2nd Annual CVS Halloween Bash! Sunday, October 21

This Sunday, October 21st, visit your local CVS/pharmacy between 1 and 3 p.m. for their free Halloween bash!  Kids in costume will be able to have their picture taken by CVS staff for a free 5x7 print and will receive a FREE Halloween fun pack, containing Halloween goodies and over $10 in coupons.

To find the closest CVS/pharmacy, check out their Store Locator.

From the Sun to Pluto Interactive Exhibit - Ribbon-Cutting Saturday, Sept. 8

Back-to-School Freebies!

If you are a parent of a school-aged child, you know how expensive August can be.  If you need a little help getting your child's school supplies together, check out one of these events to get free school supplies:




Month of August
Free Back-to-School Haircuts (Kids K-6th Grade)
All JCPenney Salons
Click here to find a salon near you!


Saturday, August 4  11 a.m.-1 p.m.
4th Annual Back to School Bash
Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & Cinebistro
6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL
Free school supplies, free games, face painting, health screens, free hair cuts

Saturday, August 11 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine's Annual Back to School Fair
Glazer Childrens Museum
110 W. Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL
Live entertainment, informative speaker sessions, karaoke, games, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon artist, kids workshops, and a whole bunch of fun! There will be giveaways and prizes given every hour and the first 150 kids will receive a back to school bag with school supplies. Admission is $5 per person (free for museum members).

Sunday, August 19  8:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
6825 Trouble Creek Rd.
New Port Richey, FL
Free backpacks, school supplies, games, prizes, free hair cuts, gently used clothing, and more.  Register onsite the day of or call Olivia Masterson at (727) 376-7733 for more information.

2012 Pasco County Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camp

Pasco County Summer Day Camp

Swimming Lessons - 2012

Spring has sprung and this year it's hot outside! Time to start thinking about the beach and the pool.

Help your children (and yourself) have a fun, accident-free swim season this year by enrolling in one of the many swim lesson opportunities in the area. Here are a few in and adjacent to Pasco County:

Suncoast YMCA
Various Locations in Pasco and Pinellas Counties
http://www.ymcasuncoast.org/find-a-program/aquatics

Tampa YMCA
Various Locations in Hillsborough County & East Pasco County
http://www.tampaymca.org/ 

City of New Port Richey Aquatic Center
Swim lesson registration begins April 14.
Check their website for more information.

Pasco County Parks & Recreation Department
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Land O' Lakes
(813) 929-1220
Veterans Memorial Park, Hudson
(727) 861-3033
Pools open to the public in June. Contact the sites for swim lesson information.

Seal Swim School
Locations in Lutz, Tarpon Springs, and South Tampa
www.sealswimschool.com

Maureen's Swim Academy
Locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties
http://maureenswim.com/

Making Waves Swimming
Private and small group lessons in your own pool - Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties
http://www.makingwavesswimming.com/

FREE Preschool Pass for SeaWorld & Busch Gardens

If you are a Florida resident with a child who is 5 years old or younger, that child is eligible for FREE admission to SeaWorld Orlando AND Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for all of 2012!  Simply go online and register for the FREE SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Preschool Pass.  You will receive a voucher that you will need to print and take to the front gate ticket window of either park with a certified copy of the child's birth certificate.

Florida residents can purchase a 2012 Fun Pass for the price of a one-day ticket to Busch Gardens.  So, if you are the parent of a child 5 or younger, you can pay for one day's admission for the adults and older children in the family, get your younger kids their Preschool Passes, and enjoy the fun of Busch Gardens for the rest of the year!  For more information, to purchase your Florida Resident Fun Pass, or to register for the Preschool Pass, visit http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa.

Donations Needed for BookWorks Literacy Program

Goodwill's BookWorks childhood literacy program's children's book drive starts Feb. 1 and runs through March 15. People in Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Hernando and Marion counties are asked to donate new or like-new books for children ages 2 to 5.

Volunteers for Goodwill's BookWorks program read to children at Head Start centers. Each child also gets a book to take home.  This book drive will supply the program during the upcoming year. To donate books, attach a note indicating they are "For BookWorks" and drop them off at any Goodwill-Suncoast store or donation site. For store and donation site locations, call 1-888-279-1988, or go to www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

To volunteer as a reader, call Goodwill Community Relations coordinator Jinnie Kerdi at 1-888-279-1988, ext. 1013 or email volunteers@goodwill-suncoast.com.

