Lots of Youngsters Find Gems at Summer Playground Programs

She may be only 11, but diamonds are already Nancy Vazquez’s best friend.

The hotshot shortstop will spend her summer on the softball diamond, doing what she loves--fielding grounders, gunning runners out at first and hitting line drives.

“We may not have the right equipment, but we try our best,” Nancy said of her championship team.

Nancy will showcase her rifle arm at Fernangeles Elementary School playground in Sun Valley. The school is one of more than 120 sites participating in the Valley Youth Services playground supervision summer program.

Valley Youth Services offers a free drop-in playground supervision program from June 23 to Aug. 14 at elementary and middle schools throughout the Valley. The programs, which attract 45 to 125 children each, run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at schools on summer vacation and a two-hour afternoon program for year-round schools.

Besides playground activities, there will be three to five traveling programs, from basketball clinics to arts and crafts workshops, stopping at each site. There also will be Saturday events and field trips, for which fees may be required.

“This is a permissive program. It’s where children can come and go. They don’t have to sign in or out,” said Robert Ranck, field coordinator.

Still, Nancy said she’ll probably spend most of her days on the diamond. She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“You get to hit, catch and play the position you want,” Nancy said. “It’s a happy sport.”

WISH LIST

Valley Youth Services

(818) 904-2152

* Playground balls: $10

* Softball fielder’s glove: $25

* Board games: $15

* Carom board set: $100

* Golf board and game stand: $125

* Basketballs: $15