Recreation options for the summer

MILLBROOK — The town of Washington’s park will begin daily operations every day between noon  and 7 p.m. this weekend and the acre-big, filtered chlorine pool is ready for swimming. The park welcomes everyone and seasonal passes for town residents and nonresidents may be purchased as well as single-day passes.  There are picnic areas, basketball courts, ball fields, a mini-golf putting green and even a fishing dock.

All park summer programs still have openings. For 30 years the park has offered a five-day-a-week, 9 a.m. to noon, morning summer program. It starts this year on Monday, July 5. Lowell Fisher is returning for his 10th year directing the mornings offering arts, sports and fun for 200 campers.

For children entering eighth or ninth grade there are the daily Counselor in Training (CIT) sessions, which prepare students in caring for younger children in preparation for becoming one of 35 counselors at the camp. An after-camp extra hour program is also being offered to extend pick-up time to 1 p.m. or to bridge the time until the afternoon activities begin.

Afternoon activities at the park include the Millbrook swim team for swimmers aged 5 to 18. Training three days a week under head coach Andrew Rossi and assistant coach Jennifer Bissonette, the team dates back to the 1960s and competes against other town parks like Stanford and LaGrange. Those who can still fit into their team bathing suits from last year pay $20 less.

Two-week American Red Cross swimming classes for all levels and taught by Water Safety Instructors offer children a progressive learn to swim program in small classes of only four to six students.

The Recreation Department also offers summer programs outside the park. Early in the morning there’s the youth tennis program that is taught at the Millbrook Community Tennis Courts; Thursday evening women’s tennis night with instruction is also available. The summer soccer clinic, headed by Nigel Pink, happens twice a week at the Dutchess Day School and the basketball clinic at Guertin gymnasium in the Village Hall runs in the mornings for two weeks in August.

Fit Camp is new this year. Responding to national concerns about student health, the Recreation Commission is offering a week-long summer fitness camp this year during the week of Aug. 9, for students entering grades four to eight. Fit Camp is intended to instill healthy choices in daily routines from diet to exercise.  Participants are advised to bring a water bottle, sneakers, a 6-foot rope, a sweatshirt and a bathing suit.

Stop by the town of Washington Recreation Office, located in Village Hall, or call the office at 845-677-8278, for more information.