Youth Programs

Parent supervised play time. Bring your toddler to run, play and tumble on the mats.
Location: Community Campus.
Saturdays through spring, 8:30-11:00am
FREE; no registration needed

Please note: 

• Tumble Time will resume Saturdays starting November 2. 
• Sat, Nov 16 Tumble Zone is only open 8am-10am.

Making the team requires more than just skill, it requires focus, respect, and hustle. This clinic will be led by Rec staff alongside local basketball instructors and coaches. In this clinic, you will learn what coaches are truly looking for when fielding a select school squad. Hustle, respect, and work ethic matter just as much as pure skill! Grades 7-12.

• Friday, November 8. 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Connie Bean Gym. Residents $10 | Nonresidents $15

Register Here

WINTER BREAK

Spy Academy: Grades K-5. This program features fun-filled, hands-on, secret agent science activities that allow kids to play detective, explore forensic science, sharpen their surveillance skills, and crack encrypted messages. Kids become super sleuths! Each Spy class has different activities so kiddo can attend both! Location: Community Campus. 

• Session 1: Mon, December 23 from 9am-3pm. $88 per day resident | $93 non resident

• Session 2: Fri, December 27 from 9am-3pm. $88 per day resident | $93 non resident

FEBRUARY VACATION BREAK

Eureka! The Inventors Camp: Children will overcome a series of challenges using basic materials, simple machines, tips from famous inventors, and most importantly, their minds. With a bit of ingenuity, they create catapults and forts, construct working light sticks, and assemble a set of circuits. Kids become inventors! Location: Community Campus

• Monday - Friday, February 24 - 28, 2025 from 9am-3pm. $420 resident | $425 non resident

APRIL VACATION BREAK

Robot Recruit: Children learn about the use of robots in the world and spend time experimenting with super cool robots. They discover the science of circuits and how robots use sensors to explore things around them. They will also build their very own working robot to take home with them! Location: Community Campus

• Monday - Friday, April 28-May 2, 2025 from 9am-3pm. $420 resident | $425 non resident

Register Here

How the Grinch Stole Bricks

In this workshop, students will immerse themselves in the city of Whoville and the story of the Grinch! They will design machines to help the Grinch with his sneaky mission to ruin Christmas, build the city of Whoville, and create sleds to get from the top of Mt. Crumpit down to the city of Whoville! No matter what the Grinch says, it’s going to be a blast!

• Ages 5-12: Mondays, November 25 - December 16. 3:00-4:15pm. $69

Location: Community Campus

Register Here with Snapology

Explore and make new artistic discoveries with a variety of art materials and processes.

• Winter Session: Tuesdays, January 7 - February 11. 3:00–4:30pm (as of 11/12 there are 7 spots left)

Location: Community Campus. Residents $160 | Nonresidents $170

Register Here

Learn about the elements of art and principles of design while integrating that into art making.

• Winter Session: Thursdays, January 9 - February 20. 3:00 – 4:30pm (No class January 23) - 6 spots left!

Location: Community Campus. Residents $160 | Nonresidents $170

Register Here

This interactive and experiential class inspires kids to learn more about the food they eat and how it’s prepared. Students will make a different dish each week and everyone will have a role to play in this process. This class can be adapted to accommodate most food allergies.

• Session One: Fridays, October 11 - December 6 (No class November 29). 3:00 – 4:30pm -  FULL
• Session Two: Fridays, January 3 - February 21. 3:00 – 4:30pm

Location: Community Campus. Residents $235 | Nonresidents $245

Register Here

Exciting afternoon adventures! Explorers will start at the Community Campus for lunch, free play, and then attend a different field trip every month. 12:00 - 5:00pm.

• Wednesday, October 30
• Wednesday, December 4 - Attending the Frozen performance at The Music Hall
• Friday, December 20
• Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Location: Community Campus. Residents $50 | Nonresidents $60 per day
(Frozen trip has a different fee: Residents $75 | Nonresidents $85)

Register Here

Calling all Middle School Students! Play your favorite lawn games including Corn Hole, Disc Golf, Frisbee, Kan Jam, and more!

• Stay tuned for Spring Dates

Location: Portsmouth Middle School. Free. No preregistration required.

PRE-K and K (co-ed) Skills & Drills

Saturdays; December 7 - January 25 (No basketball during school’s winter break)

• Pre-K: 8:00-8:45am
• K: 8:45-9:30am

Location: Connie Bean Center. Residents $45 | Nonresidents $65

Youth Girls & Boys Divisions

December 7 - February 8 (No basketball during school’s winter break)

• Boys Grades 1 & 2: Practices Mondays, Games Saturdays
• Girls Grades 1 & 2: Practices Tuesdays, Games Saturdays
• Boys Grades 3 & 4: Practices Wednesdays, Games Saturdays
• Girls Grades 3 & 4: Practices Tuesdays or Thursdays, Games Saturdays

Location: Practices at Community Campus, Games at Connie Bean. Residents $50 | Nonresidents $70

Teen Girls & Boys Divisions

December 10 - February 13, with playoffs to follow. (No basketball during school’s winter break). Team placement “try out” dates announced after registration ends. Volunteer coaches needed.