Children's Dental Care

If you can't get down to Largo today for free dental care for your children, consider visiting the Pasco County Health Department.  The Dental Clinic, located in building A at 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey, offers dental services to children ages 1-20 on Medicaid.  The Dental Clinic also accepts uninsured children ages 1-17 on a sliding scale fee basis.

Services available include:
Exams & X-Rays
Cleaning
Fillings
Sealants
Preventive Care

The clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  To make an appointment or for more information, call (727) 861-5260, ext. 284 or visit their website.

2010 Pasco County Summer Camps

Summer is almost upon us!  Need ideas on what to do with the kids during their summer vacation?  Consider a summer camp!

YMCA of the Suncoast - Ages Vary By Location
Participating Pasco County locations include James P. Gills Branch and New Port Richey SunTrust Branch.  Other area locations are available in Hernando and Pinellas counties.

Scuba West Scuba Camp - Ages 12 and Up Only
6815 Tower Dr.
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 863-6911

Camp Seal - Aquatic Summer Camp for Ages 3-12
Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church
19501 Holly Ln.
Lutz, FL
(813) 229-7946

Pasco County Parks & Recreation
Various Locations
Contact Administrative Office at (813) 929-2760

Fall Fun in Pasco County!

We're beginning to get some relief from summer's heat and humidity, so why not enjoy our Florida Fall with a weekend activity with the family?  Several festivals and events happen in the area in October.  Here are just a few:

Saturday, October 3
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
1st Annual Hummingbird (& Beyond) Festival
Pioneer Florida Museum & Village
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0262 or www.pioneerfloridamuseum.org
Plant sales, hummingbird & butterfly gardens, arts & crafts, children's activities and more!

Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11
29th Annual Spooks 'N' Scoots
Sertoma Youth Ranch
85 Myers Rd.
Dade City, FL
(813) 626-0589 or www.abateflorida.com
Live bands, games, children's activities, food & drinks and more.

Saturday, October 10
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Scarecrow Festival
Meridian Ave & 6th Street
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0284 or www.dadecitymainstreet.org
Kids come downtown and make your own scarecrow!  Scarecrows are available for 50 cents or $1, but supplies are limited, so go early and bring your own scarecrow clothes!  Carnival activities and more.

Saturday, October 10 - Sunday, October 11
Silver Hawk Native American Flute Gathering
Withlacoochee River Park
12449 Withlacoochee Blvd.
Dade City, FL
(352) 567-0264
Enjoy Native American flute music, arts & crafts and Native food.

Egg Hunts and More!

Wondering where the Easter Bunny will be the next few days? Feel the need to hunt for eggs? Try one of these festivities!

Friday
Jellybean Jamboree
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park
14333 Hicks Rd.
Hudson, FL

Saturday
Easter Eggstravaganza
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Port Richey Waterfront Park
8119 Old Post Rd.
Port Richey, FL

Jellybean Jamboree
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Land O'Lakes Community Center
5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd.

Spring Fling
10:00 a.m.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth St.
Dade City, FL

Easterrific Eggstravaganza
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Complex
6630 Van Buren St.
New Port Richey, FL

Huge Community Easter Egg Hunt
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Seven Springs Middle School
2441 Little Rd.
Trinity, FL

Events and age groups vary, click on the links below for more information:

Easter fun in Pasco County - St. Petersburg Times
Huge Community Easter Egg Hunt

2009 Summer Camp Registration is Coming Soon

The 2009 summer camp registration season is upon us! Whether you have plans for your child to attend a subject-specific camp or just want them to have some fun in the sun this summer, the Tampa Bay area has something for you!

For information about Pasco County Parks & Recreation summer camp opportunities, click here.

For Suncoast YMCA summer camp information, click here.

For Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA summer camp information, click here.

For other fun and educational summer camp opportunities in and around the Tampa Bay area, click here.

Make Tracks to Crews Lake Park

The Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad operates a 7 1/2" gauge railroad in Pasco County's Crews Lake Park. This miniature railroad is fun for children and adults alike, and is open to the public to ride the second Saturday of each month (next date is January 10, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.). Do you have a tiny train fan with a birthday coming up? The CP&G Railroad is also available for birthdays and other private parties for a reasonable fee.

For more information, visit the CP&G Railroad's website.