NORWICH – As summer is only weeks away, the City of Norwich Youth Bureau has scheduled two registration nights for its upcoming bus trips and recreation programs––trips and programs that are free for local youth to attend.

On Wednesday, June 6 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., the city youth bureau will hold the registration night for its summer bus trips, including trips to Water Safari, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Kopernik Observatory, Howe Caverns, and more.

The following Wednesday, June 13 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., the city youth bureau will hold the registration night for its summer recreation programs. Both registration nights will take place in the Youth Bureau Office at Norwich City Hall on East Main Street.

"We have all kinds of stuff happening for the summer," said City of Norwich Youth Bureau Director Robert Mason. "We want kids to get out, to get some exercise, to make some new friends, to get away from video games and TV ... and it's free, so why not do it?"

Both the bus trips and recreational programs are free for the youth of six townships to take part in, including the city and town of Norwich, North Norwich, Plymouth, Preston, and Pharsalia. Registrants from other areas will be accepted with the payment of $40 for one event, and $20 for each event thereafter.

The city youth bureau will also offer six different recreational programs this summer, focusing on pickleball, tennis, soccer, dance instruction, swimming lessons, and the recently expanded playground program dubbed "Summer Safari 2018."

Summer Safari 2018 will take participating youth to a different city facility each day of the week to create arts and crafts, play games, and stay active at locations including the Norwich Soccer Center, the Artists' Palette, the Borden Avenue Skating Facility, and Kurt Beyer Pool.

In addition to the bus trips and recreational programs, the city youth bureau also invites the surrounding community to use the Kurt Beyer Pool free of charge, regardless of residency. Mason estimates the pool will open for the season on June 22 or 23. Once open, Kurt Beyer Pool will be open daily from noon to 6 p.m.

For more information about the City of Norwich Youth Bureau's bus trips and recreational programs – including the respective dates, times, and locations – visit www.norwichnewyork.net/government/youth.php and click "Youth Bureau Summer Programs".

Additionally, registration forms can be obtained on the same webpage by clicking "Youth Bureau Registration Form".

If you have any questions, call the City of Norwich Youth Bureau at (607) 334-1206.