Groups plan fun activities for spring break

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — Spring break for local schools, March 24-28, means those students can take advantage of local fun activities at Milan Parks and Recreation and Future Foundations Family Center in Grants.

In Milan, a soccer camp will be held for first-through third-grade pupils from 8-10 a.m., and fourth-through sixth-graders from 10 a.m.- noon, said Monica Sandoval, assistant recreation director.

There is a limit of 12 kids per soccer class at a registration fee of $10 each for the entire week, she said.
Registration for all events is at the Parks and Recreation Office at 407 Airport Road and the deadline to register is March 21.

Also in Milan, an arts and crafts class will be held every day during spring break from 1-4 p.m. Class participants will make dreamcatchers and key chains among a number of other projects. Registration for this class is $5.

At the family center, a number of activities are scheduled daily, including a boot camp as part of a weeklong military theme, said Laura Malaj, executive director.

Each day, there is a class is the morning, followed by an art period, outside play and the boot camp. A three-on-three basketball tournament will be held March 27-28 in the gym.

On March 24, the morning class is learning military time and flag etiquette. Members of the Grants High School Marine JrROTC will teach this class. Art, from 10 a.m.-noon is making dog tags using pie tins.

Outside play is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. And boot camp, from 2-4 p.m., is playing with parachutes, including tug of war and a word search for military words.

On March 25, class is learning military rank, art is making paper airplanes and parachutes out of fabric. Boot camp is a wall climb or a Battleship tournament with the popular game.

March 26 has class learning about the military branches:
The Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines. Art class has students learning to paint faces with camouflage paint and in boot camp, there is an obstacle course; a field trip to Friendship Park, the local Vietnam war memorial in downtown Grants. There is also a hike to the “G” on the mesa above the college.

March 27 has class doing a PT course with exercises such as jumping jacks and sit-ups. Art will be making rockets. 4-H counselors will assist in this project. In boot camp class students will play laser tag or make omelets in a bag in the kitchen. An egg is broken, scrambled and placed in a baggie that can be zipped closed and then boiled making the omelet.

March 28 has members being given different military ranks. Art class is writing letters to soldiers in Iraq and there is a film festival where military movies are shown.
Registration for all events is $5 per child and must be made by March 21. If there are openings during spring break and a parent wants a child to participate after the registration deadline, the parent is asked to check with family center staff at (505) 285-3542 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Malaj said she expects about 160 kids to register and between 100-125 kids to participate daily.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.