News BREC Begins 2023 Summer Camp Registration

Baton Rouge, LouisianaFeb 23, 2023BREC opens online summer camp registration for East Baton Rouge Parish residents beginning Saturday, March 4 at 9 a.m. and on Tuesday, March 14 during regular facility hours of operation for out-of-parish residents.

Give your child the opportunity to experience Camp BREC, at any of our Community Recreation summer camps at various locations throughout the parish for children ages 3-4 and 5-10. These camp opportunities are created to provide campers with an enjoyable camp experience full of exciting activities and unique field trips. Each of our community recreation camps is excited to offer Specialty camps with a wider variety of activities tailored to the specific interests of our campers. We have developed eight weeks that will concentrate on adding fun and variety to the summer with expert guests/instructors, field trips, crafts and activities that support that week’s specialty. New to camp this year, our community recreation camps will also offer Camp BREC Bus Stops at several parks around the parish allowing parents/guardians to drop their children off at select locations close to their home or work. Children will then be transported from the drop-off location to the camp location that they are registered at and back to the stop at the end of the day.

For our teens, Community Recreation will also offer Camp Red Stick for ages 11-14. This camp is for teens who love being on the move, having fun, and taking trips, Camp Red Stick is for you! Camp Red Stick is all about exploring, swimming, gaming, learning life skills, and connecting with their community. The summer is to unplug, connect with friends and go on adventures, so why not do it with BREC!

This summer, BREC will also offer athletic summer camps through our summer sports camp and tennis camp programs. In addition to the community recreation specialty camps, we will also offer special interest summer camps at the Baton Rouge Zoo, Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, Farr Park Equestrian Center, Highland Road Park Observatory, Independence Park Theatre, Magnolia Mound, Perkins Road Extreme Sports Park, BREC Art Camp at Milton J. Womack Park and Zachary Community Park, Outdoor Adventure Camp at Greenwood Community Park and BREC’s Nature Explorers Conservation Camp at Palomino Drive Park.

BREC will also offer Counselor in Training Programs through our special interest camps at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, Nature Explorers Conservation Camp and BREC Art Camp. Swamp Counselors in Training sessions will continue with new opportunities for CITs to gain skills needed to work as counselors at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. Topics focus on camper management techniques, leadership training and activity development, as well as job seeking skills to provide valuable experience for potential employment opportunities in the future. Conservation Camps will also offer a week-long Counselors in Training program so that your young adult can learn about becoming a natural resource professional while getting job training and experience. At BREC Art, Counselors in Training will participate in a four-day workshop focusing on how to engage school aged children, rules and etiquette of group settings, teaching tips, creativity for all ages and, of course, ART.

And if you’re too old to be a CIT, but still want to enjoy the summer fun, it's never too early to start thinking about a summer job and BREC is now accepting applications for summer employment. We are looking for engaging, high energy and motivated individuals to make our summer experience unforgettable for the youth of East Baton Rouge Parish. Get a job for the summer and skills for a lifetime by applying today at brec.org/careers. 

In addition to our many camp offerings, BREC is also proud to offer Camp Sunshine, an exclusive summer camp designed for campers with intellectual and developmental disabilities who can function within a staff ration of 1:5. During each themed week, campers will enjoy recreational games and activities, arts and crafts, field trips, water activities, and inclusive activities with other BREC summer camps to socialize and interact with their peers. All BREC summer camps are inclusive, but Camp Sunshine is for campers who require a smaller group setting with trained staff of this expertise. All campers with a diagnosed disability must undergo an assessment with a BREC Adaptive staff member. The assessment must be completed prior to starting camp. Assessments are essential for our campers to have a successful experience at camp. Assessments are required prior to registration for all Sunshine Camps. Assessments will be held in person at Nairn Drive Park from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Mondays from Jan. 23-May 10 and on Wednesdays from March 6-May 10. Assessments will be made by appointment only after May 10 assessments. To set up an assessment or for questions, email brecadaptive@brec.org.

Parents or guardians may register in person at the facility of their choice or online at webtrac.brec.org for all locations from their computer, tablet or smartphone using Visa, MasterCard or Discover Card. All summer camp sessions can be reserved online by East Baton Rouge Parish residents with a 50% payment of total session fees. Summer camp balances are due by April 28. Beginning April 29, full payments of summer camp sessions are required at the time of registration. BREC recommends that parents or guardians make a login request on Webtrac at least two days prior to registration if they have never used online registration to set up a household. In order to complete successful online registration, parents or guardians who have registered online before should know their user ID and password ahead of time. If registrants are not sure if they have an account, they can send an email to info@register.brec.org.

This year, East Baton Rouge Parish residents can apply for scholarship opportunities ONLINE with a 50% pre-payment of total session fees and by filling out the scholarship request form available during registration. BREC may provide scholarship assistance of 50% of the total fee due to those families who qualify by providing documentation of filed 2022 Federal Tax form 1040 or current SNAP benefits. Scholarships are available on a first come, first serve basis until funds are no longer available. If you or a business you know would like to donate funds to help send a kid to camp, please contact the BREC Foundation at info@brecfoundation.org.

For more information, a complete list of all BREC summer camps or to apply for a summer job, visit brec.org/summercamp.