You have to be ready for anything in Parks and Recreation. Things can change constantly, and the best professionals are always ready to respond.
There’s a new face in the Programs Division, the new Programs Supervisor, Sara Farris! Sara recently joined us from the City of Denton and is already positively impacting the Community Services team! With extensive, city, recreation, and programming experience, we are lucky to have someone like Sara stepping into this critical position.
Let’s get to know her a bit better.
How long have you worked in municipal government?
I started working part-time for the City of Plano Parks and Recreation in July 2002 at Carpenter Park Recreation Center. I became full-time there in 2004. I was a Recreation Coordinator in charge of Adult classes. I then moved to the Tom Muehlenbeck Center in Plano in 2010 as the Lifeguard Coordinator, then became the Aquatic Supervisor in 2012. I left in 2016 to be the Recreational Care Supervisor in Denton. I came here in July 2023!
What’s your favorite part about working in Recreation?
My favorite part about working in recreation is getting to help people create memories. I love that it’s different every day, and the people are great!
What’s something everyone should know about programming?
Recreation programs are great if you are thinking about trying something new. You could pick up a new hobby, skill, or knowledge from taking one class. Get creative and expand your horizons!
What are you most looking forward to in this new position?
Summer Camp is always my favorite time of year. I am looking forward to meeting the campers and being a part of their amazing summer next year. I am also looking forward to expanding my programming knowledge with Club Metro.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have a side hustle where I make shirts and personalized items in my free time. I also run and hang out with my kids. They are super involved in gymnastics and flag football!
Welcome to the team, Sara! We’re so happy to have you on board! Be on the lookout for the innovative and fun programs put together by Sara and her team!
You have to be ready for anything in Parks and Recreation. Things can change constantly, and the best professionals are always ready to respond.
There’s a new face in the Programs Division, the new Programs Supervisor, Sara Farris! Sara recently joined us from the City of Denton and is already positively impacting the Community Services team! With extensive, city, recreation, and programming experience, we are lucky to have someone like Sara stepping into this critical position.
Let’s get to know her a bit better.
How long have you worked in municipal government?
I started working part-time for the City of Plano Parks and Recreation in July 2002 at Carpenter Park Recreation Center. I became full-time there in 2004. I was a Recreation Coordinator in charge of Adult classes. I then moved to the Tom Muehlenbeck Center in Plano in 2010 as the Lifeguard Coordinator, then became the Aquatic Supervisor in 2012. I left in 2016 to be the Recreational Care Supervisor in Denton. I came here in July 2023!
What’s your favorite part about working in Recreation?
My favorite part about working in recreation is getting to help people create memories. I love that it’s different every day, and the people are great!
What’s something everyone should know about programming?
Recreation programs are great if you are thinking about trying something new. You could pick up a new hobby, skill, or knowledge from taking one class. Get creative and expand your horizons!
What are you most looking forward to in this new position?
Summer Camp is always my favorite time of year. I am looking forward to meeting the campers and being a part of their amazing summer next year. I am also looking forward to expanding my programming knowledge with Club Metro.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have a side hustle where I make shirts and personalized items in my free time. I also run and hang out with my kids. They are super involved in gymnastics and flag football!
Welcome to the team, Sara! We’re so happy to have you on board! Be on the lookout for the innovative and fun programs put together by Sara and her team!
Club Metro is all about new experiences for our participants, and this summer, the program got a welcomed expansion!
With the popularity of our Club Metro outings during the Fall and Spring seasons, we knew it was time to expand our offerings. This year, the Community Services Department is proud to provide two Club Metro camp weeks for our world-class participants! Club Metro hosted its first week of day camp last week for our teen and adult participants. It was a week jam-packed with exciting outings, fun games, delicious meals, and good times with friends.
Here is a recap of what our participants were up to last week.
Outings Galore
Club Metro is all about having fun with our participants while teaching them necessary soft skills such as communication when out and about. That’s why we picked an exciting location to visit almost every day of camp. Campers enjoyed discovering new experiences, such as getting a strike at Alley Cats, witnessing an equestrian joust at Medieval Times, learning about the ocean at the Sea Life Aquarium in Grapevine, and getting curious at the Perot Museum in Dallas!
Yummy Eats
It wouldn’t be Club Metro if it didn’t include some delicious mealtimes for our participants to socialize, and Club Metro Camp was no different. Campers enjoyed Joe’s Pizza, Chili’s, and medieval cuisine at Medieval Times!
Crafts, Games, and Activities
We pride ourselves on running well-rounded camps that everyone can enjoy. Club Metro Camp included daily activities such as crafting pipe cleaner trees, field day with Kiddo Kinetics, sand art, bingo, scratch art, soccer, films in the fieldhouse, rock painting, and games!
With such a fun schedule planned for our participants, it’s no wonder this week of camp sold out before it even began. Our first week of camp was so successful that we’re doing it again in August! We look forward to continuing to create life-long memories with our Club Metro participants!
We know the importance of finding a fun and healthy activity for kids to participate in during the summer. Tennis provides a perfect balance of physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. Tennis is a sport that can be played for life and we specialize in teaching junior players.