• Boys Grades 7 & 8: Practice Saturday, Game Wednesday
• Girls Grades 7 & 8: Practice Saturday, Game Wednesday
• Boys Grades 9 & 10: Game Thursday
• Boys Grades 11 & 12: Game Thursday
• Girls Grades 9 - 12: Game Tuesday

Location: Practices at Community Campus, games at Connie Bean. Residents $55 | Nonresidents $75

Register Here

First Push Syndicate's "Get On Board" is an introduction to skateboarding program. Skateboards, helmets and pads provided. Grades K-2. Each Intro to Skateboarding session teaches the same skills. Please sign up for only one session.

• Winter Session: Tuesdays, December 3 & 10. 4:00pm (FULL) and 5:00pm (2 spot left)

Location: Community Campus Gym. Residents $10 | Nonresidents $15

Register Here

Boys and girls in grades 6 - 8 will create their own teams of 3 players and play in a one-day tournament. Two divisions, boys and girls, round-robin format. Players should each register and will be asked to indicate their desired teammates during registration. No team? - No worries! We can create teams for players. 

• Saturday, December 28. 9:00am start (Times may vary based on bracket)

Location: Connie Bean Gym. Residents $25 | Nonresidents $30

Register Now

Two-day clinic to brush up on your basketball skills as well as learn new tips (and have fun). Led by Coach Dwayne Knepshield (Coach Fuzz). Co-Ed program.
Two Days: Monday, December 30 & Tuesday, December 31

• Grades 1-2: 9:00-10:15am
• Grades 3-4: 10:30am-11:45am

Location: Connie Bean Gym. Residents $20 | Nonresidents $25

Register Here

Spend the day off from school having fun with The Rec! Sports & games, arts & crafts, or outdoor adventures. There will be a different field trip each day.

• New Date! Friday, January 24, 2025, 9:00am-5:00pm (school year calendar changed so we changed the date)

Location: Community Campus. $70 Residents | $80 nonresidents (per day)

Register Here

New this fall! Learn the Olympic sport of fencing. Fencers will learn mobility, fencing footwork, bladework, and competitive tactics. Safety and sport equipment provided. Participants must wear athletic shoes. 

Ages: 6-9: 5:00-6:00pm (FULL) | Ages 10-13: 6:00-7:00pm | Ages 14+ and adults 7:00-8:00pm

• Fall Session: Fridays, October 18 – December 6 (No class Nov 8 or Nov 29). FULL
• Winter Session: Fridays, January 10 - February 14 

Location: Community Campus. $150 Resident | $175 Nonresident

Register Here

Fun-filled week of activities and field trips for grades K-5. 

• February Vacation: Monday-Friday, February 24 - 28. 8:00am-5:00pm.

Location: Connie Bean. $225 per resident | $250 nonresident

Register Here

Blended Learning Lifeguard Training
Course length: 19 hours, 30 minutes in-person and 7 hours 30 minutes online. Total - 27 hours
Provides entry-level participants the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.
Prerequisites:

• Minimum age: 15 years;
• Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:
  • Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface and then swim 150 years using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed)
  • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.
     
• Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed)
  • Submerge to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

To successfully complete the Lifeguarding Blended Learning course, the participant must:

• Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions.
• Actively participate in all course activities, including assuming various roles during scenarios.
• Demonstrate competency in all required skills.
• Pass the final skills scenarios.
• Complete all eLearning content, including the eLearning written exam (CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers ;and First Aid).
• Successfully pass final written exams with a minimum grade of 80 percent.

Participants who successfully complete the Lifeguarding course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, valid for 2 years.
Location: Indoor Pool
Ages: 15 and over

Contact Lexy at the Indoor Pool for upcoming trainings: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/recreation/indoor

This course trains instructor candidates to teach classes in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program. Ages: 15+ welcome.

$400 Portsmouth residents | $450 nonresidents. More information can be found HERE. 

• PREREQUISITES FOR THE WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR (WSI) CLASS:

To take part of the Water Safety Instructor course, the student must be a minimum age of 16. Demonstrate swimming skills consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4, by swimming the following strokes:

• Front Crawl – 25 yards
• Back Crawl – 25 yards
• Breaststroke – 25 yards
• Elementary backstroke – 25 yards
• Sidestroke – 25 yards
• Butterfly – 15 yards
• Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)
• Tread water for 1 minute

The Blended Learning content consists of 23hrs of in-class work and 7 hours of at home online study. 
Upon successful completion of the Water Safety Instructor (WSI) course, candidates will receive an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification valid for 2 years.

Early childhood music & movement helps little ones develop their innate musicality. Ages: Birth - Age 4. Located at the Community Campus. Visit the Music Together website for day, times prices and registration. 

Register Here

Program underway. No more sign ups allowed. Stay tune for Spring and Summer tennis.

Led by a USTA coach, Tennis in the Parks focuses the skills to serve, rally and play - so it’s perfect for beginners and first-time players. Focus on FUN and learning the basics through play. All first-time players receive an age-appropriate racquet and ball. 
Saturdays, September 7 - October 19 (No class 10/12 due to the holiday weekend).