Youth Programs in York, Nebraska

Summer Camp | All Summer | Swimming Lessons | July | August

Summer Camp

Deadline to sign up for all 8 weeks: Wednesday, May 14th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Register for all 8 weeks of camp for $350
Each individual week of camp is $50

Max Enrollment is nearing for most weeks, make sure you sign up ASAP to ensure your child can get in

Online Registration for all 8 weeks: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 1 – Raiders of the Lost Adventure
Step into the thrilling world of Indiana Jones, where ancient artifacts, hidden maps, and booby-trapped trails await. Sharpen your adventurer’s instincts for an unforgettable treasure hunt to uncover the secrets of a lost civilization!
When: June 2-6
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, May 25th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 2 – Mysteries of the Deep
Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for a swashbuckling week of pirate adventures and mystical mermaid lore at camp! Create your own pirate maps and craft treasure in a bottle as you embark on daring quests and uncover the mysteries of mermaids and hidden riches.
When: June 9-13
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 1st (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 3 – Global Exploration
Grab your passport and plane ticket—we’re soaring around the world! Our stops include Mexico, France, Egypt, and Japan, with new foods, cool music, and amazing cultures to explore. Pack your bags for this wild adventure!
When: June 16-20
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 8th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 4 – Mission Survival: Oregon Trail
Do you ever watch survival shows and think, “I can do that”? If you were dropped off in the middle of the woods, would you be able to feed yourself, stay warm, or start a fire? Join us during our Mission Survival week where we will learn more about “simple” tasks that could help you survive. We will learn about how you can apply simple first aid in case of an accident, how you could cook some food in the outdoors, learn about various wildlife in a general location, and more!
When: June 23-27
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – 4-H Building, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 15th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 5 – Tiki Splash
Aloha Summer! Join us for a fun-filled Luau week with water games, tiki crafts, a limbo contest, and beach treats. We’ll wrap up with a Luau party, so grab your grass skirt and sunglasses for a tropical blast!
When: June 30 – July 3
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Wednesday – City Park, Thursday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 22nd (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 6 – The Ringmaster’s Circus
Step right up and dive into the world of circus fun, where adventure and laughter await! Enjoy a week filled with clowning around, delicious circus treats, and unforgettable excitement. Come be part of the spectacle and make memories that will last a lifetime!
When: July 7 – 11
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 29th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 7 – Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Outwit, outplay, and outlast in a week of intense physical and food challenges designed to test your limits. Form alliances, face unexpected twists, and compete to become the last one
standing as the ultimate survivor!
When: July 14 – 18
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, July 6th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

Week 8 – Space Wars
In a galaxy far, far away, an unforgettable adventure awaits! Meet aliens, savor starry treats, create your own planet, and embark on a mission to conquer the cosmos. Get ready to blast off into space, face thrilling challenges, and explore the stars—buckle up for the ride of a lifetime!
When: July 21 – 25
Time: 1-5 pm
Who: Kindergarten – 5th Grade
Where: Monday – Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday – City Park, Friday – FAC
Fee: $50
Registration Deadline: Sunday, July 13th (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: REGISTRATION FULL

All Summer Programs

StoryWalk®
Join York Parks and Recreation and Kilgore Memorial Library’s StoryWalk®. Families and individuals can now read and exercise at the same time! Look for different children’s books to be displayed along the Beaver Creek Trail throughout the year. Each page will be displayed throughout the trail with fun activities to incorporate into your walk. Whoever said exercising cannot be fun and educational has not been on our StoryWalk®!

Toddler Time
The FAC zero-depth area is reserved just for toddlers and their parents for playtime seven days a week! Parents/guardians must be within an arm’s reach at all times. Toddlers must be 5 years or younger. Swim diapers required if necessary.
When: May 27 – August 3 (plus August weekends depending on staff availability)
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Fee: Daily Fee, Coupon for Parent/Guardian, or Season Pass

Floaty Fridays
Each Friday at the FAC, patrons will be able to use floaties. The FAC will supply a limited number of inner-tubes, so feel free to bring your own! In cases where the pool is heavily populated, floaties may have to be removed from the water for safety reasons.
When: Fridays, May 30 – August 1
Time: During FAC Open Hours
Fee: Daily Fee, Coupon, or Season Pass

Swimming Lessons

Public swim lessons are offered in three sessions. All sessions will be: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Class sizes are limited & first come, first serve. For questions and registrations, contact the Community Center until the FAC opens.
Session Fee: $35

Classes are filling up quickly, sign up now while spots are still available!

