Hearts, Wallets Open to Help Children in Need at Brandon Recreation Center Yard Sale, Family Fun Day

Helping children in need was all about fun and finding a bargain Saturday, April 23, as hundreds of children and parents turned out for the Brandon Recreation Center Community Yard Sale and Family Fun Day.

An inflatable bounce house, slide and gladiator pit, as well as free ice cones, kept the youngsters happy, while parents were able to peruse various tables for bargains on everything from fishing rods to books.

All proceeds from the April 23 event at 510 East Sadie St. helped pave the way for children to attend Hillsborough County after-school and summer camp programs. Parents also were invited to register their children for the   program run by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at 33 sites countywide, including the Brandon Recreation Center and park.

Ricky Sanders, an eight-year veteran counselor at the summer camp, kept a watchful eye on the gladiator pit where children wearing special pads battled opponents with padded sticks early Saturday morning.

He said he is not surprised the camp is popular with parents, children and counselors.

“It’s very rare to find something that the parents, kids and staff all love, but this is it,” Sanders said. “You have people with college degrees working here for pennies because they enjoy it so much and want to give something back to the next generation."

Sanders said he also believes parents like the fact that the summer camp staff has remained stable over the years. Another draw for parents, he said, is the camp’s childcare certification and the commitment of the staff to the children.

“We have meetings every week to see what is and is not working,” he said. “The staff is committed to making sure the kids have a good time.”

Cost for the camp, which runs June 13 through Aug. 19, is $480. Pay in full at the time of registration and the price drops to $400. Going into Saturday’s event, there were some 100 spots yet to fill.

The camp can accommodate 375 campers.

The county camp program also allows for a discount based on need. To qualify, a registrant needs to submit the first page of the Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for 2010.

There’s no better value in town, said Heide Coffelt, a mom with two children in the program.

“I’ve checked around and some camps are charging as much for one week as they are charging for the whole summer here,” she said.

The staff also keep things fresh with field trips, says Coffelt, whose daughter, Savannah,  is set to begin her third year at the camp. “The counselors are very well organized and they always have the same staff year after year,” Heidi Coffelt said. "That says a lot.”

For Savannah, it’s just about fun.

“I like it because I have a lot of friends here and we get to play sports.”

The fact that it fills up so quickly is a testament to the camp’s appeal, said Glenda Jaudon, a senior recreation leader with 27 years of experience at the .

“It gives the children a chance to socialize with others, go on field trips and just have lots of fun.”   

The cost to register for half the camp season is $240. The half-term camps run June 13 through July 15 or July 18 through Aug. 19.

For information on spots available at the Brandon Recreation Center and park, call (813) 635-8179.

For information about other locations, call the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at (813) 635-3500. You can view and print the application form online.

The Max-Out Summer Camp is scheduled to be offered at the following Great Brandon (and nearby) recreation centers:

• Bloomingdale Park, 3940 Canoga Park Drive, Brandon / (813) 744-5907

• Brandon Park and recreation center, 502 E. Sadie St., Brandon / (813) 635-8179

• Keysville Park, 9390 Edison Road, Lithia / (813) 757-3717

• Mango Park, 11717 Clay Pit Road, Seffner / (813) 635-7489   

• Providence West Park, 5417 Providence Road, Riverview / (813) 635-7452

• Riverview Park, 7807 Capitano St., Riverview / (813) 671-7617

• Progress Village Park, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa / (813) 671-7633

• Apollo Beach Park, 664 Golf & Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach / (813) 671-7635

• Turkey Creek Park, 5936 Connell Road, Plant City / (813) 757-3822

• Valrico Park, 707 S. Miller Road, Valrico / (813) 744-5928

The remaining 23 sites, which might be more convenient to work or to family and other caregivers, are noted below:

• All Peoples Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa / (813) 744-5595

• Bethune Park,  5809 Edina St., Wimauma / (813) 671-7618

• Carrollwood Meadows Park, 13918 Farmington Blvd., Tampa / (813) 964-2952

• Carrollwood Park, 3516 McFarland Road, Tampa / (813) 975-2104

• Country Place Park, 15728 Country Lake Drive, Tampa / (813) 964-2921

• Egypt Lake Park, 3126 W. Lambright St., Tampa / (813) 975-2103

• Gardenville Park, 6219 Symmes Road, Gibsonton / (813) 672-1120

• Jackson Springs Park, 8620 Jackson Springs Road, Tampa / (813) 554-5004  

• Kenly Park, 3101 N. 66th St., Tampa / (813) 744-5531

• Keystone Park, 17928 Gunn Highway, Odessa / (813) 264-3819

• Morganwoods Park, 7510 Soccer Ave., Tampa / (813) 801-6844

• Mort (NFL/YET) Park, 1815 E. 148th Ave., Lutz / (813) 975-2101

• Northdale Park, 5550 Spring Pine Drive, Tampa / (813) 264-8956

• Northlakes Park, 2604 N. Lakeview Drive, Tampa / (813) 264-3824

• Nye Park, 630 Sunset Lane, Lutz / (813) 264-3805

• Roy Haynes Park, 1902 S. Village Ave., Tampa / (813) 903-3480

• Ruskin Park, 901 6th St. S.E., Ruskin / (813) 672-7881

• Thonotosassa Park, 10132 Skewlee Road, Thonotosassa / (813) 987-6206

• Timberlane Park, 10210 Westgate Drive, Tampa / (813) 554-5048

• Town ‘N Country Park, 7002 W. Hanna Ave., Tampa / (813) 801-6863

• University Park, 14015 N. 22nd St., Tampa / (813) 903-2200

• •Westchase Park, 9791 Westchase Drive, Tampa / (813) 964-2948

• Winston Park,7605 Destin Drive, Tampa / (813) 744-5539