School is over; summer is here; vacation has started. At first, children thoroughly enjoy the unstructured leisure time now available to them, but this may not last. Days stretch on, and parents may soon hear the dreaded refrain: “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do!”
Many local churches are offering a solution for this problem. Recruiting volunteers and providing curriculum, they have created enjoyable and informative programs that will give children hours of enjoyment at little or no cost.
- Several churches are combining efforts to offer a Sports Camp at Luigi Aprea School and a soccer field at Gilroy’s Seventh Day Adventist Church. Students who have completed kindergarten up to sixth grade may choose three from this list: football or cheerleading, baseball or soccer, basketball or volleyball. Dates are June 25 through 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge, children must register in advance by calling 847-6000 or online at www.fbcgilroy.org.
This program is unique because of the many churches sponsoring it. These local congregations are offering their support: Gilroy First Baptist Church, South Valley Community Church and Calvary Chapel. In addition, members of Mountain Book Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., haven chosen this sports camp as their annual mission trip in order to help “each child know about Jesus and his love.”
- The Morgan Hill United Methodist Church (17175 Monterey St.) invites children to “dive into fun at Operation Overboard” from July 23 to 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be deep-sea voyages into Bible for fun and creative hands-on mission work, water science and great music. A light dinner will be served each evening for students grades K through 6. Register by July 2 at www.mhumc.com or 779-4044.
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Gilroy’s First Baptist Church (8455 Wren Ave.) presents “Amazing Wonders Aviation: Awesome God, Amazing God” for grades kindergarten through sixth from 9 a.m. to noon July 9 through 13. Participants will travel digitally through the marvels of modern technology to “tour some of the world’s most marvelous natural wonders” (like the Grand Canyon, Matterhorn and Great Barrier Reef) while enjoying refreshments, crafts and games. Call 847-6000 for information or register online at www.fbcgilroy.org.
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St. John’s Episcopal Church (17740 Peak Ave. in Morgan Hill) will offer a Vacation Puppet Camp from June 25 to 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. Participants will be served a light supper and then create their own puppets; as a culminating activity, they will be invited to present a live puppet show to the congregation on July 1. Call 775-9510 for more information.
This is just a sampling of the opportunities being offered by churches throughout the South Valley region. If none is a convenient in time or location, check your phone book and call a church in your neighborhood. They are usually glad to include nonmembers in summer activities.
