Parents need not worry how they will keep their children entertained over the Festive Season: the City of Cape Town’s Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department is hosting a range of activities at many of its community halls and sports facilities and is offering youth camps during the summer school holiday.

The department has planned approximately 1 000 holiday programmes which will run daily from 12 December 2011 to 10 January 2012. The programmes will be presented at the City’s various swimming pools, beaches, parks and public open spaces, libraries, sport and recreation facilities and resorts.

“Each of the six districts within the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department will employ a number of temporary play leaders to boost the existing permanent staff capacity, and will also use the services of volunteers to ensure that all of the programmes are effectively implemented. Our goal with these programmes is to encourage children from communities throughout the city to participate in sport and recreation activities during the holiday period, and in the long-term,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada.

Indoor and outdoor programmes
The City’s community centres will offer a variety of indoor programmes, including board games, gymnastics, rope-skipping, arts and crafts, karate, pool, poetry and drama, concerts, indigenous games, cultural dances, fitness training and talent shows.

Outdoor programmes will include five-a-side soccer, mini-netball, basketball, cricket, hockey, sport against crime, big walks, fun runs, beach soccer, water polo, learn-to- swim programmes, beach volleyball, slippery slides, jumping castles, face-painting, trampolines, touch rugby as well as other recreational activities and family festivals.

Youth camps
The Department will also host a number of youth camps during the summer holidays at various City-owned resorts. Mountain hikes and excursions will be run from each camp to explore Cape Town’s biodiversity.

“The objective of these camps is to teach the youth life-skills, how to work in groups, respect for authority and an appreciation of nature – within a fun and safe environment. The youth will be able to take these lessons back to their communities and positively influence their peers,” said Councillor Gqada.

Families are encouraged to visit the community centres within their area to take part in these activities.

For further information, contact the following Recreation Officers:

• District 1
  Dunoon, Joe Slovo/Phoenix, Atlantis, Woodstock, Kensington, CBD, Salt River, Maitland, Langa, Summer Greens, Garden Village, Silverstroom etc.
  Lisle Lombard, Cell: 082 876 1714 or Tel: 021 550 1220
  
  
• District 2
  Ocean View, Hout Bay, Lotus River, Ottery, Grassy Park, Imizamo Yethu, Muizenberg, Westlake, Zandvlei, Retreat, Wynberg, Claremont, Masiphumelele, Vrygrond etc.
  Mildred Van de Heever, Cell: 082 758 3111 or Tel: 021 712 0970
  
  
• District 3
  Khayelitsha (Site C and Site B), Mitchells Plain – Beacon Valley, Weltevreden, Westridge, Tafelsig, Strandfontein, Eastridge, Woodlands, Rocklands etc.
  Sibongile Mlotywa, Cell: 072 851 7840 or Tel: 021 370 3663
  
  
• District 4
  Athlone, Heideveld, Gugulethu, Manenberg, Belhar, Delft, Bonteheuwel, Gatesville, Browns Farm etc.
  Amelia Botha, Cell: 083 986 9164 or Tel: 021 637 6607
  
  
• District 5
  Kuils River, Fisantekraal, Ravensmead, Parow, Bishop Lavis, Valhalla Park, Goodwood, Elsies River, Ruyterwacht, Bellville, Durbanville, Uitsig, Bothasig, Edgemead, Philadelphia, Wallacedene, Scottsville etc.
  Mary Scholtz, Cell: 071 851 1143 or Tel: 021 906 0783
  
  
• District 6
  Blue Downs, Delft, Kleinvlei, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Mfuleni, Macassar, Eerste River, Strand, Blackheath, Somerset West, Silversands, and Gordon’s Bay etc.
  Glen Goldman, Cell: 076 055 6804 or Tel: 021 900 9904