Saturday, May 31, 2008

LL summer activities are outdoors — in most cases

Duane Barbati News-Bulletin Staff Writer; dbarbati@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas Exciting experiences of rock-climbing, archery, fishing or playing flag football, basketball and baseball can be found through two Village of Los Lunas Department of Parks and Recreation programs.

Ultimate Summer and Outdoor Adventures are coed programs being sponsored by the Village's parks and recreation during the summer months.

The Ultimate Summer program features sports camps and tournaments for 7-year-olds to 14-year-olds from June through August at the Daniel Fernandez Memorial Park, 1103 Highway 314.

"We wanted to get kids conscious about being physically fit," said Jason Duran, Parks and Recreation Youth Coordinator. "It's a way for kids to have fun and get kids active in sports."

Ultimate Summer features a flag football league and 3-on-3-basketball tournament. Athletes can also register for tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball and AYSO soccer sports camps.

Flag football is $30 per person and starts June 7, which includes a T-shirt and jersey at the Daniel Fernandez football field located within the Park. A tennis camp is July 14-16 for $25 per person, and will be held at the Fernandez Park tennis courts. The basketball camp is July 1-2 at the Youth Center for $25 per athlete.

The Hoops Explosion 3-on-3 tournament, which is part of the Ultimate Summer, is Aug. 2-3 and is $60 per team. Hoops Explosion is for ages 8 to adult. The price of the tennis, basketball and 3-on-3 tournament includes a T-shirt.

"Our instructors for the basketball, tennis and baseball camps are from the Los Lunas schools," said Duran. "They're physical education teaches. We have volunteer coaches for our flag football league."

The Ultimate Summer program, in its fourth year, will offer an AYSO soccer camp, July 28 to Aug. 1 at the Los Lunas Sportsplex, for $97 for the first athlete from each household. A $5 discount for each additional family member is available. Registration for the soccer camp is at the Youth Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 7.

"We try to keep the kids busy," said Duran. "A lot of the parents are always looking for their kids to do any activity during the summer."

The volleyball and baseball camps are $25 per person for each camp, which includes a T-shirt, but times and dates have not been announced for the camps.

The Outdoor Adventures program includes hiking, fishing, archery, BB guns and rock-climbing classes through the Village of Los Lunas Parks and Recreation Open Space. The program is for children ages 8-11. The $30 registration fee is for all five activities. Each activity will be two to three half-day sessions from 8a.m. to noon during July.

"We wanted to have some outdoor activities for kids to do other then sports," said Pat Jaramillo, park ranger for the Open Space. "I grew up doing this stuff. I wish they had this when I was growing up."

Registration is being taken at the Visitors' Center, 3447 Lambros Rd., 8a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide the equipment needed for each activity. There will be a limit of 30 students for the Outdoor Adventures program. All participants are required to wear proper attire for each activity.

"It's an opportunity to give kids something different to do," said Jaramillo. "They might find something that interests them and keep doing."

For more information about Outdoor Adventures, call Pat Jaramillo at 352-7728. For Ultimate Summer, call Jason Duran at 352-7663. Information about both programs can be found on the Village's parks and recreation website, www. loslunasnm.gov/parksandrec.

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