School’s out and hundreds of youngsters have signed up with the City of Biloxi for a fun-filled summer break in the city’s summer camp and fire academy. And the city has announced that the Biloxi Natatorium is going to be open each Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. throughout the summer.
This morning, more than 400 youngsters showed up for the city’s Summer Playground and Enrichment Program. The summer camp, open to ages 5 to 14, is an eight-week program taking place at six Biloxi sites, and runs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with extended care to 6 p.m.
While at camp, campers will enjoy arts and crafts, games, snacks and myriad daily field trips. Trips include such destinations as the Biloxi Natatorium, the city’s splash pads, Golden Gate Skateland, Big Play Entertainment Center, Center Stage, and the South Mississippi Summer Fair.
Also this morning, nearly 100 children gathered at the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center for Day 1 of the weeklong Beginners Fire Academy for Kids.
Children ages 7 to 12 are learning life-safety skills daily from 8 a.m. to noon at the public safety center and at the nearby West End Host Co. No. 3 Fire Museum. Firefighters will teach the children first aid, CPR, how to call 911, how to use a fire extinguisher and practice exit fire drills for the home. The campers also will see demonstrations by the Biloxi Police Canine Unit and Bomb Squad, American Medical Response, Department of Marine Resources, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Blossman Gas, Mississippi Power and the Mississippi Fire Marshal. The academy ends on Friday with a fun day of water slides and outside games at Nativity BVM, followed by an 11 a.m. graduation ceremony at the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center.
An advanced level academy, also taking place at the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center and the West End Host Co. No. 3 Fire Museum, will be held June 11-15 with a similar format.
See more about the Summer Camp and Enrichment Program
See images from a past fire academy
See more about the Biloxi Natatorium
News & notes: Weekly review; city council; street sweeper
The week that was: Last week, the Fire Department answered 138 calls for service, including 94 medical emergencies and five fires; the Police Department handled 2,257 calls for service; the Community Development Department issued 66 building permits with a construction valuation of nearly $500,000; and the Engineering Department continued to progress on projects throughout the city. To see the reports covering last week, click here.
City council: Tuesday afternoon Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich will ask the City Council to move forward with a new battalion-size fire station to be constructed on city property on Popp’s Ferry Road, east of Cedar Lake Road. To see the City Council agenda for next week, click here.
Street sweeper: Did you know that the monthly street sweeping schedule is published regularly online? To find out when the street sweeper will be in your area, and to see the latest traffic advisories, click here.