Idaho Department Of Parks And Recreation

sports camps

Passing Academy

Champions Passing Academy will have summer football camps the next two weeks for youths in grades 3-8.

The camps will take place 9-11:30 a.m.. Monday through Friday, July 18-22 and July 25-29 at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills.

The camp instructors on Joe Pesci, former Harrison and Albion College quarterback, and Mario Vassallo, former Catholic Central and University of Idaho wide receiver.

For more information about the camps and registration, see the website at www.championspassingacademy.com .

Schoolcraft soccer

Schoolcraft College, located at 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, will offer four sessions of its Victory Soccer camps including (ages 6-17) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 18-22 and 25-29 (cost $165 for each week).

There will also be an advanced goalkeeping camp during the July 25-29 session put on by Olympic Development Program coach Ben Davis (cost $250).

Both lunch and swimming daily are included in the cost.

For more information, call Schoolcraft men's soccer coach Rick Larson at (734) 564-3693; or e-mail ricklarson@victory-soccer.net .

Hoop Skills Academy

Coach Paul Tripp will stage his eighth annual Basketball Academy Skills camp for girls, Monday through Thursday, July 18-21 at St. Mel's in Dearborn Heights.

The registration fee is $95.

For more information, call (248) 563-0858. You can obtain a registration form via e-mail at basketballacademy@hotmail.com .

Plymouth baseball

Aspiring young baseball players are invited to learn about the game at the Wildcats Baseball Summer Clinic, July 19-20, at the Plymouth High School baseball complex.

Boys and girls entering grades two-nine this fall can participate. Sessions are 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, for players entering grades two-five and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, for those entering grades six-nine.

The cost is $20 for those who pre-register or $25 the day of the camp and the fee includes a snack. Event T-shirts are available for $8-$10.

Sessions will focus on age-appropriate skill development in a positive, fun, learning environment.

Clinic attendees will receive instruction from the Wildcats baseball staff and 2011 players.

The program is limited to 100 campers. Please register as soon as possible. Go to www.baseball.plymouthwildcats.com for registration forms and contact information.

The Island Park News: County makes Loosli the Parks & Rec boss

FREMONT COUNTY, ID — In a meeting closed to the public Thursday, July 14, the Fremont County Commissioners decided to dissolve the independent Department of Parks and Recreation and made it part of the Planning and Building Department. In so doing, Commissioners Skip Hurt, Leroy Miller, and Jordan Stoddard made Planning and Building Department Administrator, Stephen Loosli, Cikaitoga’s boss.

Loosli issued a news release on the change, which the commissioners announced publicly after reopening the meeting, calling it a “realignment.”

Friday evening, Cikaitoga said she did not know the “realignment” was in the works until the commissioners called her into the closed meeting. She said effective August 1, commissioners want her to add 10 hours to her work week, which has been 30 hours. She was also told she has to move her office from the Soil Conservation District building to the County Annex, down the hall from Loosli’s office.

On Monday, she said, "The change is not something I was anticipating, however, I look forward to working on the county's recreation plan and having additional time to work on recreation grants is always welcome. The County Commissioners have assured me they will be flexible in allowing me to complete various projects, or continue on a limited basis, at the Yellowstone Soil Conservation District and I appreciate their willingness to work with me. "

Joyce Edlefsen, a reporter with the Rexburg-based Standard Journal , sent the commissioners a letter protesting the action, emphasizing that the posted meeting notice did not include an agenda informing the public that the commissioners would address department-level changes. A copy of the letter follows this story.

Loosli’s news release quotes Commissioner Skip Hurt: "Tamra Cikaitoga has nearly single-handedly built the Parks & Recreation Department during her tenure. The various programs have grown beyond the ability of one part time person to manage. This realignment is designed to allow Tamra more time to focus on strategy and partnerships while sharing the burden on administrative details."

Loosli goes on to say, “The County Commissioners ordered the realignment as a means to maintain the necessary support of the county's water, snowmobile, golf, and other recreational resources while minimizing costs. The realignment will allow the county to provide a more efficient entity that works to better address the needs of the patrons it serves. The elevation of the Parks & Recreation Director to full-time status and the relocation of the department to the Annex will provide critical resources to managing a valuable component of the county's services to its citizens and guests. Direct access to the Planning and Building Department staff will allow neglected priorities to be addressed and implemented.

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