A summer recreation program that is more than recreation is just what the community of Brundidge has ordered for its young people and the City of Brundidge and East Central Mental Health have responded with a resounding, yes.

The Brundidge Summer Recreation program opens on Monday, June 8 at Galloway Park. To date, 60 young people, ages five through 16, have registered.

“Our program is not just a come and play kind of program,” said Isabell Boyd, ECMH director of records and former city council member who helped initiate the program. “We want the children that participate in the summer recreation program to have fun and also have experiences that will benefit them in school and in life. We are very fortunate to have a program like this for the young people of Brundidge.”

Boyd said she is especially proud that the city’s summer recreation program will have educational components, including the Why Try Program.

Carol Booker, ECMH, said the Why Try Program is a simple, hands-on curriculum that helps young people overcome their challenges and improve outcomes in the areas of truancy, behavior and academics.

“Why Try teaches critical social and emotional principles and uses music and physical activities as reinforcements,” Booker said. “The program can be easily adapted for different developmental levels. The program is now used in hundreds of elementary schools and continues to gain popularity as an early intervention for helping children deal with the increasing challenges they face.”

Tammy Smith will direct the summer recreation program, which will teach problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, AIM principles and parenting skills, if there is interest. The parenting class will be offered through the Child Advocacy Center in Troy.

“We’ll have motivational speakers come in to talk to the young people,” Smith said. “We’ll have a program on healthy eating and take several field trips to the Troy Recreation Center and to the movies.”

There will also be plenty of time for favorite summertime games and activities, including baseball, softball and volleyball and year around favorite, basketball.

The summer recreation program runs from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 8 through July 24. There is no fee to participate.

Boyd said registration is still open, and parents may register their children by calling Brundidge City Hall at 334-735-2385 or Boyd at 334-566-6022.