BRATTLEBORO — The Recreation & Parks Department, 207 Main St., offers programs and activities for youth during holiday vacation. For more information on these and other programs, call 802-254-5808 or visit www.brattleboro.org.
Open gym
• Open Gym & Game Room is a free, supervised program with a variety of activities at the Gibson-Aiken Center. Basketball, foosball, air hockey, bumper pool, and arts and crafts. Drop kids off or stay and enjoy the games with them.
The program is open Dec. 23, 26, 29, 30 and 31, and Jan. 2, 2015, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., all ages. Open gym and game room are closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Winter mini camp
• A Winter Mini Camp for children 5-11 runs Dec. 26, 29, and 31, and Jan. 2, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gibson-Aiken Center. (Children may stay for open gym at 1:30.)
The cost of the three-day camp is $50 for Brattleboro residents, $65 for non-residents. The per-day fee for Brattleboro residents is $10, and for non-residents it's $13. Morning snack is provided. Please bring a noon lunch and a drink.
Many great activities are planned: arts and crafts, new games, and sports. On Monday, Dec. 29, campers will meet at the skating rink for skating and other activities. Bring skates if you have them, and dress warmly. Early registration is appreciated.
Skate time
• The Nelson Withington Skating Facility at Living Memorial Park is open for the season, with public skating available Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m; Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. to noon (adults only); Fridays: 7 p.m. to midnight (adults only); Saturdays: 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Dollar Day) and 7 to 9 p.m.; Sundays: 1:45 to 4:45 p.m., 7 to 9 p.m. (all ages), and 9:15 t0 10:15 p.m. (adults only).
On Dec. 23, 26, 29, 30th, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, and Jan. 2, 2015, open skating is offered from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The rink is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
You can rent skates at the rink for $3. And as last-minute stocking-stuffers, $5 gift cards to the snack bar are available.
Bowling day
• The department and the Brattleboro Bowl co-sponsor a Bowling Day on Friday, Dec. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the bowling alley on Putney Road. Children younger than 10 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The $7 cost per person includes shoes, two games, and a hot dog and drink.
Basketball clinic
• A basketball clinic is set for Monday, Dec. 29 at the Gibson-Aiken Center. The clinic is for boys and girls of all abilities in grades K-6. The cost for this one-day clinic is $5 for Brattleboro Recreation & Parks players, $10 for all others.
Children in grades K-2 meet from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Children in grades 3-6 meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. Paul Freed and the Brattleboro Union High School varsity girls' basketball team leads the clinic. Early registration is appreciated.
Movie matinée
• The department presents a movie matinée of “Frozen” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, in the conference room of the Gibson-Aiken Center. Juice and popcorn are free. Children of all ages are welcome.
Stick time
• Stick time at the Nelson Withington Skating Facility is open to all ages and abilities. Non-Brattleboro Hockey Association participants are welcome. Helmets and gloves are required. Stick time is supervised, and equipment is available. You can skate and shoot pucks whether or not you play on a hockey team.
Stick time is offered on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. The cost is $2 for students and $3 for adults; $1 more for non-residents. Stick time fees are not included in season passes. Additional stick time is set for Monday, Dec. 29, from 11 a.m. to noon.