TYLER, Texas — Kids are out of school across East Texas and summer is right around the corner!
To keep kids busy and active, the cities of Tyler and Longview are offering free summer programs over the next few months.
The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department is offering its Summer Playground Program and Glass Summer Camp for kids ages 6-12.
The programs are free and will be run by playground and camp leaders.
Activities will range from sports, games, arts and crafts, fun water activities and special visits from local organizations.
Participants will also be able to go on field trips and swim at Fun Forest Pool.
The Summer Playground Program will be hosted at three park locations:
- Glass Recreation Center
- P.T. Cole Park
- Emmett J. Scott Park
Each site will provide breakfast and lunch daily
To learn more on how to register, check out their website. The programs run from Monday, June 12 - Friday, Aug. 4.
A new program established by the Christian Women's Job Corps is its child summer care program in conjunction with its literacy program.
The organization will be partnering with the Literacy Council of Tyler to provide free summer literacy classes for women wanting to learn to speak English. The program will also provide Spanish computer classes, Bible study and free lunch.
Free childcare will be provided for participants for kids ages 3-10.
The childcare program will be held across the street from the Christian Women's Job Corps at the First Baptist Church of Tyler located at 301 W. Ferguson St.
"We are very excited for the first time to offer children's programming for the women participating in our summer classes," said Leslie Jones, executive director of Christian Women's Job Corps. "We want it to be a very fun atmosphere for the kids where they can come and feel like they're at vacation bible school or summer camp where we'll have family literacy, training, and Bible lessons."
Registration will take place at the Christian Women's Job Corps, located at 310 W. Ferguson St. on June 1, 6 and 8.
Organizers are also looking for volunteers to join the nonprofit. To learn more on ways you can serve, click here.
Over in Gregg County, the city of Longview has a plethora of summer programs ranging from karate classes to its free summer reading program.
"The Longview Public Library offers a summer reading program, the Summer Reading Club," said Richard Yeakley, Longview's public information officer. "It gives these kids an opportunity to stay reading throughout the summer, so they enter the next year a step ahead, which is really valuable for their education."
The East Texas Food Bank is in partnership with some East Texas cities and organizations for its annual Summer Food Program.
"Summertime is a difficult time for families that are struggling with food insecurity," said Dennis Cullinane, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. The purpose of this program is for us to fill that gap and try to help them through the time when they can't provide those meals."
The program will offer free breakfast and lunch to kids 18 and younger.
The program will start June 6 and will provide meals at 30 locations across East Texas, Monday-Friday.
To see the locations where the ETFB will be handing out food, click here.
To learn more about the program and how you can volunteer, check out their website.