The Platte County Parks & Recreation District offers varied classes and activities through the summer for children and adults.
The district has some limited funds available to cover registration fees for youth younger than 18. Apply at the Recreation Office, 93 Recreation Drive in Wheatland, or call the office at 307-322-9254.
Pool
The public pool, located in Lewis Park, 200 block of Eighth Street, opens June 1, weather permitting. Children 7 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Children 5 years old and younger are admitted free with a paying adult.
Open swim hours at the pool are 1-4:45 p.m. and 5-6:45 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 1-6:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Fees for open swim sessions cost $1 per visit per person, $40 for an individual season pass or $65 for a family season pass. Family passes are for immediate family members only residing at one address. Baby sitters can be added to the family pass for $20. Passes can be purchased at the Recreation office or the pool.
Swimming lessons for various skill levels and all ages, babies to adult, are offered all summer. Classes are held Monday-Friday mornings except for adult lessons, which are offered at 5 p.m. weekdays during sessions II and III. Class size is limited and gets filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students may be enrolled in one session at a time, and cost is $10.
Session I is June 4-22; Session II, June 25-July 13, but not on July 4; and Session III, July 16-Aug. 3.
Lifeguard training has yet to be scheduled. Individuals must be at least 15 years old to sign up for lifeguard training, as well as capable of passing a preliminary swimming test. The class includes CPR, first aid, and rescue and surveillance techniques. Cost for the class is $75. Those interested should call the Recreation Office at 307-322-9254 to be put on the lifeguard training list.
Water fitness classes taught by Bonnie Weber are held 6-7 a.m. in three sessions over the summer: June 4-22, June 25-July 13 and July 16-Aug. 3. Water fitness is a low-impact exercise class that requires some swimming skills. Fees are $15 per session for participants younger than 55, or $7.50 for age 55 and older.
The pool is available to be rented for private parties on the weekends during the hours of 7-8:45 p.m. or 10-11:45 a.m. Cost is $60 for small parties of 25 or fewer swimmers. Large pool parties accommodating 26-80 swimmers cost $80. Rentals must be reserved and paid for at least one week in advance. Reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis.
Youth golf
Parks & Rec offers golf classes for children on Wednesday mornings at a cost of $25. Starting times have yet to be determined; call the Recreation Office at 307-322-9254 for more information. Class sizes are limited to eight or nine golfers.
Level 1, beginners golf for ages 7-10, is for golfers with limited or no experience. Players are not required to have their own clubs. Level 2, basic golf for ages 7-10, is for golfers with some experience who are familiar with how the game is played. Level 3, advanced golf for ages 11-15, is designed for older golfers with some experience who know how to play.
Baseball and softball
Farm League practices begin June 4 at 9 a.m. for 5- and 6-year-olds, and 10 a.m. for 3- and 4-year-olds. Farm League is for boys and girls who turn 4 by the end of 2018.
Minor League, for boys and girls ages 7-9, has its season opening May 29. Minor League games are played in the evenings at West Elementary School in Wheatland.
Girls softball season opened May 15. Two age levels are available: Lady Lobos are ages 9-12 while Little Lady Lobos are ages 6-8.
Little League Baseball, for boys and girls ages 9-12, is played at the complex by the water tower in Wheatland. For more information on Little League, contact Brandon Graves at 307-331-1900, Shawn Kontour at 307-322-1170 or Brian Jackson at 307-359-1797.
Wheatland Lobos Legion Baseball, for boys ages 13-19, has both a prep team and a varsity team. They play at the Wheatland Baseball Complex.
Adult co-ed softball packets are available at the Recreation Office, 93 Recreation Drive in Wheatland. The team captains meeting is 5:30 p.m. May 30 at the Recreation Office and will include discussion on game schedule and fees.
Co-ed teams can compete in the 10th annual Carey Jo Thomas Memorial Tournament happening Aug. 3, 4 and 5 at the Wheatland Softball Fields. Entry fee is $300 per team, with proceeds funding the Carey Jo Thomas Memorial Scholarships. For more information or to register a team, call Connie and CA Thomas at 307-331-3269 or Parks & Rec at 307-322-9254.
Carey Jo Thomas Memorial Scholarship applications will be available June 1 at the Recreation Office or from the Thomases. Students attending their sophomore, junior or senior year of college, as well as those working on post-graduate degrees, are eligible to apply.
