STUTTGART, Germany -- Child, Youth and School Services is offering a smorgasbord of activities for youth ages 3-18 in the Stuttgart military community.
This summer, newcomers can sign up for the Stuttgart Youth Newcomer’s Orientation and learn to navigate downtown Stuttgart. Other activities include scuba diving, rock climbing, trips to a rope course, and an art summer camp, which teaches children how to tie dye their own T-shirts.
Children entering kindergarten in the fall can sign up for Kindergarten Boot Camp.
CYS Services also provides “Rockin’ Summer” camps at the School Age and Youth Centers.
School Age Center camps are available by the week for children who have finished first through sixth grade (in June 2011). The summer camps have weekly themes such as exploring, adventure and space, nature, animals, humans and health, which align with the field trips. For example, during the Drama Week, children will visit the Opera House. During Nature/Animal week, they’ll check out Stuttgart’s zoo. In Adventure/Exploring week, campers will take a trip to Sensopolis, a hands-on exploration experience for kids.
“The themes were created based on what youth clubs are popular and what interests the youth have,” said Genevieve Nystrom, USAG Stuttgart CYS Services outreach services director. “We’d like the youth to come away with learning new life skills, educational skills, and of course have fun while discovering what Germany has to offer.
“It is also a great way to socialize with their peers in a safe environment.”
With the School Age Center camp, families may register for the entire week of activities or they can call to reserve up to two days of hourly care per week, Nystrom said. For example, if someone wanted their child to attend the July 5 School Age Center camp field trip to Legoland, that person would call the school-age center directly to see if there is hourly care space available for that particular day. If space is available, children would pay a $30 fee for the day and the entrance fees for the field trip.
The Youth Centers camps also offer field trips including a visit to the theme park Tripsdrill, canoeing, and a “rat race” in downtown Stuttgart. Families may choose to register for a full week, or choose a maximum of up to two days of daily use for a cost of $16, plus the cost of entrance fees to the destination.
The amount of a full week of summer camp is dependent on the household’s income category, based on the family’s leave and earnings statements.
For children entering kindergarten in the 2011-12 school year, Kindergarten Boot Camp " led by CYS Services " is an option.
Department of Defense Dependents Schools teachers and CYS Services thought the offering was a good way to introduce children into a new environment, focusing on some of the differences between being a student in a prekindergarten classroom and starting kindergarten in an elementary school, Nystrom said.
A number of clinics are also available for budding athletes, as well as those who are looking to hone their skills. Sports clinics available during the summer include bowling, tennis, golf, and basketball.
“The sports clinics give kids something active to do and to keep them from sitting in front of the TV,” said Caitlin Smith, sports and fitness director for Stuttgart CYS Services. “They have the opportunity to try a new sport or continue playing the sport they love in the off season.”
The basketball clinic draws on the talent and many years of combined experience in the sport by parents, coaches and officials who serve as volunteers, Smith said.
“We definitely tap into that talent,” she said.
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