East Hartford Gearing Up for Busy Summer at Camps and Pools
East Hartford, CT - We know that East Hartford residents are looking forward to traditional summer activities and recreational opportunities as the weather becomes warmer and we are excited to share what East Hartford Parks and Recreation will be offering this summer!
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Summer Camps will open on Monday, June 21st, 2021 and will run for 7 weeks, ending on Friday, August 6th, 2021, with all camps closed on Monday, July 5th. Camps will once again be open only to East Hartford residents this year. We will offer a full array of camp programs, serving children ages 3 - 15, and participants with special needs ages 6 - 21. We’re excited to share a new collaboration with East Hartford Public Library and East Hartford Youth Services, with support from the East Hartford Police Department, made possible through AccelerateCT summer enrichment grants offered through the Connecticut State Department of Education. This collaboration will enable some fantastic new activities and enrichment programming.
Camps will be held at their regular locations rain or shine, with each site designated to serving a specific age group:
Camp Munchkin
Ages: Open to children ages 3 & 4
Location: Community Cultural Center, 50 Chapman Place
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - July 30th (6 weeks)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Fee: $49 per week / $294 for all 6 weeks
Littler Rec’ers
Ages: Open to children ages 4 ½ - 6 ½ (must be born between Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2016)
Location: Goodwin Park/Goldstar Pool
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - August 6th (7 weeks)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $65 per week / $455 for all 7 weeks
Fun Days
Ages: Open to children ages 6 ½ - 9 ½ (must be born between Jan. 1, 2012 - Dec. 31, 2014)
Location: Gorman Park/Lord Pool
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - August 6th (7 weeks)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $65 per week / $455 for all 7 weeks
Explorers
Ages: Open to children ages 9 ½ - 12 ½ (must be born between Jan. 1, 2009 - Dec. 31, 2011)
Location: McAuliffe Park/Drennan Pool
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - August 6th (7 weeks)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $65 per week / $455 for all 7 weeks
Teen Adventure Camp
Ages: Open to teens ages 12 ½ - 15 ½ (must be born between Jan. 1, 2006 - Dec. 31, 2008)
Location: Hockanum School/Terry Pool
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - August 6th (7 weeks)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $65 per week / $455 for all 7 weeks
Camp Sunburst
Ages: Open to participants with special needs ages 6 - 21
Location: McAuliffe Park/Drennan Pool
Dates: Held Monday - Friday from June 21st - August 6th (7 weeks)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $65 per week / $455 for all 7 weeks
Campers will be bused from the parks for weekly indoor enrichment programming at the library or Community Cultural Center, with offerings to include literacy, STEM, Makerspace and arts activities. All campers will be registered for the library’s summer reading program. East Hartford Youth Services programming will occur both at the parks and at the indoor locations: campers will benefit from social workers available to support camp staff as well as structured group programming facilitated by trained professionals.
All camps (with the exception of Camp Munchkin) will offer daily recreational swimming (weather dependent), special events, arts and crafts, music, sports, games, off-site field trips and more! Camp Munchkin participants stay on site at the Community Cultural Center and will enjoy a variety of games, activities, crafts, gym time and special visitors. For more information about daily camp schedules, what to bring, and camp procedures, please see the camp brochure.
Masks are not required by the Office of Early Childhood for campers when they are outdoors. Masks are required when campers are indoors during inclement weather. Enhanced cleaning, disinfection and hand sanitizer procedures will be practiced. We are not conducting health screenings, however if your camper is sick they should stay home. If a camper shows signs of illness at camp they will have to be picked up.
Camp registration is now available! Please note that in-person registration will not be accepted, as town facilities remain closed to the public. No cash accepted - check, money orders, credit card only.
Residents may register for camp by the following methods:
- Online: www.ehparks.org
- Mail: East Hartford Parks and Recreation, 50 Chapman Place, Box 1, East Hartford, CT 06108
- Drop Box: Parks and Recreation drop-box located at Community Cultural Center Lower Level entrance, 50 Chapman Place, East Hartford, CT 06108
East Hartford Outdoor Aquatic Facilities will open for the season in mid-June. We are planning to offer a limited number of small group and private swim lessons this summer. More information will be available soon.
Youth IDs
East Hartford residents ages 7 and up must provide proof of residency for admission into town pools. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Adults ages 16 and older: Driver’s License or State Issued ID Card
- Children ages 7-15 years old: East Hartford Public School ID card for the 2020-2021 school year or a Parks and Recreation Youth Photo ID
Parks and Recreation Youth Photo IDs are available from the Parks and Recreation Department for children ages 7-15 only. The cost for a Youth Photo ID card is $6.00 and it is valid for three years. Youth Photo IDs may be obtained online - the application form and list of required documentation is available on our website at www.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreation.
Lifeguards Wanted
Due to a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, we are still looking for additional lifeguards to work at our outdoor pools, and applications are still being accepted. The starting pay for a new lifeguard is $13.25 per hour this summer. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old, and have current certification or be registered for an upcoming course.
For more information about our summer camp programs, outdoor aquatic facilities, or lifeguard job opportunities, please visit www.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreation or call the Parks and Recreation at 860-291-7160. We also encourage residents to like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ehparks for updates and announcements.