City Announces Fall/Winter Programming Lineup

The Department of Community Programs is offering several new programs this fall and winter. 

Two foundations, Shaping Summit Together and the Summit Area Public Foundation, donated three free programs to city teens in an effort to provide activities for every family. The three classes offered are a visual arts course and a hip-hop course which are offered starting the middle of September, followed by an acting and improvisation course in November.

“Visiting groups come in to teach, so this is the first series of guest programs at the youth center,” said Judith Josephs, director of the Department of Community Programs. “This is part of the ‘No child turned away’ policy.”

These activities are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but registration and commitment are required. All of the programs will be held at the Youth Center. To check on the monthly calendar residents and non-residents can visit the Youth Center at anytime from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday from 3 to 9 p.m. or Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. Registration is open from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays or Saturdays from 2 to 8 p.m.

Starting Sept. 22, Rich Caputo will be teaching a self-defense/fitness course. Caputo is the Summit park foreman and has been a long-time student-teacher of karate.

“This class is a combination of fitness, self-defense, and self awareness,” said Josephs. “It’s about getting into shape.”

This program welcomes teenagers and adults and is held at the Summit Community Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Those younger are invited to join the established karate course for children at 5 p.m.

The Summit Area Public Foundation is also giving young children between the ages of 4 and 6 the opportunity to learn sign language. The classes will be available Thursdays starting Sept. 24 and will go on for 11 weeks at the Cornog Field House at Memorial Field.

The Summit Community Center will also be holding new, duplicate bridge games. 

“There has been a lot of buzz about bridge and the duplicate bridge game on Mondays,” said Josephs.

These coached sessions are held on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. Members of the Summit Seniors Club are encouraged to come play for free, while players under the age of 55 pay $10.

Regular bridge will still be taught on Fridays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., due to their popularity. Any age is welcome.

The extremely popular Aviation Program is also returning this year. This program teaches children how to build model airplanes using plans and mathematical calculations.

“The children learn all about aviation and then fly their model airplanes on the property of the community center,” Josephs said.

Members and non-members of the Summit community are encouraged to register online at https://register.communitypass.net/summit or call the Department of Community Programs at 908-277-2932.