The Theo Ratliff Activity Center and the Jones Recreation Pool are providing kids from Demopolis and the surrounding area with several activities to beat the summer heat.

“We have an arts and crafts program going, and the swimming pool is in full swing,” said TRAC director Ed Ward. “The kids are rotating to different programs from the Ratliff Center to the U.S. Jones gym.

“We are able to utilize the gymnasium at U.S. Jones Elementary School because we don’t want to disrupt the other current programs we have at the center, like the senior citizens’ programs, parenting classes and West Alabama Mental Health Center consumers.”

The kids arrive at the Ratliff Center at 9 a.m. and begin work in the arts and crafts classes.

At 10 a.m., they go to the U.S. Jones Elementary gym, where kids of all ages take part in lots of recreational activities, like shooting basketball, kickball and jumping rope.

After the recreational activities, the kids return to the Ratliff Center for more arts and crafts and a nutrition break. The free lunch is provided by Marengo County. Later in the afternoon, the kids can go to the Jones Recreation Pool or they can stay at the Ratliff Center for other activities.

“This includes a Spanish class,” Ward said. “There are a lot of Spanish-speaking youth in our area, so we thought it would be a good idea to teach a little Spanish.

“We also have special-interest groups come in, like the hospital will come in and do a health fair, or the library will come in and do a reading program. We have different churches come in and do several activities with us.”

For more information about the activities provided at the Theo Ratliff Activity Center, call (334) 289-2200.