Registration for school-based summer program for kids starts next week

Rec-PAC staff for the Annandale area.

It’s not too early to start lining up summer activities for your kids. One good option is Rec-PAC, a six-week structured recreation program for children in grades 1-6 that runs July 5-Aug. 10 at public elementary schools.

Rec-PAC (Pretty Awesome Children) is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. It’s available in 45 schools this summer, including six in the Annandale/Mason District area: Belvedere, Bren Mar Park, Camelot, Canterbury Woods, Columbia, and Sleepy Hollow.

Registration begins April 24. Rec-PAC fees are based on household income with a maximum charge of $120 a week.

The hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., so working parents will still need to figure out some arrangement for the late afternoon. There’s a late fee of $10 for every 15 minutes a parent is late for pick up.

There’s a different theme every week, and activities include outdoor and indoor games, team sports, nature, crafts, storytelling, sports festivals, talent shows, and supervised play sessions. Each location has a ratio of one staff person to 18 participants.

Teens age 14 and up who want to work as Rec-PAC counselors in training must apply by June 9 and must attend a three-hour training session at Chantilly High School on June 24. This is a volunteer position, and there’s a $135 fee for the training.