MESA, AZ — The city of Mesa is currently offering some unique programs for families who are looking for ways to stay busy this summer.
They are called "Summer Fun in a Bag" and "Summer Escape, Take and Make." City officials put together weekly themed bags parents can pick up and bring home. They are filled with crafts, supplies, games, cooking ideas, word searches, and more.
"Three months ago, we had all these camps that we were going to offer," said Lane Gram. Gram is with the Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities as their Recreations Supervisor.
She explained how the city usually hosts more than a dozen different camps during the summer months.
"We had plans in place for those camps until COVID... hit our community," Gram said. "So, we had these supplies already and the themes were already built for the summer camps that we were going to offer."
City officials, like Gram, first planned on keeping those supplies until next year. However, being a mother herself who was struggling to keep the kids busy, Gram thought there may be a way to help the community right now.
"This week is Space Week and for the craft they're taking home… they get to make their own planet," Gram said. "There's little supplies to make a planet, there's coloring, there's word searches, there's experiments."
Parents can register for the adaptive "Summer Fun in a Bag" program online by clicking here.
Parents can register for "Summer Escape, Take and Make" by clicking here.
"There's like step-by-step instructions for the parents," Gram said. "Because I know, that's part of the struggle, for me is... you can give me all these supplies, but I don't know what to do with it!"
The cost is $5, and the bags are available for pick-up each Monday at the Eagles Community Center at 828 E. Broadway Road in Mesa.
"We really didn't want to over-price or charge... it's not a moneymaker at all for our city," Gram said. "You're going to get a lot more than $5 worth of supplies."