Our certified coaches focus on proper technique and age-appropriate skills so players can start PLAYING THE GAME right away! We also incorporate fun activities, competitions and prizes to keep kids engaged and motivated. NEW THIS YEAR: We’ve added Friday afternoon match play for all levels + a pizza lunch to our weekly camps. Parents are welcome to watch the action and cheer on their player!
Players, grouped by age and ability, learn from certified tennis professionals who teach the acclaimed Evolution Kids curriculum, the same program used at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Coaches work on athletic skills, court movement and basic technique needed to play matches. Instruction takes place on indoor and outdoor courts with a student/coach ratio of 8:1.
We believe every child can benefit from learning to play tennis, regardless of their skill level or experience. In addition to physical fitness, tennis improves social skills, boosts confidence, increases ability to concentrate, and enhances quick decision-making.
JUNIOR SUMMER TENNIS CAMP:
May 29 – August 11
Mon-Thu 9AM-12PM I Fri 9AM-4PM
Located in Bicentennial Park
Players 7-15 years l Grouped by age and ability
Match Day, pizza and games every Friday
Every player receives equipment bag + t-shirt
$300 per week per player
Multi-week & multi-player discounts
For more information and to register for junior summer camp, visit https://southlaketennis.com/summercamp or call 817-421-5605.
The kids are back in school, but it wasn’t long ago that they were living their best lives at Summer Camp Mania!
Summer Camp Mania 2022 is officially in the books, but we wanted to take the time to showcase some of the highlights from the summer. With nine weeks of structured programming, Camp Mania returned with a bang this year.
Throughout the summer, we had 873 enthusiastic campers enrolled. These campers enjoyed a fantastic summer filled with incredible field trips, fun guest performances, friendly competitions, and much more!
Let’s take a look at some of this year’s highlights:
Putting together a structured day camp that is both fun, educational, and unique is no easy feat; however, our Programs team rose to the challenge. Take a look at what some satisfied parents had to say:
“Very happy, my kids loved this camp! We’re new to the area so tried several out and they want to do this most of the summer next year. Convenient, reasonably priced and so fun. Thank you!”
“Staff was great and kids had a lot of fun. Much needed time during the day.”
Kids are happy. Variety of activities is nice, and excellent value for the money.”
“Amazing staff and such awesome activities and field trips!!!! I wish I had signed up for more than just one week this year!!!”
“My son had so much fun! Thanks for making his experience amazing!”
“My girls always have a blast!! Fun activities and really cool field trips!”
This summer will be one to remember. Not only did participants make friendships and life-long memories, but our staff developed professionally with each passing week. We can’t wait to go back to the drawing board and start planning an even better summer experience for next year.
If you can’t wait another year to return to Camp Mania, sign up for one of our upcoming Day Break or Holiday Break Camp Mania opportunities!
Summer Camp Mania is the place to be if you’re a kid spending your summer in Southlake!
Camp is well-underway, and the kiddos are having a great time. Since parents don’t get the opportunity to shadow their kiddos during the day, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to share the incredible schedules our campers enjoy! No two days are alike, and every week has a unique theme to set the tone for the activities we do.
A Day in the Life of a Camp Mania Camper:
7:30- 9:00 AM
Campers wake up bright and early to make it on time for the first activity. Structured activities begin at 9:00 AM, but parents can start dropping off their kiddos starting at 8:30 AM. This is a time for free play and socialization!
9:00- 9:30 AM
Welcome to the Opening Ceremony. This is the perfect time to orient campers and prepare them for the day ahead! It wouldn’t be camp without singing some camp songs, reciting the camp creed, and going over the expectations for the day.
9:30- 10:00 AM
Time for a quick huddle/ ice breaker game! Camp favorites include the Human Knot, Freeze Dance, and Telephone!
10:00- 11:00 AM
Fun in the sun! It’s time for some outdoor playtime! Depending on the day we could be playing games or cooling off with waterslides!
11:00 -12:00 PM
Lunch! Time to take a break from all the activity and enjoy a delicious home-packed lunch! This is also the best time to talk with friends.
12:00- 1:00 PM
Time to hit the gym! This is the time of day to work on team building and friendly competition with crowd-favorites like volleyball and Powerball. On Fridays, we enjoy splashing in the water at the Champions Club Aquatics Center.
1:00- 2:00 PM
Time to get creative! During this hour, Campers break up into their groups to enjoy a fun craft or STEM activity. The highlight is always taking these crafts home to share with mom and dad!
2:00- 2:30 PM
Snack Time! All that playing and creating sure works up an appetite. Snack time is always a welcome break in a day full of fun.
2:30- 4:00 PM
Time for more incredible activities! Each day is different, but there is something for everyone! On Monday’s we watch movies, Tuesdays we have inflatables, Wednesdays are field trip days, Thursdays we have guest performances, and Fridays end the week with delicious Kona Ice!
4:00-4:30 PM
Camper Choice. After a busy day of scheduled activities, campers get to decide how to spend their final 30 minutes.
4:30- 5:30
Check- Out. Time to say goodbye to our friends and Camp Counselors and get ready to do it all over again!
Every day is an adventure at Camp Mania!
