Now that the city of Orange has a recreation center, the city is sponsoring a youth sports camp for the first five weeks of the summer.

The camp will be for students ages 7 through 12 and will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. The cost will be $40 per camp, or $180 for all five of the camps. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

It will be the city's first summer recreation program for youth in nearly 30 years. In the 1960s, the city sponsored morning activities at several of the neighborhood parks during the summers. During the 1970s, a more women entered the workforce, the program was expanded to a fee-based day camp.

However budget problems in the early 1990s created by an overspending program, led to a change in city management and a cutback in services. The day camp was gone, as was the city's Easter egg hunt.

The city in October opened a new recreation center at the site of the old natatorium, which was demolished. The Orange City Council also budgeted for a staff for the center.

The sports camps will focus on one each week. The sports will be basketball, volleyball, soccer, and flag football. Participants may register for one sport, or more, or all. Participants may live outside the city limits and the fees will be the same. The city charges more on some usage fees for non-residents because Orange taxpayers support the center.

The number to call for more information and registration is 409-883-1072. The program will charge an addition fee for the participants who are not picked up on time each day at the end of the camp.