Mars Estates RAC
Summer Program 2023
Mars Estates Recreation Activity Center (RAC)
Baltimore County Recreation Activity Center
1498 East Homberg Avenue
Essex, MD 21220
Phone: 410-887-6422
Website: http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/recreation/programdivision/pal/
Keith Williams - RAC Coordinator
Monterey Sosa- RAC Leader
Tynnetta Spedden - RAC Leader
PROGRAMS
Everyone can participate at RACs—there will be activities available to children and adults of all ages. An adult must accompany children under the age of six.
Most RAC programs are free. Programs that have a cost associated with them will be offered soon. Scholarships will be available to those who need assistance. For the safety of all participants, all attendees at RACs will check in when they enter the facilities.
Similar to the former PAL model, RACs will offer after-school programming along with meals and snacks for the youth. They will also continue to sponsor offsite activities and field trips. RAC centers will be community based, so if there are programs that were favorites, they will stay. If there are requests for new offerings, BCRP looks forward to implementing them.
Drop-in programs and spaces will remain as they did with PAL centers.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
There will be programs for adults and younger children who traditionally were limited from PAL programming which caters to ages 8 to 17. Recreational, social and wellness opportunities will be made available to a broader range of people in our communities. RACs will allow for and expand programming to meet the needs of the communities, including programming and space for all ages.
New to RACs will be themed sites. Most of the upcoming themes are based on the community history with all of them focusing on community building and positivity. Follow along on social media as the RACs unveil themes over the next few months.
ABOUT THE NAME CHANGE
Recreation Activity Centers (RACs) is a more accurate name and description of the new, expanded programming format taking place in our centers. PAL stands for Police Athletic Leagues and is a part of a national association. When the PAL centers collaborated with the Department of Recreation and Parks in 1996, police were onsite to facilitate athletic leagues and the program was administered by the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD). While athletics remain an important component of programming, they are only one aspect of what RACs will offer. RACs will still collaborate with our local BCoPD on programming and special events, but the talented BCRP team will lead the offerings. In addition to offering athletic programs, including new drop-in play, BCRP is excited to offer recreation programming such as nature, art, youth development, health and wellness, multicultural activities and more.
Dates and Hours of Operation:
The PAL Summer Program will run for eight weeks beginning Monday, June 28, 2023 and ending on Friday August 18, 2023. The program is open from 8:00am through 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday.
CAMP is $200 which covers the cost of trips and transportation
Important Dates
Wednesday, June 28 – RAC Summer Program Begins –RAC Open 8:00am-5:00pm
Monday, July 4 – RAC Closed (Independence Day)
Friday, July 14– RAC Summer Picnic
Friday, August 11 – RAC Field Day
Thursday, August 17 – Family Fun Trip to Hershey Park (ALL RAC Centers)
Wednesday, July 26 - Marshy Point Nature Center/Kayaking (8 to 12 years)
Tuesday, August 1 - Marshy Point Nature Center/ Kayaking (teens 13 to 17 years)
TRIPS
Friday, July 7 - Skyzone Trampoline Park
Friday, July 21 - DC Experience (Smithsonian Museums)
Friday, July 28 - Monster Mini Golf and Laser Tag
Programs
Swimming
Arts and Crafts
Sports and Fitness
Enviro. Nature
STEM
Fun Science
DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)
Healthy Choices
Girl Scouts
4-H Programming
Daily Schedule
8:00 AM TO 8:50AM CAMPERS ARRIVAL AND MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:00 AM TO 9:50 AM BREAKFAST
10:00 AM TO 10:50 AM FITNESS WORKOUT
11:00 AM TO 11:50 GROUP ACTIVITY (stem, fun science, arts, enviro. nature, sports)
12:00 PM TO 1:00 PM LUNCH
1:00 PM TO 1:50 PM DEAR (drop everything and read)
2:00 PM TO 2:50 PM GROUP ACTIVITY (stem, fun science, arts, enviro. nature, sports)
3:00 PM TO 3:50 GROUP ACTIVITY (stem, fun science, arts, enviro. nature, sports)
4:00 PM TO 4:55 CAMPERS CHOICE & FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
5:00 PM TO 5:25 PM CAMPER DISMISSAL
5:30 PM RAC CENTER IS CLOSED
** Programs and activities are subject to change. Factors such as weather, scheduling conflicts and staff discretion may cause activities to be rescheduled and/or replaced with another suitable activity. **