Spring 2023 Hometown Messenger

PARKS & RECREATION

Keeping the kids busy Parks and Rec offers wide variety of summer fun

When you’re searching for ways to fill your kids’ seemingly endless free time this summer, look no further than Shakopee Parks and Rec reation programming The Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide range of pro grams and activities for kids ranging from preschool to teenage years, including a big hit from 2022, Camp Little O’s “Last year was the first year we offered it, and it was my favorite program,” said Recreation Coordinator Courtney Satterthwaite, who helped design and instruct the weekly preschooler program “I’m super excited to do it again this year The parents seemed to love it too” This is a drop-off program for children ages three to five, so parents can enjoy some recharge time while their child engages in a fun morning of games, sports and arts and crafts “Each week centers around a theme,” Satterthwaite explained Last year, some themes included farm animals, dinosaurs, superheroes and winter “During winter theme week, the kids made snow out of shaving cream,” she said “We had a dinosaur week where the kids broke up those dinosaur eggs that are made out of clay and have a little dino saur on the inside It was really fun to see the kids doing arts and crafts and making friends” The themes may differ this summer, but the program will follow a similar format with a variety of activities to boost kids’ creativity Parks and Recreation has offerings for older children, as well Satter thwaite said the Adventure for Girls program for girls ages six to 12 was popular last year “Most of it was craft-centered,” she said “They painted rocks to look like cactuses and they decorated ceramic pots We do dance parties, and it’s just a big ol’ fun, crafty afternoon” The wildlife explorer program for ages six to 12 has also gotten posi tive reviews from kids

“They learn about the weather, animal sounds, insects and other fun outdoor stuff,” Satterthwaite said While the Parks and Recreation Department is best known for its swim lessons and sports programming, Satterthwaite wants parents to know that not everything offered by the department is sports-centered New this year is Kite Camp, where kids will complete a workshop and make their own kites A representative from the Minnesota Kite Society will be visiting to teach the workshop “If your kid isn’t very into sports, we are all about other creative activi ties,” she said “We really do have a variety of well-rounded activities It’s going to be a fun summer!”

Recreation Coordinator Courtney Satterthwaite helps during the Camp Little O’s programming in 2022

Drop in to the redesigned Shakopee Skate Park

The upgrades to the Shakopee Skate Park are off the rails The skate park has been a summertime staple in Shakopee for two decades, but it under went improvements in the fall due to safety concerns with the aging wooden ramps and other amenities The upgraded ramps are made of concrete, which is safer and requires less maintenance The following features were added in the redesign: fly out box jump, adjustments to the stair rail feature, and a drinking fountain The skate park is outside of the Shakopee Community Center and is free to use Skate boards, roller skates or blades, and bikes are welcome

The skate park underwent improvements in the fall

Spring 2023 9