Park district notes

From Roy Logan, program coordinator

[June 05, 2013]  The Lincoln Park District's Awesome Afternoon Adventures program is back by popular demand! Make the most of your summer with an opportunity to play, learn and create. Field trips around the town, outdoor and indoor fun and games, crafting, and nutrition will come together for the ultimate learning experience. Come make your summer an adventure with new activities every day. To name only a few of the expeditions, participants will tour the fire department, discover how groceries get on the shelves and go on scavenger hunts with clues that will turn everyone into Inspector Clouseau. Included in the fee of $20 per week or $5 per day is swimming at Lincoln College on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Lap swimming for adults is available every Tuesday and Thursday at Lincoln College also. Swimmers may begin at 11 a.m. and have until 1 p.m. before the kids arrive. Cost is $2 per person and may be paid to Christina at the pool.

Funny Business 101 is being offered beginning Monday, June 10, from 9 to 11 a.m. During this three-day class, you will learn about the world of one of the most unusual occupations -- syndicated cartooning. Tour guide and adviser for the class is Julie Larson, a Lincoln native. She is a nationally syndicated cartoonist and creator of The Dinette Set. Larson has been in the funny business since 1989 and became nationally syndicated in 1997.

Ms. Larson will share creative development of your comic ideas and the artistic, mechanical individual drawing process and style. Character development and dialogue along with an introduction to the business of writing and drawing a daily and Sunday cartoon will be covered. Drawing materials will be provided and kept by the participants. Aspiring cartoonists must bring their own imaginations!

Jump-start your imagination with a weeklong Theater Camp: Putting on a Play. This offering for ages 9 and up begins Monday, June 17. The day starts at 9 a.m., and the week will be filled with improvisations, theater games and warm-ups, as well as arts, crafts and a busy rehearsal schedule. Young actors and actresses will have the chance to put on a performance for their families and friends on Friday, the final day of the camp. Bring your sack lunch and a swimsuit and a towel for a break at the Lincoln College pool on Tuesday and Thursday. Transportation will be provided by Lincoln Park District. You'll have to be at the park district all day just to have enough time for this much fun! Parents may pick up their young actors and actresses at 4 p.m.

Mikel Frost and theater have a long history together. After eight years of school and community plays, he decided to make theater his life's work. He attended Lincoln College, where he received his bachelor's degree in theater in 2009. With the experience he has with children from work in the entertainment department at Six Flags St. Louis, he ensures that your child will have fun and an educational experience that may spark a higher interest in theater.

The park district's annual Golf Camp is just around the corner as well. The first day to tee up will be Monday, June 24, from 8 to 10 a.m. Meet your instructors, Jeff Nelson and Tanner Morris, on the driving range. The purpose of this year's clinic is to focus on proper technique, etiquette, rules and sportsmanship, and most important, fun. Various drills, instructional techniques and educational offerings will be tailored to golfers of all ages and skill levels. Activities Monday through Thursday will be on the driving range at the park district. Friday's lesson will culminate with a golf outing to Four Willows Golf Course in Mason City, including nine holes of golf and a cookout for participants. In the event of inclement weather, instruction will be indoors.

Nelson and Morris will be co-instructing this year. Each has a very long line of sports instruction experience. They have both coached golf on the college level and have led countless golf clinics and programs.

[Text from file received from Roy Logan, Lincoln Park District]