SEBRING – Are you choosing to stay home with your children this summer? If so, you're probably one of a growing number of parents choosing not to take your kids to summer camps. This year, some local summer camps have seen declining enrollments so far. The drop concerned Linda Crowder, the director of The Children's Museum of the Highlands in Sebring. The museum's $80-per-week camp, which is for third, fourth and fifth graders, had only had 10 of its 25 slots taken last week, even though she saw museum attendance climb by 75 attendants per week compared to the last summer. ...more

July 8, 2008

SEBRING — Half pipes, hubbas and pole jams will replace double faults and lobs at Camp Sparta. And Josh "Oreo" Jones, 14, of Sebring won't miss the tennis court. He lives within walking distance of the camp. Jones has been working and skateboarding evenings after school and on weekends for two months to convert the 6,000-square-foot tennis court into a skate park. The Camp Sparta skate park is just one of many. The area is packed with professional quality skate ramps and rails made by amateurs. Many are professional quality. Frank Branca III owns Gatorboard Skate Shop in Sebring and said local skaters are building off-street places to skate, rather than riding curbs and railings on public property. ...more

May 23, 2008