Programs open to keep kids busy during the summer months

Watch above: choices abound to keep kids busy this summer in Saskatoon

SASKATOON – Kids have been out of school now for a week and if they’re already driving parents up the wall, there are a number of summer programs that could help with more set to go in the coming days.

More and more kids are enrolling in summer programs each year, putting that built-up energy to work.

At the University of Saskatchewan, kids are learning the fundamentals of wrestling this week at Huskie Athletic Sport Camps.

“They enjoy the games, all those fundamental movement skills, they are all hidden games, all the wrestling skills, they just eat it up and it makes them better wrestlers,” said Daniel Olver, the Huskies wrestling head coach.

Wrestling is one of the many sports kids have the opportunity to learn. Next week the summer program will shift from the mat to the court.

“The kids are coming here to learn from the university athletes themselves as well as some of the university coaches and they’re not only working on those sport related skills but our coaches are going to work on team skills, personal individual skills,” said Adam Solie, Huskie Athletics event coordinator.

The attendance continues to grow. There are already 80 more kids registered for the Huskie Athletic Sport Camps this year than last.

“The numbers that we have this year is the last three years combined, which is very promising and I’m looking to add on to that for next year,” said Olver.

While they could be future Huskie athletes in the making, there are a number of other programs in different fields all over campus.

The city of Saskatoon is also back with it’s summer staples.

“It’s a well loved program, it’s free, that’s really important but it’s also accessible in the sense that we’re all over the city, 30 paddling pools, 17 spray pads, 11 youth centres and seven skateboard sites. The idea is that you don’t have to travel very far,” said Kevin Kitchen, City of Saskatoon community initiatives manager.

It’s expected about 80 per cent of children between 2 and 12 in Saskatoon will visit a City of Saskatoon Summer Playground Program at least once this summer.

Youth centres and skateboard programs open Friday.

Visit the City of Saskatoon for more information on summer leisure programs.