Swimming Lessons Levels
Beginner: Participants will learn water safety and basic swimming fundamentals. Upon completion, participants will enter and exit the water, blow bubbles, bob, and front and back float with assistance. Class is typically preschool-kindergarten but is not limited to any age.

Primary: Participants will continue to learn and practice water safety while building on previous skills learned. Upon completion, participants will jump into chest deep water, fully submerge, front and back glide with assistance, and have knowledge of the kicks and arm motions of the swim strokes. Class is typically kindergarten-1st grade but is not limited to any age.

Secondary: Participants will practice water safety while continuing to improve skills. Upon completion, participants will jump into chest deep water and front and back glide, swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke, perform a kneeling dive, and tread water with bobs. Class is typically 1st-3rd grade but is not limited to any age.

Advanced: Participants will take their skills to deeper water and practice water safety at a higher level. Upon completion, participants will jump and tread in deeper water, master freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke, continue to learn sidestroke and butterfly, dive, and go off of the diving board. Class is typically 2nd-4th grade but is not limited to any age.

Professional: Participants will fine tune the skills they have learned from the previous levels. Participants are good swimmers and feel confident around the water. Upon completion, participants will dive off of the diving board, tread water for an extended period of time, complete feet and head first surface dives, retrieve objects in the deep end, and change direction while swimming all of the strokes. Class is typically 3rd-5th grade but is not limited to any age.

July Events

Baking the 4-H Way
In this program, you will learn many skills that every good cook needs. Learning by doing is the best way to learn. Each day we will expand our knowledge of food preparation, food safety, and nutrition. Not only will we learn life skills, cooking and taste testing will be the best part! This program is combined with 4-H, but you do not have to be a 4-H member to participate.
When: Monday-Thursday, July 7-10
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Who: 2nd-5th Grades
Where: 4-H Building – York County Fairgrounds
Fee: $35
Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 29 (or until max enrollment reached)
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=1248803

Kooky Carnival
Come out to the Family Aquatic Center to enjoy carnival food, games, and competitions. Score points to get tickets and then cash your tickets in for prizes! Do not miss out on this awesome family event.
When: Thursday, July 10
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: FAC Admission

Sandbox Saturdays
Bring your toddlers to enjoy some play time and burn off energy at the park in the giant sandbox! YPR has all the sand toys that will let the tots be creative and interact with each other.
When: Saturday, July 12
Time: 10:00-11:00am
Who: 5 Years Old & Under
Where: East Hill Park
Fee: FREE

Artistic Me!
Let your artistic juices flow! Become an artist using stickers, paint, markers, foam, crayons, clay, cardboard, and much more.
When: Monday-Thursday, July 14-17
Time: 10:30am-12:00pm
Who: Kindergarten-5th Grade
Where: Community Center
Fee: $25
Registration Deadline: Sunday, July 6
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=1248801

Art in the Park
Let your creative mind paint! Come enjoy an art class in the park taught by Angie Schroetlin while she walks you through your painting step-by-step. Everything will be provided, so all you have to do is show up!
When: Wednesday, July 16
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Who: Everyone
Where: East Hill Park
Fee: $10
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=3082385

Beach Party
The YPR Department cannot take you on a trip to the beach, but we will bring the beach to you! We will be running through sprinklers, playing water limbo, and more. Bring your own towels; there is fun to be had by all!
When: Friday, July 18
Time: 1:00-5:00pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: FAC Admission

Dive-In Movie
YPR will be showing a movie on a projector screen at the Family Aquatic Center. Float in the pool as you watch a classic movie and enjoy popcorn (while supplies last)!
When: Friday, July 18
Time: Doors open: 9:00pm, Movie starts 9:15pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: FAC Admission

