SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN ABOUND

With school out, parents are looking for activities to make their children's summer vacation both enjoyable and productive.

Fortunately, there are numerous things to do in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding communities.

Fishing is a summer activity enjoyed by kids of all ages. Southeast Missouri abounds in fishing lakes and streams, and children up to age 16 can fish without a license. Fishing is available nearby in the Capaha Park Lagoon and in the three lakes at County Park.

"Children can pretty much catch fish if they come to County Park," said Bruce Watkins, County Park superintendent. "Anytime they throw their hook into the water, they'll catch a bluegill."

Brad Pobst, aquatic services specialist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said fishing rods are available at the MDC service center in County Park. Pobst said the rods are mostly for groups but that anybody can get one.

The MDC center also includes a nature exhibit and education area, and a one-half mile hiking trail through the woods.

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Youth Fishing Club, an eight-week course on the techniques of fishing. The club, for ages 9-15, will meet from 9-11 a.m. Fridays at Capaha Park Lagoon beginning Friday and continuing through Aug. 1. Resident fee is $16.50; non-resident fee is $19.65.

Many summer activities are available through the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department. Youth golf lessons are given at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. Resident fee is $13.10. Call the pro shop at 334-2031 for further information.

Other summer class-type activities sponsored by Parks and Recreation are cheerleading, baton, Tae kwondo, crafts, theater, bowling, hunting, tennis and various other sports. Call 335-5421 for information or go by the Arena Building for a complete guide to summer activities.

There is swimming in Cape Girardeau at the Capaha Park pool and at Central Pool, located at Central High School. Lessons are available. Jackson, Scott City and Chaffee also have pools.

Roller skating is available at Cape Skate and at Jackson Skate Center. The Ice at Plaza Galleria provides ice skating.

Trail of Tears State Park has summer activities, including hikes, nature demonstrations and a folk-music concert Saturday at 8 p.m. Call 334-1711 for information. The folk-music concert will be repeated Sunday at Bollinger Mill at 4:30 p.m.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will provide classes in Pottery for ages 8-11, Pottery & Basketry for ages 12-17 and Fundamentals of Acting for grades 6-12. One-week classes for ages 6-17 include Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and Multi-media.

Arts Council classes begin in July; fees are $85 for the pottery classes, $80 for the acting class and $50 for the one-week classes. Scholarships are available for children qualifying for the free-lunch or reduced-lunch program in public or private schools. Call 334-9233 for registration information.

The St. Louis Iron Mt. & Southern Railway, an authentic steam-powered passenger train in Jackson, conducts weekend excursions, including an upcoming Father's Day special. Big River Grandprix in Cape Girardeau provides go-cart driving.

The Southeast Missouri State University Athletic Department is sponsoring sports camps in basketball for boys and girls, gymnastics and volleyball for girls, and football for boys in grades 4-12. Call 651-2113 for information. Southeast coach Mark Hogan also conducts baseball camps in various locations.

The newly opened Osage Community Centre is available for individuals or groups. Individuals sign in and pay a $1 fee for use of the fitness/weightroom or basketball courts. Groups pay $20 per hour for reserved court time.

The Otahki Girl Scouts Council is sponsoring resident camping trips, open to any girl in grades 1-12, at Camp Cherokee Ridge. Trips are from three days to one week from June 15-July 25, and costs range from $40-$175. Call 334-7741 for information.

Mary Jane Fieser, Otahki Council program director, said the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts and the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation staff are sponsoring an overnight camping trip to Cherokee Ridge June 27-28 for any girl or boy. Cost is $30. Registration is through Cape Parks and Recreation.

The Shawnee District of the Boy Scouts is also sponsoring summer scout camps. Boys may join over the summer in time to register for camp. Cub Scout day camp will be held June 16 to 20 in Cape County Park South, June 23 to 27 at Pellegrino Park in Marble Hill and July 7 to 11 at Legion Lake Park in Perryville.

Boy Scout camps will be held at Camp Lewallen June 15 through Aug. 2. Explorer Scouts, a program open to boys and girls, can also attend camp at Swift Explorer Base at the S-F Scout Ranch in Fredericktown June 15 through Aug. 2.

Information on specific dates for camps is available by calling the Dr. Raymond Ritter Boy Scouts Service Center at 335-3346.

For serious-minded high school juniors and seniors at Cape Central, Notre Dame, Jackson and Scott City, Cape Central High School is sponsoring a Summer Academy. Academy coordinator Jerry Witvoet said the program, scheduled for July 14-18 from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m., will examine careers in the engineering and industrial technology fields.

"We'll go to such companies as Lone Star, Dana and Procter & Gamble," said Witvoet. "They will give the students some hands-on assignments, representing what that industry does in the work environment."

The Academy is free, but enrollment stops at 30. Call 334-3857 for information.