Summer Activities
for Kids
As the summer approaches, the City of Waco is offering a number
of fun activities to keep kids entertained. Youth can watch
puppet shows, compete in track meets, learn about animals all
over the world and more.
Summer Camps
City of Waco Parks and Recreation summer camps kick off June
4. South Waco, Bledsoe-Miller, and Dewey Recreation Centers
are all offering summer day camps Monday through Friday from
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 13.
Children will participate in indoor and outdoor activities,
arts and crafts, games, field trips and much more.
The registration fee per child is $50 and the camp cost is
$160 per session. Registration begins on April 1. For more information
contact the recreation centers at South Waco 750-8650, Bledsoe-Miller
750-8684, and Dewey 750-8677.
Camp Cameron is another exciting summer camp that begins
on June 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
for ages 5 to 13.
Camp Cameron is an outdoor adventure camp that offers campers
a mix of environmental and recreational activities such as hiking,
archery, kayaking, swimming, and nature studies.
The registration fee is $50 per camper and $65 a week. Registration
begins on April 1. For more information, call 750-5980 or visit
www.waco-texas.com.
Summer Track Program
Team Waco track registration begins Monday, April 14 and runs
through Friday, May 23 for ages 5 to 18. Registration is $40
per child. Practice schedules vary and a parent’s meeting will
be held on Tuesday, May 20.
Team Waco is a summer track program that competes at local,
regional, and state levels. The participants meet for practices
held at Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex and Team Waco
offers a way for kids of all ages to get involved in a competitive
sport and have fun.
For more information, call 750- 5875 or visit www.waco-texas.com.
Zoo Camp
Cameron Park Zoo is offering full day and half day camps this
summer. Camps are provided for youth ages preschool and up.
The cost per week for full day camp is $150 for zoo members
and $180 for non-members, and half day camp is $80 for zoo members
and $100 for non-members.
Full day camp is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and half day camp
is from 9 a.m. to noon.
Zoo Tales is a half day camp offered for ages 3 - 5,
June 30 - July 2. Children will meet the zoo’s education animals
and then learn about animals through books and art activities.
Hop, Slither, Crawl is offered June 2- 6 for students
in kindergarten through 6th grade, and July 14 - 18 for kindergarten
through 3rd grade. Youth will learn how animals move through
their habitat to find food or to escape being eaten.
For students ages kindergarten through 6th grade there are
two more camp themes offered.
Zoofari is June 9 - 13 and July 21 - 25. Students will
learn about animals living in Africa, Asia, North and South
America.
Spotlight on Survival is offered June 16 - 20 and July
28 - Aug. 1. Students will learn about endangered animals and
what scientists are doing to save them.
Exploration Collaboration is for students in 4th grade
and up. The session is offered July 14 - 18 and Aug. 11 - 15.
Students will spend the morning at Cameron Park Zoo and afternoons
at Mayborn Museum.
Down and Dirty - Keeper Shadowing is for students 12
years and up. The program is offered July 7 - 11 and Aug. 4
- 8. Youth will go behind the scenes with zookeepers to learn
about caring for animals.
Library Programs for
Teens
Want to escape summer boredom? The Central Library is throwing
a Super Party and Volunteen Fair Saturday, May 31 from 2 - 6
p.m.
Teens will have a chance to register for a summer reading
program and the library’s volunteer program. For more information
call 750-5944 or visit the teen blog at teenscenewaco.blogspot.com.
Angel Paws
“Reading Buddies”
Angel Paws gives children the opportunity to read to animal-assisted
therapy dogs to help boost their reading skills and self esteem.
The program will be held Monday, June 2 and 9 at 6:30 p.m.,
and Wednesdays, June 4 -July 30 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Through Angel Paws, reading skills improve significantly because
children are more willing to read to dogs, because they know
they won’t make fun of them when they stumble over new words.
Call 750-5942 to schedule a 20 minute session in advance.
Summer Showcase
The Waco-Mclennan County libraries will entertain children
with plays, magic, animals, music, crazy science, storytelling,
and puppets during their free Summer Showcase. The fun begins
June 5 and runs through Aug. 8. The schedule is listed below:
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Central Library, 1717 Austin Ave., Thursdays
@ 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
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East Waco Library, 901 Elm Ave., Tuesdays
@ 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
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Hoover Library, 1428 Wooded Acres, Wednesdays
@ 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
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South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St., Fridays
@ 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
For more information call 750-5941.
Kids Summer Reading Club
Join Summer Reading Club to win prizes for reading your favorite
books, magazine, or audio book. Reading club is for preschool
through age 12.
Preschoolers participate by listening to stories. Sign up May
31 - June 30 and record your reading time and titles in your
reading log. Complete your goal and receive prizes July 7 -
Aug. 11. For more information call 750-5941.
Mother’s Day Tea Party
The Waco-McLennan County Libraries will celebrate Mother’s
Day with a tea party during storytime. The program will begin
at 10:30 a.m. The schedule is as follows:
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If you'd like to submit information for the
City Talk Newsletter, you can send an email to: marlenen@ci.waco.tx.us
or call 750-5638.
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Police Academy Now Recruiting
The Waco Police Department is accepting applications
for police recruits until noon on Friday, April 25. The academy
will begin in August of 2008.
Beginning salary: $17.91/hour during academy to $19.57/hour
after academy.
Police officers from other law enforcement agencies
may be eligible for higher starting pay based on previous experience
and under certain conditions.
