By Tamas Mondovics
Promising fun, fitness and adventure for children K-5, Hillsborough County is once again accepting online registration for new participants in Rec2Six, an after-school care program for children in grades K-5.
In addition to registering online, parents or guardians can enroll their child Monday through Friday, from 4-6 p.m. at one of the county’s nine participating Rec2Six locations, including the Brandon center, located at 502 E. Sadie St. and Mango center at 1717 Clay Pit Road. in Seffner.
The program offers a full schedule of activities weekday afternoons for children under the direction of the Hillsborough County department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
According to County officials, the program joins America’s movement to raise a healthier generation of kids by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices through physical activity and nutrition education.
“Rec2six encourages healthy lifestyle-choices through physical activity and nutrition education,” said county spokesperson, Kemly Green. “The program also provides seasonal sports, fitness activities, art programs, and special activities.”
Just to name a few, program elements include, the Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) curriculum, where participants spend 40-60 minutes each day in active structured play and skill building. Students are evaluated at regular intervals for improvements in fitness, coordination and manipulative skills, officials said.
In partnership with Hillsborough County Extension, participants will be introduced to healthy food choices in a variety of program elements.
Homework assistance and a number of new computer technology-based enrichment activities are also on the program’s to-do list.
With a weekly rate of $38 and reduced rates of $30 and $20 per week available with a current school reduced or free lunch letter, all participants are promised a full schedule of daily after school activities.
“The county will continue to evaluate the program to determine its viability resulting in a future decision whether to keep the programs at the currently offered locations,” Green said.
The start date for the Rec2Six program is Tuesday, August 20.
For more information, contact one of the above centers, or visit www.rec2six.org.
