Attendance for area summer programs lags behind previous years

Cindy Davis snapped a photo with her cell phone as her 3-year-old daughter Gracie rolled by in a padded cylinder. About six other children somersaulted and climbed their way through an obstacle course during a tumbling class at the Osage Community Centre on Tuesday.

"It definitely gets them tumbling," Davis said.

The three-week class is part of the summer recreation activities offered through the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department. The second of two rounds of classes started Tuesday.

Recreation coordinator Stacey Welter said class enrollment is rebounding after decrease during the first session, which lasted from June 8 to 24. About 20 percent of classes were canceled during that session because of low numbers, more than in the past, she said.

"There's definitely not as many people signing up for classes or signing up for trips," Welter said.

Zackariah Bell throws a soccer ball into the playing field Tuesday morning during the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Sports Camp at Arena Park. (Kit Doyle)

She said she attributes the lagging enrollment to conflicting vacation schedules and economic conditions. Prices, which are lower for Cape Girardeau residents, range from $11 to $80.

The department also reused art supplies to keep costs down, Welter said.

"We have to watch our budgets too because of the economy," she said.

Zackariah Bell throws a soccer ball into the playing field Tuesday morning during the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Sports Camp at Arena Park. (KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com)

Davis has two other children enrolled in the classes. She said the $20 tumbling class is affordable, but she thought twice before signing up.

"It all adds up, especially when you have three kids doing it," she said.

Horizons Summer Enrichment program at Southeast Missouri State University also had lower attendance for its camp, which ended Sunday. The camp had about 50 fewer children this year, said Christy Mershon, assistant director of extended and continuing education at Southeast.

"We're OK," she said. "We couldn't have a five-year trend like this."

The camp held three sessions in June covering topics like crime scene investigating, horseback riding and chemistry, taught mostly by Southeast professors. Programs ranged in price from $99 to $149.

Mershon said Horizons lowered prices and offered fewer classes this year because the program anticipated lower numbers. The camp has looked at ways to become more efficient, especially with rising competition from summer school and sports.

Mershon said she is also looking into grants that will fund free classes. Attendance for those programs is not always guaranteed because of schedule conflicts and transportation costs juggled by parents, Mershon said.

"What concerns me, even camps that have no charge have experienced a downturn," she said.

At HealthPoint Plaza in Jackson, enrollment for summer programs is holding steady, said Scott Givens, manager of the Jackson facility.

"I've not had a lot of parents say, 'We're backing off this summer,'" he said.

HealthPoint classes start at $2 for single-day activities for younger children. The weeklong day-camp costs $120.

Givens said there has been a slight decrease in attendance during the past few years because of the variety of summer options. Enrollment for the day-camp, he said, has decreased by about 10 children during that time.

Maile Gannon watched her 3-year-old daughter Payton bounce around during the tumbling class at the Osage Centre. She said her family stayed closer to home and vacationed in Branson to save money this year.

Despite the economy, she said, the recreation programs are still affordable and they help establish a healthy lifestyle for her children.

"We don't want them to be sitting at home and playing video games," she said.

abusch@semissourian.com

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