Winter Camp Coming to Sunset Hill Farm County Park

Camp-FUNset-Winter-Camp-LogoKids throughout Northwest Indiana will get out of school at the end of this month, eager for the holidays and ready for a break.

But after the gifts are opened and the excitement has subsided, kids can get a little bored. Those new toys aren’t so new, and video games and TV can become an unhealthy way to pass the time.

Porter County Parks and Recreation has designed a program to pull kids out of the post-holiday rut. Camp FUNset Winter Camp will take place on Jan. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road, in Valparaiso.

Porter County Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Katie Rizer said she and her staff were excited to show kids the many activities available at Sunset Hill Farm during the winter months.

Camp FUNset Winter camp is a great way for kids to start the New Year,” she said. “We had a record number of campers that joined us for our Camp FUNset Summer Camp in 2011, so we wanted to offer something fun during the winter as well.”

Campers will get a chance to hike, learn compass skills and, weather permitting, sled and build snow-forts. Rizer said Pratt Industries, of Valparaiso, donated “heavy duty cardboard,” that will allow kids to make their own sleds and race them down Sunset Hill.

At Camp FUNset Winter Camp, kids will get the chance to enjoy outdoor education and recreation in a variety of ways, while also spending time doing activities in the park’s Interpretive Center.

We'll spend some of our time doing arts and crafts inside, but kids should come prepared to play outside and enjoy the winter beauty of Sunset Hill Farm,” Rizer said.

Camp FUNset Winter Camp is open to children between the ages of 6 and 12. Campers are asked to bring warm clothes, a sled (if there is snow), lunch and a snack.

Space is very limited for Camp FUNset Winter Camp. About 30 spots are available, and are expected to fill fast. The registration deadline is Dec. 28.

The cost of the camp is $25. To register, contact Katie Rizer at 219-309-0680 or krizer@porterco.org.

Campers will have a blast at this one-of-a-kind program and go back to school with new stories to share with their classmates,” Rizer said.

About Porter County Parks and Recreation
The mission of the Porter County Parks and Recreation Board and Department is to preserve, protect and manage the natural, cultural and recreational resources within a diverse park system. We are committed to delivering youth, adult and school programs to the residents of Porter County, while also providing a gateway into the natural beauty of our area through its unique parks and trails. For more information, call 219-465-3586, or e-mail pcparks@porterco.org. Porter County Parks and Recreation is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pcparksandrec and Twitter @pcparksnrec.