Submitted Photo Eagles Landing staff member Chloe Flickinger helps youngsters pose for a photo commemorating a hard day of digging for treasure at the beach. Front, from left: Evelyn McGuire, Cole Van Slycke, Luke Miller; back: Hayden Anello.

For youngsters in Eagle’s Landing, the Lake Shore Community Education six-week summer recreation program, it was all, literally, a day at the beach one recent Tuesday afternoon.

Children dug in the sand, swung on the swings, slid on the slides, teetered and tottered on the teeter totter, and, in general, were having a grand old time.

Nick Paluch, the school district’s liaison from the Boy’s and Girls’ Club, is co-director of this year’s program for Lake Shore. On this day he was overseeing activities at the beach. These field trip opportunities are planned for once a week, he said, and they are one of the many ways youngsters are kept active and engaged.

Eagle’s Landing is meant to be fun, with those field trips to the beach, bowling or movies, but it also provides educational activities, such as visual and performing arts, physical activities including gym and pool time, scientific discovery, problem-solving/logic, and technology.

“The program is housed at J.T. Waugh this summer which gives us the opportunity to use school facilities,” notes program director Christine Starks. “We have planned activities throughout the week, including use of the gym and playground, art, scientific discovery. We also bus children to the Middle School to swim at least once a week.”

“And everything from board games to crazy games,” adds Mr. Paluch. “Every day we have something new.”

The program, in existence for more than 10 years, is for children entering grades 1 through 8. Parents have the added advantage of signing up for regular program hours – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well as extended hours in the morning (starting at 7) and/or afternoon (3 to 6 p.m.).