School may be out for the summer, but a different kind of classroom has formed at Tennessee Riverpark shelter No. 4.
From making ice cream to learning about where local wildlife find their water, every Thursday at 10 a.m. from June 6-July 25, kids age 5 and up are invited to come to the park for a free activity.
“We like to be able to give people an opportunity to do things in the park other than bike, walk or play on the playground,” said Hamilton County Parks and Recreation programming specialist Maureen Davis, who is organizing Kids Time. “We call it ‘fun education’ because they’re learning, but it’s so fun they don’t realize it.”
Individual programs last about 45 minutes each and are geared specifically for elementary-age kids even though older and younger siblings are welcome to join in when they can, said Davis. Local organizations like Read 20 and the Hamilton County Water Quality Program take turns sponsoring Kids Time, she said.
“Kids are not going outside anymore to play, so this is just one way we try to encourage that,” said Davis.