Summerfest 2014 promises to deliver a wide range of fun and free activities for all grade levels in a safe environment at various locations around Collier County.
Once again, CCSO Youth Relations deputies will be assigned to the summer youth program instead of patrol duties. This reallocation allows CCSO to expand its summer youth offerings without additional cost to the community.
Make sure to mark these events down on your calendar for a summer full of safety and fun:
Hot Summer Nights
These weekly family fun nights run from 6-9 p.m. and allow youngsters to jump around in the police car bounce house, go rock wall climbing or even play Wii games on a giant inflatable screen. Hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy are also available. The best part? It’s all free!
• Friday, June 13: Sun-N-Fun Lagoon at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, North Naples
• Friday, June 20: Corkscrew Middle School, 1165 Oil Well Road, Golden Gate Estates
• Friday, June 27: Sugden Regional Park, 4284 Avalon Drive, East Naples
• Wednesday, July 2: Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
• Friday, July 11: Immokalee Sports Complex, 505 Escambia St., Immokalee
• Friday, July 18: McLeod Park, 208 S. Copeland Ave., Everglades City
• Friday, Aug. 1: Golden Gate Community Park, 3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Golden Gate
Gone Fishing
Go fishing with CCSO at Naples Pier. Kids will fish and learn about water safety during the program, which takes place Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon beginning June 17 through Aug. 1.
There will be no fishing scheduled on July 4 and the week of July 21-25.
Parents must accompany their child during this event.
Open Gym
Gymnasiums at Lely High School, Golden Gate Middle School, Immokalee High School and Oak Ridge Middle School will be open for basketball and supervised by CCSO Youth Relations deputies Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. beginning June 17 through July 31.
There will be no open gyms scheduled the week of July 21-25.
This activity is for students who are 14-years-old and older. Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
Let’s Go To The Movies!
Youth Relations deputies will be visiting the Regal Hollywood 20 Stadium, 6005 Hollywood Blvd, North Naples and Paragon Theaters, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples, to greet families and share kid safety tips.
Look for deputies at the Hollywood 20 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and at Paragon Theaters on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Program is open for all ages and runs from Tuesday, June 17 through Thursday, July 31. Contact theaters for additional pricing information.
Build-a-Boat
This program is an opportunity for high-schoolers ages 14 to 18 to accomplish the task of building a boat while staying active and earning their boaters safety certificate. Three weeklong sessions will be offered this summer:
- I-Tech Center in Immokalee, June 16 through June 20 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Everglades Community Center in Everglades City, June 23 through June 27 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Collier County Sheriff’s Office, July 7 through July 11 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
Build-a-Chair
Students ages 10 to 13 will learn to work with tools and together to build a chair at the I-Tech Center in Immokalee (June 11 through June 13), Palmetto Ridge High School in Golden Gate Estates (July 1 through July 3) and Everglades Community Center in Everglades City (July 16 through July 18). All sessions run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
Teen Driver Challenge
The Teen Driver Challenge provides students ages 16 to 19 with the knowledge and hands-on experience to reduce the chances of being involved in a crash. The driving skills they will learn are the same techniques used by driving professionals, including NASCAR.
The class consists of two training days. The first day is a four-hour block of instruction at Osceola Elementary School and the second day is an eight-hour block of vehicle operations at Barron Collier High School.
Two sessions are open for registration:
- Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26
- Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17
Students will be operating their own vehicle and MUST BE A LICENSED TEEN DRIVER.
Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
Middle School Summer Camps
CCSO is partnering with Corkscrew and Immokalee middle schools to offer students ages 11 to 14 a free day camp Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campers will participate in athletic activities including basketball and soccer as well as have the opportunity to go on field trips.
The Corkscrew Middle School Camp will begin June 10 and run through Aug. 1 and the Immokalee Middle School Camp June 11 through July 18.
Registration for the Corkscrew Middle School Camp is closed but spots are still available at Immokalee Middle School. Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 252.0144 to register.
And Even More Summer Fun!
D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club and Teen Academy will also play a key role in Summerfest 2014.
D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club is for students in first through fifth grades and takes place every Thursday for seven weeks. Students will go on field trips to local fun spots including Sun-N-Fun Lagoon as well as learning how the Sheriff’s Office keeps Collier County a great and safe place.
The Teen Academy is a 40-hour program designed for returning high-school seniors who are leaders in their schools. Academy members spend the week going on field trips and taking part in activities designed to teach them more about Collier County's environment, economy and government.
Registration for both D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club and Teen Academy is already full and closed.
