(Photo by Keith Knepp)

The Rochester Parks Department is ready to launch its children’s summer program.
The three-week program, which runs from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays June 8-26, is open to children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade.

“Activities will include kickball, bingo games with all kinds of neat prizes, swimming, craft making and movies,” said Donna Frisinger, the summer parks director who, with her assistant, Laura Manns, and eight high school volunteers, will administer the program.

“We’ll also bring in a traveling road show with the Peru circus on Friday, June 19,” said Frisinger. “Children should come dressed like clowns, and we’ll provide the red noses.”

The program will culminate with American Heroes Day. Kids can get their pictures taken with officers from the Indiana State Police and Rochester police,who will present educational programs. The local fire department will hose down the children in the park and the kids will be treated to All-American sundaes from a traveling bar operated by The Flagpole ice cream stand.

Tuesdays and Thursdays will be spent at the Rochester city pool, and Wednesdays are reserved for a summer reading program and movies at the Rochester library. “Kids can earning reading points to get prizes,” said Frisinger, who listed the weekly movies as “The LEGO Movie,” “The Incredibles” and “Meet the Robinsons.”

Each day’s activities will originate at the Rochester city park, with breakfast and lunch provided at the high school. Parents and guardians are responsible for transportation; there is not bus service for the program.

“We will be in the Rochester community parade on July 10, wearing our shirts and doing a hip-hop routine,” Frisinger said. “We’ll also teach the kids to march to traditional cadence calls.”
Weather cancellations will be announced on WROI 92.1 FM.

The cost, which includes meals, T-shirt, camp bag, crafts, swimming and other admission fees, is $60 per child and the program is limited to the first 110 children paid. The staff will help each child compile a scrapbook of their experiences.

Applications are available at Rochester city hall. Registration ends Friday, June 5. For more information, call (574) 223-2510 and ask for Chris.