Transportation Exploration
Imagine yourself as a young child seeing all the big equipment around town and your desire to climb, drive, touch, and even honk the horn. Wait no more, Transportation Exploration allows just that! Climb, sit, touch, and honk the horns of big machinery. This event will have local businesses’ equipment on site to fulfill all childhood dreams!
When: Saturday, July 19
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Holthus Convention Center
Fee: FREE

City-Wide Water Fight
Grab your family and friends for the biggest water balloon fight you have ever seen. This is one event you do not want to be late to!
When: Saturday, July 19
Time: 2:00pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Nebraska Ave between 5th & 6th Streets
Fee: FREE

Bike at Night
Enjoy the trails of York with your family and friends! This event will start at the Blackburn entrance and travel through the trail. Stop along the way at station games to earn stamps for a chance to win! This is a great way to get the family out and have fun. Come and go at any time!
When: Saturday, July 19
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Who: Everyone
Where: Beaver Creek Trails – Blackburn Ave entrance
Fee: FREE

Little Movers and Shakers
Little Movers and Shakers is designed around basic motor skills: coloring, matching colors/shapes, balance, coordination, and following directions. This program would be an excellent practice of all skills as your child enters pre-school.
When: Monday-Thursday, July 21-24
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm
Who: 3-5 Year Olds
Where: Community Center
Fee: $15
Registration Deadline: Sunday, July 13
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=1206378

Junior Lifeguarding
Gain the foundation of knowledge, attitude, and skills for the future lifeguard in you! This camp will introduce youth to the skills needed for entry to the American Red Cross Lifeguard Course. They will learn lifeguard responsibilities, job shadow actual lifeguards, and build decision-making skills.
When: Monday-Friday, July 21-25
Time: Monday-Thursday: 10:30am-12:00pm, Friday: 12:30-2:15pm
Who: 11-14 Year Olds
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: $30
Registration Deadline: Sunday, July 13 (or until max enrollment is reached)
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=3138522

Float for Life
This is a class designed for young kids to learn how to survival float if they were to ever fall into water when no one else is around. Our trained staff will teach every child how to self-rescue.
When: Session 2: July 21-25 & July 28-30
Time: 12:15-12:30pm OR 5:50-6:00pm
Who: Infants, Toddlers, Kids – Anyone who wants to learn
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: FREE

Midnight Swim
Come to the Family Aquatic Center for a midnight swim! Swim under the stars, play water games in the dark, and enjoy the perfect summer night.
When: Friday, July 25
Time: 10:00pm-12:00am
Who: Everyone
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: FAC Admission

Chalk the Walk
Bring the family for a fun start to the weekend! Each family will get a square on the sidewalk to create a masterpiece with chalk (chalk provided by YPR). You’ll get one hour to draw as a family and then we will let the public vote!
When: Monday, July 28
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Who: All ages welcome
Where: Community Center
Fee: FREE
Online Registration: https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=2020&GroupID=1249981

August Events

Sandbox Saturdays
Bring your toddlers to enjoy some play time and burn off energy at the park in the giant sandbox! YPR has all the sand toys that will let the tots be creative and interact with each other.
When: Saturday, August 9
Time: 10:00-11:00am, drop in & play whenever
Who: 5 Years Old & Under
Where: East Hill Park
Fee: FREE

Soggy Doggy Day
Let your dog have a chance to enjoy the FAC like you did all summer! This day will be reserved just for your four-legged friends. Your dog will get to enjoy swimming in the pool before it is drained for the summer.
When: Sunday, August 24
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Who: Dogs & Their Owners
Where: Family Aquatic Center
Fee: $5/Dog

Open to all dogs that can swim and are compatible with other dogs. Dogs must be leashed when not in the water. All dogs must have current vaccinations. Warning: FAC has slotted gutter grates that may be hazardous to dog’s feet when exiting the pool. Dogs should exit from the zero-depth area. People are not allowed to swim; they can be in the water only to attend to their dog.