Applicants who have a permanent and current TCLEOSE
peace officer’s license may qualify for a modified academy or Fast
Track program.
The City of Waco is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Employer.For more information, contact Waco Police Personnel Office,
721 N. 4th Street, Waco, TX 76701, 800-299-JOBS (5627) or (254)
750-7510, Web site: www.waco-texas.com or E-mail: police-personnel@ci.waco.tx.us
Employee Race for the Cure Team
If you can walk or run, consider being a part of the
City of Waco Race for the Cure team. The event is scheduled for
the morning of May 3 and begins at Heritage Square. The City of
Waco is a major sponsor of this event.
The Komen Central Texas Race for the Cure includes
both a one mile and 5K competition. The entry fee per team member
is $25, which includes a Race for the Cure T-shirt. Family members
of employees are welcome to participate on our team.
If you’d like to be a part of the City of Waco team,
contact Marlene Neill at 750-5638.
Police Memorial Run
The Waco Police Association will hold a 5K (3.1 miles)
and one mile Memorial Run on Saturday, May 17 at 8 a.m. at the Cameron
Park Zoo.
Proceeds from this event will help to sponsor activities
to recognize officers that go above and beyond the call-of-duty
or were killed in the line-of-duty.
The cost is $12 per person before May 10 and $15 after
May 10 and on race day.
Each registrant will receive a T-shirt, and trophies
will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers of the
one mile race. In the 5K race, the top three male and female finishers
will be awarded by age divisions.
For more information, call Sgt. Tim Rhudy at 709-4605
or Det. Anita Johnson at 709-5223.
City Staff Spotlight
Five new firefighters were presented with their
badges on Friday, March 14 at the Fire Training Center. They are
Alex Mynarcik, Johathan Watts, Brian Westerfield, Willie Joe Berger
III, and Craig Gatlin. (Photo by Fire Marshal Jerry Hawk)
New Employees
Library Services welcomes Naomi Tran, circulation
manager; Retha Tiner, library technician; and Jeanne Kay
Sawyers, library technician.
The Public Health District welcomes Manuela Perez,
secretary in the immunization program.
The Waco Convention Center welcomes Dora Holt,
operations coordinator.
Solid Waste Services welcomes Cliff Stephens,
materials specialist; and John Settlemyer, operations supervisor.
The Public Health District welcomes Jose Gonzalez,
environmental inspector.
Solid Waste Services welcomes Michael Casanover,
facility attendant at the landfill.
Promotions/Transfers
Gary Malar, Fleet Services, has been promoted
from a regular service technician to the fuel truck technician.
Megan Davis, Cameron Park Zoo, has transferred
to Parks & Recreation as a community relations specialist.
Congratulations
Mitchell Whitley, Sanitarian for the Public Health District,
was presented with a plaque by Central Texas Senior Ministries for
his years of dedicated service and teaching to their association.
Moving On
Dana Lewis, Sanitarian for the Public Health District, is
leaving the City of Waco to pursue a job with the State of Texas
in Arlington.
New Employee Orientation
March 2008
Front Row (left to right): Barnette Hawthorne,
Public Health District; Billie Farley, Library Services; and Lee
Ann Jackson, Waco Convention Center.
Second Row: Travis Somerville, Cameron Park
Zoo; Craig Gatlin, Fire Department; and Jonathan Watts, Fire Department.
Back Row: Willie Berger, Fire Department; Alexander
Mynarcik, Fire Department; Brian Westerfield, Fire Department; and
Floyd Parsons, Solid Waste Services.
Walk Across Texas
City employees and family members, once again have
the opportunity to join an 8-person team to walk at least 800 miles
across Texas in 8 weeks. Key dates to remember:
April 4 (Friday): Team Captains are invited
to attend a Pre-Kick Off event from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the
Waco Regional Fitness Center, 900 West Lake Shore Drive. Jeff Galloway,
1972 U.S. Olympian and author will give a short presentation on
walking for life.
April 5 (Saturday): Walk Across Texas Kick-Off
Event. Join walkers from around Central Texas at Bledsoe-Miller
Recreation Center at 9 a.m. to log your first mile or two. Onsite
registration will take place from 8 to 8:50 a.m. Free healthy snacks
and wellness exhibits will be available.
April 6 (Sunday): The first official day of
walking. Start logging your miles. Report your progress to your
Team Captain weekly.
May 31 (Saturday): The last official day of
logging your miles.
See your department Team Captain to sign up or call
Risk Management at ext. 5730 if you have questions.
Waco Youth Council Applications
The Waco Youth Council is accepting applications for
members to serve during the 2008-2009 school year.
Applications may be picked up at the City Secretary’s
Office in City Hall, from current Youth Council members, from area
high school counselors, or downloaded from the city’s Web site at:
www.waco-texas.com.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 18. For more
information please contact Earl Stinnett at 750-8018, or visit www.waco-texas.com.
Lifeguard Certification Class
Looking for a great summer job? The City of Waco
Parks and Recreation Department and the American Red Cross are teaming
together to offer lifeguard certification classes.
The classes will take place in April. Participants
must be at least 15 years of age or older before the last scheduled
class. There will be a pre-course session where a swimming skills
test will be given. Upon completion of the classes, participants
will receive First Aid and CPR certification.
Lifeguards can apply to work at Waco Water Park, which
will open in May. For registration information, call 750-5784.
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