Summer in the city: All fun and games

With the school year finally ended, it?s time to really get into the swing of summer. There are plenty of summer camps, clinics, and activities for kids of all ages in the area, and many of them kick off Monday.
The Lynn Parks and Recreation Department is again offering its free, five-week park program. It begins Monday and runs every weekday through Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 10 neighborhood parks and playgrounds.
The five-week special needs camp also begins Monday and runs every weekday through Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additionally, the park department is offering a number of clinics in different sports over the summer. The action kicks off on Monday with the junior golf clinic at 8 a.m. The clinic, which will run for five consecutive weeks, ending on Aug. 3, is free and will run for one hour at Gannon Municipal Golf Course. There is no registration and kids of all ages are welcome.
There will be three different ways to play basketball in Lynn this summer, with two clinics and a free evening league. There will be a Pee Wee clinic for kids ages 6-11 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from Monday until Aug. 1 at the Flax Pond Playground courts. The clinic will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. The cost of the clinic is $15.
There will also be a clinic for kids ages 10 and older Mondays through Thursdays from Monday until July 30 at Gowdy Park. The clinic will run from 3 to 5 p.m. every day and is free to attend.
The evening basketball league is open to kids of all ages and will take place on courts in both East Lynn and West Lynn. The league will run from Monday until July 30 and start at 5 p.m. In West Lynn, the league will play on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Gallagher Playground courts. In East Lynn, games are Wednesdays and Thursdays at Keaney Park. There is no cost to play.
Lynn parks and rec also is offering a youth tennis clinic on Mondays through Wednesdays from Monday to July 29 at Gowdy Park. The clinic will be split into three age groups and will run for one hour. Kids 8 and younger will start at 5 p.m.; ages 9-11 will start at 6 p.m.; and 12 and older will start at 7 p.m.
There will be a free punt-pass-kick football clinic for Lynn residents at 10 a.m on Aug. 8 at Manning Field. The clinic is open to boys and girls ages 6-15 and is offered in collaboration with the Lynn Chargers youth football program.
These clinics and camps in Lynn are mostly free thanks to the support of local businesses and the mayor?s office.
?It?s just so good to see the community leaders step up to help out the youths in the city,” said Lisa
Nerich, Lynn’s associate commissioner of Public Works. “The support really helps us keep these activities free for the kids.”
Swampscott also has several camps and clinics this summer for kids of all ages. There will be a tennis camp at Swampscott Middle School from Aug. 17 – Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camp costs $125 and is open to players of all ages and ability levels. Campers will be evaluated on the first day and placed into groups based on skill set to maximize their potential.
Children?s and adults? sailing programs will be offered at Fisherman?s Beach this summer. The children?s program with run as a two-week session, with the first session starting on June 29. Children must be between the ages of 8 and 16 in order to be eligible. The sessions will be separated into four levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and racing. The cost of each two-week session is $225.
The adults? program is open to all abilities. The program will run once a week (on a Monday or Tuesday) for four weeks and will cost $150.
The Saugus Youth and Recreation Department will host its annual summer camp this year from Monday to Aug. 14 at Belmonte Middle School. Campers will participate in a variety of activities, from arts and crafts and board games to sports and bike riding (with a helmet). There will also be special events l