By Heather Wood

Whew! I do not know about you, but I feel like we were just ringing in the New Year—and now spring is just around the corner! Mother Nature sure has made this winter interesting with her roller-coaster of seasons. Only in North Carolina can we experience ALL four season in one week! I will be glad to see the warmer weather stick around, so we can enjoy the sunshine and beautiful landscapes of a rejuvenating season coming to life.

Now is the time to think about registering kids for sports leagues and activities. Here is a quick reference guide for the highlights of some of the most popular leagues and recreational activities around:

Mentor Tennis Group Lessons (Ages 6-12 & Adults – Ages 13 & Up)

Come out to Fourth of July Park this spring on Saturdays and get ready for tennis season with Coach Rod Pearce. Mentor Tennis, Ltd., is conducting group tennis lessons every Saturday morning for 7 weeks, starting March 18. Beginner and Intermediate players are welcome. For specific dates, times, and age ranges, please visit our website at www.KVParks.com.

Kernersville Cannons Lacrosse (Boys U9-U15 & Girls 3-8 grade)

Play the fastest growing sport in America! The Kernersville Cannons are entering their 9^th season. No experience is needed, our coaches will give you the fundamentals to play and enjoy the game. All new players can borrow protective equipment from KPRD (helmet, gloves, and pads for boys, and goggles for girls). All players will need to provide their own stick. A US Lacrosse Membership is required, for only $30, paid annually. You must have a US Lacrosse membership number to register. Visit www.USLacrosse.org/membership to get started!

Spring Break Basketball Camp (K-8 graders)

This camp provides boys and girls a chance to take their game to the next level by giving them an opportunity to improve their fundamentals. Each age group and all skill levels will have favorable gym time, station work, and team play. Younger campers, (K-2 graders) will be shooting on lower, age appropriate goals. Campers will learn passing, ball handling, rebounding, court spacing, team offense, and defensive skills. They will have FUN and gain self-confidence, allowing them to create their own winning formulas on and off the court. Our Crews Control Skills and Development Camp is hosted by Charles Crews and will take place Monday (April 10)-Thursday (April 13). For all the details, visit our website at www.KVParks.com.

Remember, playing sports is not just for kids. Kernersville Parks & Recreation is fielding a host of co-ed teams for adults this spring. Adult sports offerings include traditional softball, basketball and volleyball leagues, and a few which are more unconventional. Try pickleball! It is a combination of Ping-Pong, badminton, and tennis. We are also bringing back your favorite childhood sport, kickball. It is a great way to make friends and meet people; especially if you like teamwork, kicking things, and winning!

Playing in our big leagues allows adults to shake off the stresses of the day, and sweat-off the calories from those office cafeteria lunches and stuffy business dinners. Sports can keep your heart rate up, your weight down, and your attitude in check.

Softball League (Ages 18 & up)

Join us at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex for one of the largest Adult NSA Sanctioned leagues in the Triad. Women’s, Co-Ed, and Men’s Leagues are offered. Play a 10-game regular season with a double elimination tournament at the end. Scheduled games will be played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.

Kickball League (Ages 18 & up)

If you liked playing kickball as a kid, we are sure you will love it as an adult! Fun and full of exercise, many adults are embracing this favorite childhood pastime. But while basics of the childhood game remain the same; (i.e. players kick a large red ball, then try to make it around three bases), adult kickball brings even MORE fun and socializing to the game.

Back in 1998, a few friends started the World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA Kickball) to help people get active and meet fun-loving people. Their thinking? Kickball, like all team sports, encourages bonding and sportsmanship. But unlike soccer or baseball, kickball does not require extreme athletic ability.

Just like in the fifth grade, there are rules…though not too many of them. There is a double elimination tournament at the end.

It is not too late to register a team. For more information, visit www.KVParks.com.

2017 Summer Camp (Ages 6-12)

Summer will be here before we know it. There are so many reasons why summer camp is a good thing for kids. Kids spending too much time on the internet, playing video games, or watching TV results in them experiencing less time engaging in actual conversations or participating in physical activities. Now more than ever, it is important for parents to provide wholesome opportunities for their children so they can get outside in nature, and challenge themselves while bonding with other kids in a safe setting which emphasizes support.

KPRD offers a recreational “playground” camp that features creative group activities and opportunities for individual growth. Our goals are simple: to provide positive experiences for the development of leisure experiences, good sportsmanship, positive self-esteem, respect for others, teamwork, self-discipline, and most importantly—FUN! Each week, campers will enjoy visiting our local parks, swimming, service projects, and a field trip.

This camp is specifically designed for youth ages 6-12. If your child is younger than the minimum age, your child will be accepted if they have attended Kindergarten. All Summer Camp counselors are employed by the Town of Kernersville and are 18 years or older. Each counselor has been drug-tested, passed a thorough background check, and completed camp training. Our counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:12. On field trip days, we will have additional staff and volunteers to keep campers safe and happy!

This year camp will run for eight weeks. It will meet from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday, June 12 – August 11. There will be extended care from 7:30 am – 9:00 am. The program will meet at Kernersville Parks & Recreation, located at 125 E. Bodenhamer Street.

Registration will begin March 13. Be sure to enroll your child before March 31 and the $50 registration fee is waived! For more details and a list of field trips, visit our website at www.KVParks.com.