PORTSMOUTH — The Town Council Monday night got a sneak preview of the summer recreation catalog offered by the town’s Recreation Department. 

This is the second year the catalog if being offered, according to Recreation Director Tim Dunbar. “It was highly successful last year,” he said.

You can view the complete catalog as well as a registration form here. Registration for programs and classes starts March 1, with the deadline to sign up for two separate summer sessions is June 9 and July 7.

Here are some of this year’s catalog offerings:

• A summer camp for ages 5-14 will run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from June 26-30 and July 3-7. The cost is $50 per day or $200 for the week. The camp will meet at Sandy Point Beach and kids will have their choice of volleyball, soccer, baseball, and kickball, as well as board games, arts and crafts and more. There will also be children’s movies on Mondays and Fridays and either a field trip or presentation at the beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Swimming lessons will once again be offered at Sandy Point Beach for ages 5-10. Classes are limited to maximum of six students so each child can get the proper attention. The cost is $50. 

• Sandy Point Beach will also be the site of sailing lessons fir ages 7-16 (limit of 10 children). The total cost is $200 for one week.

• Karate classes (Tang Soo Do style) for ages 5-12 will be taught by a first-degree black belt who specializes in children’s classes. The cost is $50 for five, hour-long sessions.

• If you like a friendly game of cards, an adult rummy tournament for ages 18 and older will be held June 25, July 23 and Aug. 13. First prize is $50 and a trophy, and other contestants in the top six will also win prizes. 

• Tennis camps at the high school will be offered for children, teens and adults, with private lessons possibly available at an additional cost. The camp is held from 9-11 a.m. Monday through Thursday for kids and teens, and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for adults. The cost $100 per person.

• Once again the Recreation Department is offering free tutoring from 4:30-8 p.m. on Thursdays at the Portsmouth Free Public Library. Two or three staff members typically are available to help students in middle school up to high school advanced placement courses in math, English, science and social studies. 

Family nights, too

Not listed in the catalog are family movie nights, such as one the Recreation Department hosted at Sandy Point Beach last year with members of the police and fire departments. 

“I’m looking to start those in late May, once a month throughout the summer,” Mr. Dunbar said.

No action was taken on the catalog, but Council President Keith Hamilton thanked Mr. Dunbar for putting the program together.

Glen Park fees

In other business Monday night, the council voted unanimously to direct Mr. Dunbar to work with Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. in coming up with a proposed fee schedule for people and groups wishing to use town-owned Glen Park.

Glen Park is located off Glen Road and is not to be confused with Glen Farm further south. The property includes softball, soccer and multi-purpose fields; a riding ring; a pavilion, kitchen facility, storage shed bathrooms and other amenities. 

Rosemary Davidson, a member of the Glen Park Working Committee, said the panel’s expenses are increasing every year, while revenues are not. The committee of six has less volunteer help these days and its chairperson, Grace Kinnunen, is retiring in May. Ms. Kinnunen, she pointed out, always checks the property before and after events. 

Ms. Davidson presented a list of organizations that used the property last year, along with any fees that were actually collected. For example, Countryside Children’s Center paid $200 to host a picnic, while individual families were charged anywhere from $100 to $200 each for the same privilege.

However, most groups weren’t charged anything because they were nonprofits, Ms. Davidson said. In addition, none of the Little League or soccer groups are charged for use of the sports fields because they already pay for maintenance, she said.

Mr. Hamilton suggested charging groups that are located outside Portsmouth which don’t benefit the town specifically, such as the Potter League for Animals and Gaudet Middle School, both of which used the property last year. Any nonprofits that serve the local community and benefit children should always be exempt from a fee, he said.

Council member Elizabeth Pedro agreed. “We could charge anything that’s not in Portsmouth,” she said.

More people need to know that Glen Park is available for rent, Mr. Hamilton acknowledged. “We need to advertise this facility better so it can make more money,” he said.

The council will review the fee schedule proposed by Mr. Dunbar and Mr. Rainer before it’s approved.