , and many are free or low cost . The county ’ s community college , library system and recreation department all have an assortment of year-round programs that cover a wide range of interests and ages .
Frederick Community College Frederick Community College ( FCC ) develops its classes with the hope of creating an “ aha ” moment that will trigger a desire to learn more about a subject , said Karen Freeman , FCC youth programs manager . Programs are designed especially for students from age 4 to 15 years .
The college offers educational opportunities in a variety of subjects , including science , technology , creative and culinary arts , literature and cultures , and health and wellness . Although the schedule changes from year to year , many of the classes have become a regular part of the youth program due to high demand .
The college ’ s Kids on Campus hands-on enrichment program targets kids ages 4 to 11 , while Teens on Campus offers interactive programs and educational classes for teens up to 15 years of age .
Classes are held when Frederick County Public Schools are closed , as well as on weekends and after school . During the summer , weeklong morning and afternoon classes are scheduled from late June to early August . More than 150 classes are offered , and most of them span a week , while a few last two weeks .
The majority of teachers who work with the youth are certified public or private school teachers , in addition to some field experts .
FCC ’ s home-school enrichment program offers specially designed programs to complement at-home schooling . Faculty , home-school parents and educational professionals provide weekday instruction in a variety of academic areas such as science and technology , creative arts , history and cultures , literature and languages .
Financial assistance is available based on need and availability of funds . Visit www . frederick . edu / workforce-continuing-education / ce / youth-programs . aspx for more information .
Frederick County Parks & Recreation The Frederick County Parks & Recreation department , with its numerous parks and facilities , including several community-schoolpartnered recreation centers , offers individual and family activities for all ages of children . In addition , parks throughout the county host their own activities and camps , said Eric Appel , recreation superintendent .
Some of the programs are special one-time events , such as visits to a local pumpkin patch , or individual classes that recur over several weeks . Programs include a wide variety of genres , such as sports , dance , arts and crafts , cooking , music , swimming and more . The recreation department even sponsors sport leagues , starting at age 5 .
In addition to offering their own programming , the county ’ s two nature centers — Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center in Middletown and Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center in Walkersville — and the Rose Hill Manor Park & Children ’ s Museum are available for special programs , including for home-schoolers , scouts or for birthday parties . The department also sells discounted tickets for amusement parks in the Mid-Atlantic region on a cash-only basis .
Parks and recreation programs are a low-cost way to experiment , Appel said . “ The financial investment is minimal , and it ’ s a good place to try out new things and gauge a child ’ s interest .”
Nearly all of the programs are suitable for beginners , he added .
The volume of programs and locations can make finding the information a bit of a challenge , Appel said . So four times per iSTOCKPHOTO . COM / FSTOP123
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