Susan Hengen, Recreation Programmer

Congratulations to the Kipling Royals Squirt Softball Team on winning the Silver Medal at the Softball Saskatchewan Squirt C South Provincial Championships, hosted in Kipling last weekend! Additional congratulations to Kipling Minor Ball for hosting a successful weekend, and many thanks to the countless volunteers involved with the event. With the new kitchen facility and diamond improvements, the ballpark is a source of pride for the community with many compliments received from visiting teams.

Kipling, as well as Windthorst, is also host to the Saskatchewan Baseball Association’s Twilite Division Provincial Championship this weekend. Twenty-one teams will compete for top spot in the province’s 35 years and up category - 3 teams from the host communities, as well! Stop by the ballparks in Kipling and Windthorst to cheer on the Kipling Knights, Eden Valley Senators and Windthorst Pirates. There is no gate admission charged and lots of opportunity for fun and festivities with concessions and beer gardens on site in both communities, a progressive 50/50 draw in each community, and the Home Run Derby (qualifying round on Friday evening, with finals on Saturday evening). Kingswood Golf Course will be sponsoring a Kentucky Fried Chicken Supper on Friday evening at the Kipling Ball Park, and the Kipling Swimming Pool will be hosting their first Pool Party of the season on Friday evening. Wings will be served both nights in the Kipling Beer Gardens as well. Pancake breakfasts will be held on Friday and Saturday mornings in Kipling and Windthorst Arenas, and again on Sunday morning in the Windthorst Arena. Thank you to all the volunteers in both communities for your assistance with this event!

The first session of Swimming Lessons at the Kipling & District Swimming Pool is set to begin on July 7th. Other sessions will run July 21-August 1, and August 4-August 15. Kipling Swimming Pool will also be running the Bronze Cross and Medallion - call Jordan at the Pool for more information 736-2707.

Please check the Town of Kipling website for the 2008 Kipling Swimming Pool schedule: www.townofkipling.ca

Kipling Swimming Pool is hosting a Diving Clinic on Monday, July 28 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for beginners and experienced divers alike. The clinic is open to children, youth and adults. If you would like to learn basic diving techniques or are ready to move onto something more difficult, call the Kipling Swimming Pool to register 736-2707. Cost to participate in the clinic is $7.00/person.

The Children’s Summer Program begins on Monday, July 7th and runs for the entire summer, ending on Friday, August 22nd. The program features games, crafts, special visitors and a ton of fun! There is no cost for children to participate, and the program is open to children 4-12 years of age. Each morning generally begins at Bell Park at 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Afternoon activities run from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Up-to-date schedules are featured weekly in The Citizen as well as on the Town of Kipling website. This year’s Summer Program Coordinators are Ashley Hengen, Chelsea Lyons and Devon Shackleton. For more information, call the Rec Office at 736-8440.

Kipling Parks and Recreation is hosting Summer Slam on August 19-21 at the Kipling School Gymnasium. Summer Slam is a 3-day volleyball skills camp for males and females ages 12 and up. Athletes will be grouped as follows: 12-14 years; ages 15 years and up. Fee for the camp is $50.00 and includes 6 sessions of instruction, a camp t-shirt and nutrition break snacks. Pre-registration is necessary by July 15th. For more information and/or a registration form, call Susan at the Rec Office 736-8440. Register now to avoid disappointment, as the camp is capped at 60 registrations.

Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you. - Erma Bombeck