Traditional American fun - baseball, amusement parks, swimming, canoeing, and camping.
It's all part of the City of Warren summer playground schedule.
The playground season begins June 18 and runs through Aug. 10, according to city parks and recreation director Cindy Strandburg. Playground supervisors will run games, events, arts and crafts, and other activities at Beaty, Crescent, DeFrees, Lacy and Mulberry playgrounds for kids ages 7 to 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the summer, inter-playground games and activities will be held. Each playground will be equipped with a cornhole ramp constructed by Strandburg and her husband so participants can play the popular bag-toss game. Two ramps will be located at the municipal pool.
Every Monday, the Transit Authority of Warren County will provide transportation to the pool. The pool opens May 26 and passes are on sale at the pool and the municipal building.
Some traditional favorite outings are back on the calendar.
On Tuesday, July 10, Strandburg and her new group of "very energetic" playground supervisors will lead a canoe trip on the Allegheny River from Kinzua Dam to Allegheny Outfitters at the Glade Bridge for all kids involved in the playground program.
The cost of the trip is $12 and includes canoe rental, transportation, and lunch.
A second canoe trip will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1 for youth ages 12 and up. Younger children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. That trip starts at Kinzua Dam and goes all the way to Betts Park. The $14 cost includes transportation, canoe rental and lunch.
When Strandburg first held a canoe trip four years ago, "I took 43 kids." In 2011, a total of 205 youngsters participated in the two trips.
Two trips to local miniature golf courses at $5 each are anticipated with dates to be determined.
The longer trips are to familiar destinations.
"We are going back to Darien Lake," Strandburg said.
For $20, participants will ride on coach buses to the park, get unlimited passes to both the amusement park and the water park, and get a $5 meal ticket on June 28. "Darien Lake works with us," Strandburg said.
Those interested in taking in a ball game may go to a Pittsburgh Pirates game on July 25 against the Chicago Cubs. "We are on the first base line, six rows up," Strandburg said. "We have the Clemente package - everybody gets a jersey or a hat" and a meal ticket. Transportation, again, is on coach buses.
The $20 cost is possible "mainly due to a generous sponsor," she said.
Sponsors allow for the program to continue to provide services at minimal cost to participants, Strandburg said.
New for 2012 is a camping trip.
"We are going camping," Strandburg said.
She and 10 supervisors will join up to 30 kids in tent camping on Friday, July 13, at Chapman State Park. "We will be swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking..." she said.
"All the parents need to provide is a sleeping bag, pillow, and pick them up the next morning," she said. "We are going to provide everything else."
The $15 cost includes transportation to the park and all food.
Among the supervisors who will be camping with the youngsters are several trained as lifeguards and two emergency medical technicians.
Special events are open only to youth who are registered in the playground program.
Pre-registration times, strongly recommended for those who would like to participate in the special events, are set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, May 23 and 30, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Betts Park bocce court pavilion.
Space is limited for the trips to Darien Lake and the Pittsburgh Pirates game as well as the camping trip.
Strandburg said only those who pre-register and pre-pay on a first-come first-served basis will be guaranteed spots.
Information about the program is available by contacting Strandburg at 723-6300 or cas@cityofwarrenpa.gov.
Registration forms are available at www.cityofwarrenpa.gov/summer.