Summerfest 2015 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 and play Wii games on a giant inflatable screen. Hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy are also available.
• Friday, June 12: Sun-N-Fun Lagoon at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, North Naples
• Friday, June 19: Corkscrew Middle School, 1165 Oil Well Road, Golden Gate Estates
• Friday, June 26: Fleischman Park, 1600 Fleischman Blvd., Naples
• Friday, July 3: McLeod Park, 208 S. Copeland Ave., Everglades City
• Friday, July 17: Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island
• Friday, July 24: Immokalee Sports Complex, 505 Escambia St., Immokalee
• Friday, July 31: Vineyards Community Park, 6231 Arbor Blvd. W., Golden Gate
• Friday, Aug. 7: 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 8 through July 3.
Parents must accompany their child during this event.
Open Gym
Gymnasiums at Lely High School, Golden Gate Middle School, Immokalee Middle School, Corkscrew Middle School, and Oak Ridge Middle School will be open for basketball and supervised by CCSO Youth Relations deputies Tuesdays through Fridays from 1-4 p.m. June 15 through July 31. There will be no open gym at Lely High School between July 1-14.
This activity is for students who are 14 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 to 10:30 p.m.
Program is open for all ages and runs from Tuesday, June 16 through Thursday, July 30. 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 boating safety certificate. Three weeklong sessions will be offered this summer:
• I-Tech Center in Immokalee, June 15-19 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Everglades Community Center in Everglades City, June 22-26 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Collier County Sheriff’s Office, July 13-17 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spots are almost at full capacity - contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
Build-a-Chair
Students ages 10-13 will learn to work with tools and together to build a chair at Palmetto Ridge High School in Golden Gate Estates (June 9-11), I-Tech Center in Immokalee (June 30-July 2), Oak Ridge Middle School in Golden Gate (July 7-9) and Golden Gate Middle School in Golden Gate (July 14-16). All sessions run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Registration is already full and closed.
Build-a-Shed
New to Summerfest programming in 2015, Palmetto Ridge High School students ages 14 to 18 will work with deputies to learn the intricacies of framing, roofing, flooring, bracing and constructing according to wind and county codes to build a 12’ x 16’ shed. Upon completion, the shed will be positioned at the Golden Gate Estates patrol substation.
Registration is already full and closed.
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 24 and Thursday, June 25
• Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23
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 Golden Gate, Oak Ridge, East Naples, Corkscrew and Immokalee middle schools to offer students ages 11 to 14 a free day camp Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Campers will participate in athletic activities including basketball and soccer as well as have the opportunity to go on field trips.
Contact the Youth Relations Bureau office at 239.252.0144 to register.
And Even More Summer Fun!
D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club and Teen Academy will also return.
D.E.P.U.T.Y. Club is for students in first through fifth grades and takes place every Thursday for six weeks. Students will go on field trips to local fun spots including Sun-N-Fun Lagoon as well as learn 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.
