Kids enjoying a break from Art In The Park to cool off with water games and baseball

This summer has been packed with great programs for kids like the JUKO program and Arts In The Park, the Outdoor Movie Series and Pig Out, 2011.  And the summer isn’t over yet! (see video below of the crowd at the outdoor movie last night).

The summer Art In The Park was a great program led by experienced folks including Lindsey Pitts, Earham art major studying photography.  She worked with the children on photography using the cameras on their own, and also sun prints which were very popular with the kids.

A portion of the "art show" included photography done by the children

Amy LaFuze has been with the summer arts program for many years, according to Angie Radel another camp helper.  Amy’s love of art was evident in all the different art mediums that the kids experienced over the last five weeks.

Kayla, one of the summer camp kids, said her favorite art experience was “the frozen paint ice cubes,” which they used to paint pictures. Thursday was the conclusion of Art in The Park with an art show in the cabin.

Juko is still going strong for a few more weeks in July

Settling in to enjoy the outdoor movie "Yogi Bear"

However, Juko is still going strong for a few more weeks in July.  Friday was “Pajama Day” at JUKO and the kids as well as counselors wore their PJ’s to the Richmond Art Museum where they had lunch on the lawn and then went inside to watch “Honey I Shrunk The Kids” in the theatre.  Fun field trips like the above, and pool days have gone on all summer including a visit from the fire department to spray the kids a couple of times a month.

Another offering from the Richmond Parks and Recreation Department is the Outdoor Movie series.  Last night hundreds of families settled in at dusk for “Yogi Bear” at the Fairview elementary lawn.

An art portfolio created by a student of the arts in the parks program

Concessions, bouncers, games offered by the JUKO program, light up necklaces and a 50/50 drawing were included in the festivities.

This year the movies have been shown at schools and in neighborhoods within walking distance of the area.  It has been fun to visit different sites each time a movie is shown.

Coming up….the Outdoor Concert Series starts in August

Some of the happy people who make the summer programs possible

Each week a new band will perform live at the hill in Glen Miller Park.  Many genres of music are included in the month long music celebration.  For more information on the programs the park is offering you can visit their Facebook site under “Richmond Parks & Recreation” for updates.

Many families have enjoyed all the great things the parks have offered this summer, thanks to the Richmond Parks and Recreation Dept.

To see more pictures of summer events by RPRD you can visit Go Wayne County’s facebook site.