Summer is approaching fast! And now's the time to begin planning for your child's summer experience.

Let the Parks and Recreation Department help! Registration is now underway for full day and mini camps at all of our recreation centers, as well as X-Treme Teen Camp, Golf Camp, Tennis Camp, and our brand new Camp Kitsu at Lake Arlington.

Full day camps offer a new theme each week with games, crafts and other fun activities. Participants go outdoors too, with swimming trips at least once a week and six field trips planned throughout the summer. Camps are for ages 5 through 12 and take place at Cliff Nelson, Dottie Lynn and Hugh Smith Recreation Centers.

Elzie Odom Athletic Center offers sports-focused day camps with field trips and swim days as well. These sports camps feature all sorts of organized sports to offer kids a chance to learn new games, skills and make new friends.

Mini Camps are also a choice at either 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m. Mini Camp themes are as numerous and various as the disclaimers and sub-clauses in a cell phone plan. In other words, we will definitely have a camp that sounds fun to your kids, but just to give you a sample: Space, Gymnastics, Cooking, Cheerleading, Warrior, Acting & Theater, Fairy Princess, Candy Factory, Building Masters, and on and on and on.

If you're kids are into outdoor adventures, then you're in luck because we now offer our all-new outdoor adventure camp along the banks of Lake Arlington, Camp Kitsu! Enjoy conservation education and the development of outdoor skills. Canoeing, fishing, archery, forts, nature crafts, guest speakers, field trips, and swimming are among the exciting activities planned. A working fishing pole and life vest are required for this camp for ages 5 through 12. For more information contact Dottie Lynn Recreation Center at 817-277-5001.

Is your teen tired of sitting at home bored, but too old for any of these day camps? Do you wish there was a camp that was for teens and it was really extreme? Like, so extreme we even spell the word incorrectly but really cool, like "X-Treme"? Sweet! Then don't miss the X-Treme Teen Camp, featuring new and exciting things to do every day! Several field trips are in store each week, as well as plenty of fun activities planned for days stayed at the center. This camp is for ages 11 through 15.

We have many more camps and details to offer, as well as a counseling training program for teens that are interested. But all of that would take a book's worth of writing on our part. We actually wrote the book, but we're holding out for a better publishing deal so until then you can contact us at 817-459-5474 or visit naturallyfun.org.