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Summer is official over and our schools are busy again with children’s laughter and energy. Please be extra attentive when driving in the areas where children are accessing buses or near school zones again. School children are excited and thinking of many things while on their journeys to and from school.

To help protect children drivers should slow down in or near school and residential areas where children are playing. Driving with headlights on, even during the day will help increase safety. It helps children and other drivers see you. While driving, look for clues that children may be present such as school-zone signs, School Safety Patrols, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds. Look for children between parked cars and other objects and anticipate they may dart out in front of your vehicle. This will help keep the children safe as they return to school.

The Parks and Recreation Department has once again had a very busy and successful season during the summer months. Sports camp, fitness classes, MICKYS youth sailing, the fishing Camp, youth tennis lessons and baby sitting certification classes, just to name a few, saw full classes where everyone had a great deal of fun. Our teen center was also jamming all summer long.

On Marco Island the seasons change with little notice. But, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department’s Fall programming offers many ways for residents and visitors to engage in indoor and outdoor activities.

Open registration for the Fall programming is happening now. Whether you are a parent seeking programs for your pre-school age child or an adult looking for an activity or fitness class to meet your schedule, the fall schedule can accommodate. There are many programs also available school aged children, including teens. Check out the city’s Web site to learn more about the fall programming. Visit the Parks and Recreation Web page or call Mackle Park at 642-0575 to learn more.

The City’s Racquet Center also provides many programs, including the every popular City Kids tennis program. For more information please call the Racquet Center at 394-5454.

FALL SUMMARY

Pre-school age children (3-5 years)

Creative craft class will be offered from 2-3:30 p.m. during the weeks of Sept. 8-12 and Oct. 6-10. The fee is $40 for resident and $48 for non-resident. Pre-registration is required.

Start Smart Basketball will be 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 11-Oct. 16. This is a national program that was created to introduce children to basic skills of varying sports. The program helps 4-5 year olds to understand basic movements, team work skills and rules of a particular game. This activity will be held at Mackle Park. The fee is $40 for resident and $48 for non-resident. Pre-registration is required.

Finger painting will be offered on Wednesdays from 1-2:30 p.m., Nov. 5-26. This is an interactive opportunity for these youngsters to get creative with their hands and feet. Participants will learn how to make animals, create flowers, and paint rainbows all using their fingers and toes. Pre-registration is required. The fee is $40 for resident and $48 for non-resident.

Tiny Tumblers classes will being on Sept. 9 and offered Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:20 p.m. Beginner tumblers will increase coordination, strength, and flexibility while performing basic tumbling moves. Young athletes will also practice listening and memorization skills, body awareness and control and skill recognition. Pre-registration is required. The fee is $40 for resident and $48 for non-resident. Pre-registration is required.

School age children (6-12 years)

Edible Art will be Sept. 24-Oct. 15 on Wednesdays. Participants will create everything from insects to animals using licorice, candy, pretzels, cookies, and much more. After the masterpieces are created the group will get to eat them. Participants should be between the ages of 7 and 10 years. The fee for the class is $50 for a resident and $60 for a non-resident. Pre-registration is required at Mackle Park.

Jr. Power Tumblers starts Sept. 8 with instructor Lyndsi Koszo. This class will teach athletes skill building drills, work on proper execution of skills already mastered, practice new skills and set new goals in the fundamentals of tumbling. The class is offered in four different levels from beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Please call Mackle Park for dates and times. The fee is $40 for resident and $48 for non-resident. Pre-registration is required.

Culinary Travel for Kids will begin Saturday morning, Sept. 13 and continue each week through Oct. 4. The culinary class is designed for participants to learn styles of food preparation from local restaurant chefs. The class will visit four area restaurants and learn the secrets to how these chefs make the food taste so good. Culinary travel is available for ages 11 through 18 years. The class fee is $95 for resident and $114 for non-residents. Pre-registration is required.

Jr. Magic Basketball League – This program is sponsored by the NBA/WNBA and the Orlando Magic Basketball Team. Participants will undergo three sessions of basketball clinics where they will be given basic skills and rules to the game of basketball. Participants will then be placed onto basketball teams for league play. Each player will be recognized at the end of the season for a participation ceremony. Uniforms and game tickets are provided by the Orlando Magic Jr. Magic Program. For further information call Parks and Recreation for clinic and game time schedules.

Teen scene special events

Two teen special events are planned. First, a Summer’s Over BBQ will happen from 5 to 7 p.m., Sept. 13, and second, a Guitar Hero competition will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Oct. 18.

Don’t forget, our drop-in Mackle Park Teen Center is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Tuesday-Saturday.

Family fun for all

Parks and Recreation have fun for the entire family too. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to Mackle Park’s field and enjoy a free movie under the stars. Popcorn, sodas, and neon necklaces will be available for purchase. All movies start 10 to 15 minutes after sunset.

The schedule is: Sept. 26 – “Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius;” Oct. 24 – “Wallace and Grommit: Curse of the Were Rabbit;” Nov. 14 – “School of Rock.”

From 5-7 p.m., Sept. 19, at the Mackle Park Soccer Field, the Annual NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick program will be held. This is a national skills competition for boys and girls between the ages of 8-15 to compete separately against their peers. This is a free program for girls and boys in four separate age divisions. Boys and girls compete against each other in punting, passing, and place kicking in a fun and engaging forum.

From 5 to 7 p.m., Oct. 25, the Annual Halloween Spooktackular will be hosted at Mackle Park. Events to include a Halloween costume contest for ages 11 and under, music, games, food and pumpkin patch sales by TBE PTO, super science and amazing art experiments, and much more. The event is free to the public.

For further information please call Mackle Park at 642-0575 or the Racquet Center at 394-5454.