Youngsters Look to Summer of Fun on First Day Of Camp

School's out and summer camp is in at the Brandon Recreation Center.

Hundreds of young campers turned out today, June 13, for the first day of camp at the center.

“It’s the most exciting time of the year for me,” said Marty Bradley, Brandon’s veteran senior recreation specialist who is participating in her 29th summer camp in Brandon. “It’s always different every year. We get to see kids we have not seen all year.”

Open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., the camp runs June 13 through Aug. 19 and will cater to more than 400 youngsters this summer. One of the most affordable camps around – the camp costs $480 for the summer. Discounts are available for those on a low income and there are

Recreation leader Sal Tagliarini has been working in the county’s recreation program for 24 years.

“Today we will do out meet and greet with the kids, go over the rules and they start the fun and games,” Tagliarini said. “It’s an exciting time for the staff and kids.”

The Brandon Recreation Center also offers these summer camps:

• Karate Camp / Tuesday and Thursday / Session 1: June 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30. / Session 2: July 19, 21, 26, 28, Aug. 2, 4. / For ages 5-7: 5-5:30 p.m., $15 per session / For ages 8-10: 5:30-6 p.m., $15 per session / For ages 11 and up: 6-7 p.m., $30 per session.
• Baton Mini-Camp / Aug. 9-11, 9-11 a.m., $15.
• Dance Class / July 5-Aug. 16 / Ages 5-7: Ballet – Tap, 6-7 p.m., $6 per class / Ages 8-11: Ballet – Acrobatics – Jazz, 7-8 p.m., $6 per class / Call: April Curciso, 813-477-3358.

For more information on summer camps, call the , 502 E. Sadie St., at 813-635-8179.

The camps open as the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department - which runs the county's recreation centers - . Summer camps will not be impacted this year but the department is proposing eliminating after-school care at recreation centers.