Summer Camp Mania is the place to be if you’re a kid spending your summer in Southlake!
Camp is well-underway, and the kiddos are having a great time. Since parents don’t get the opportunity to shadow their kiddos during the day, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to share the incredible schedules our campers enjoy! No two days are alike, and every week has a unique theme to set the tone for the activities we do.
A Day in the Life of a Camp Mania Camper:
7:30- 9:00 AM
Campers wake up bright and early to make it on time for the first activity. Structured activities begin at 9:00 AM, but parents can start dropping off their kiddos starting at 8:30 AM. This is a time for free play and socialization!
9:00- 9:30 AM
Welcome to the Opening Ceremony. This is the perfect time to orient campers and prepare them for the day ahead! It wouldn’t be camp without singing some camp songs, reciting the camp creed, and going over the expectations for the day.
9:30- 10:00 AM
Time for a quick huddle/ ice breaker game! Camp favorites include the Human Knot, Freeze Dance, and Telephone!
10:00- 11:00 AM
Fun in the sun! It’s time for some outdoor playtime! Depending on the day we could be playing games or cooling off with waterslides!
11:00 -12:00 PM
Lunch! Time to take a break from all the activity and enjoy a delicious home-packed lunch! This is also the best time to talk with friends.
12:00- 1:00 PM
Time to hit the gym! This is the time of day to work on team building and friendly competition with crowd-favorites like volleyball and Powerball. On Fridays, we enjoy splashing in the water at the Champions Club Aquatics Center.
1:00- 2:00 PM
Time to get creative! During this hour, Campers break up into their groups to enjoy a fun craft or STEM activity. The highlight is always taking these crafts home to share with mom and dad!
2:00- 2:30 PM
Snack Time! All that playing and creating sure works up an appetite. Snack time is always a welcome break in a day full of fun.
2:30- 4:00 PM
Time for more incredible activities! Each day is different, but there is something for everyone! On Monday’s we watch movies, Tuesdays we have inflatables, Wednesdays are field trip days, Thursdays we have guest performances, and Fridays end the week with delicious Kona Ice!
4:00-4:30 PM
Camper Choice. After a busy day of scheduled activities, campers get to decide how to spend their final 30 minutes.
4:30- 5:30
Check- Out. Time to say goodbye to our friends and Camp Counselors and get ready to do it all over again!
Every day is an adventure at Camp Mania!
Summer Camp Mania is right around the corner, and you don’t want to miss your chance to snag a coveted remaining spot!
The early bird gets the worm, but we still have a few spots remaining for Summer Camp Mania Weeks Five, Six, and Seven! If you are looking for a world-class day camp experience for your kiddos, look no further than Southlake’s premier summer camp!
Summer Camp Mania provides a safe and fun environment where kids are number one! Our outstanding combination of structured and free play, guest instructors, educational field trips, and award-winning Champions Club facility makes us the best summer camp!
Our dedicated Programs staff is committed to helping our campers create life-long memories. From relaxed movie days, adventurous inflatables and bounce houses, and exhilarating pool days at our Aquatics Center, to field trips, there’s something for everyone at Camp Mania! This summer, our campers will be going to Legoland/Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium, the Crayola Experience, and Hawaiian Falls, to name a few.
Each week delivers campers various recreational opportunities that never get redundant. Whether you sign up for one week or more, you’re guaranteed to have an individualized experience.
Don’t miss your chance to snag one of our few remaining spots! Take a sneak peek at our incredible schedule and enroll your kiddo today!
Summer Camp Mania is right around the corner, and you don’t want to miss your chance to snag a coveted remaining spot!
The early bird gets the worm, but we still have a few spots remaining for Summer Camp Mania Weeks Five, Six, and Seven! If you are looking for a world-class day camp experience for your kiddos, look no further than Southlake’s premier summer camp!
Summer Camp Mania provides a safe and fun environment where kids are number one! Our outstanding combination of structured and free play, guest instructors, educational field trips, and award-winning Champions Club facility makes us the best summer camp!
Our dedicated Programs staff is committed to helping our campers create life-long memories. From relaxed movie days, adventurous inflatables and bounce houses, and exhilarating pool days at our Aquatics Center, to field trips, there’s something for everyone at Camp Mania! This summer, our campers will be going to Legoland/Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium, the Crayola Experience, and Hawaiian Falls, to name a few.
Each week delivers campers various recreational opportunities that never get redundant. Whether you sign up for one week or more, you’re guaranteed to have an individualized experience.
Don’t miss your chance to snag one of our few remaining spots! Take a sneak peek at our incredible schedule and enroll your kiddo today!
Are you ready for summer? The warm weather is just a precursor of what is to come, and it’s the perfect time to make summer plans for your kiddos.
Summer is one of our favorite seasons in the Community Services Department due to the large variety of community programming opportunities we offer. Nothing makes us happier than providing world-class experiences for you and your family! Are you ready to start scheduling your summer social calendar? Claim your spot early.
Here’s a sneak-peak at some of the fun programs we have in store:
Summer registration opens for Southlake residents on April 1 and on April 15 for non-residents. You can preview all summer offerings here.
