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Summer is in full swing in Fountain Hills. Schools are out, pools are waiting, and trips to the lake are calling. Calling all Middle Schoolers, summer fun is waiting for you with the Town of Fountain Hills Community Services Department. Here are 2 fun activities that will get your middle schoolers pumped up this summer:

The bus will leave promptly at 10:15 am from the Fountain Hills Middle School, and return at 4:00 pm.

July 26^th, 2017

Main Event: Bowling, Laser-tag, High Ropes, Pizza, & Games

Join the Town of Fountain Hills Community Services for an exciting day of bowling, laser-tag, and pizza at Main Event. The bus will leave promptly at 10:15 am from the Fountain Hills Middle School, and return at 4:00 pm. Registration includes pizza and admission to Main Event. Participants are welcome to bring money for anything extra. Pre-registration is required, and limited for the first 40 teens. The event is free and open to any middle schooler.

August 16^th, 2017

Skateland USA

Grab your favorite pair of skates, and join 40 of your best friends for a Skate Night with the Fountain Hills Community Services.

Grab your favorite pair of skates, and join 40 of your best friends for a Skate Night with the Fountain Hills Community Services.  Meet at Fountain Hills Middle Schools at 4::30 pm. The bus will return approximately at 8:30 pm.  All participants must pre-register because space is limited to 40. Registration includes pizza and admission to Skateland.

To register please visit www.fh.az.gov/recreation or call Corey Povar, Recreation Coordinator at 480-816-5100.

Have your weekends been a little lack-luster this summer? You don’t need to use up all your vacation time to have a real adventure – you’d be surprised how much you can squeeze into a weekend.  What place can help you satiate that most insatiable desire of wanderlust? Prescott, Arizona! Just a 2-hour drive from Fountain Hills, Prescott is the perfect place to fill your lungs with the wonderful pine scent of the Ponderosa Pines.

Walk along the Wild West in downtown Prescott. Chockfull of Victorian homes, and turn-of-the century saloons along Whiskey Row is full of western nostalgia, and the rich historic roots of Old Prescott. Take some time to stroll the streets of downtown Prescott, and appreciate the charm of more than 700 homes and businesses listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Across the way is the stately Yavapai County Courthouse Square is an architectural delight. The Courthouse Square is the center of activities

Whiskey Row is full of western nostalgia, and the rich historic roots of Old Prescott

from arts and crafts to musical events; it’s a great place to relax or plan your next venture into Whiskey Row.

Love to hike in the rugged outdoors? Peavine National Recreation Trail is an outdoor adventurers dream, and offers plenty adventures for you nature lovers. This one of the few Rails to Trails projects in Arizona. The Peavine Trail

Peavine National Recreation Trail is an outdoor adventurers dream, and offers plenty adventures for you nature lover

offers outstanding views of Watson Lake and Granite Dells. Start your hike along this six mile trail that was orginally originally built by the Santa Fe Railway in 1893, and connects with the Iron King Trail for another four mile trek along more railroad bed.

Model Plane Enthusiast? The Kalusa Miniature Airplane Collection is a long way from the days of little buzzing planes whiling around on string. Located in the library of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott is home to more than 5,000 model aircraft. All the model planes were hand-made by John W. Kalusa, a former

The collection holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of model airplanes in the world.

WWII photographer and aircraft mechanic. Most of Kalusa creations range from biplanes, bombers, delta-winged jets, and hot-air balloons. The collection holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of model airplanes in the world.

Do you love mead and honey cider? Stop by the cozy tasting room of the Superstition Meadery to sample world class drinks and laid-back atmosphere. This venue houses a storage of meads and hard ciders. The menu includes a variety of meads from hops to fruit, aged in anything from bourbon barrels to New American oak barrels. Flights are the most popular choices for mead connoisseurs, which can be paired with a variety of meat and cheeses.

Need to get away for the weekend? Jerome is the perfect destination for that weekend getaway! Jerome is worth visiting for its tranquil scenery. Built into the side of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome overlooks the beautiful Verde Valley, and is a great place to wander the streets, and soak up the eclectic atmosphere. Jerome is an easy two-hour trip from Fountain Hills.

On the way, you’ll pass through Cottonwood, start your trip off with breakfast at the Crema Craft Kitchen and Bar. The perfect place for breakfast in an old town. The Crema Craft Kitchen occupies two historic buildings, and there are tunnels underneath that connect both buildings that were used for bootlegging during Prohibition. Try their trademark breakfast tacos which consist of eggs, sausage, bacon, potato, cheddar cheese, chives, pico de gallo, and sirrachi aioli.

See wine-making reinvented with Cellar 433 Tasting Room, located at 240 Hull Ave in Jerome.

Before you launch yourself into the atmosphere of Jerome, learn about the past at the Douglas Mansion which is in the Jerome State Historic Park. The Douglas Mansion has been an eye-catching landmark of Jerome since it was built in 1916 by James S. Douglas on the side of Cleopatra Hill above his Little Daisy Mine. The former home features photographs, artifacts, and a 3-D model of Jerome with its underground mines. Step outside to view more displays, and take in the beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.

Love a good ghost story? The Jerome Grand Hotel offers breathtaking views, and the ultimate haunted experience. The hotel is one of the largest national historic landmark, and one of the most haunted in Arizona. The Spanish Mission style building was constructed in 1926, started out as United Verde Hospital. The hospital was shut down in 1950, and the building stood unused for 44 years. In 1994, the Altherr family purchased the building, and restored the building into the current hotel. The hotel offers a “ghost package” which includes digital cameras and ghost meters.

The Spanish Mission style building was constructed in 1926, started out as United Verde Hospital.

Lover of the Arts? Stop by the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery run by local artists. The cooperative gallery has a wide range of art pieces. Play art critic as you browse and purchase unique art pieces from recycled jewelry to Scandinavian flavored art colors. Each collection of art represents the uniqueness, and creativity of local artists based in Jerome.

Want to let your hair down in Jerome? The Spirit Room– the in-house bar of the historic Connor Hotel – is the place.  An open-air saloon is known for its local color and socializing. The Spirit Room represents the old west at its best featuring live music, and a jukebox. It’s the kind of place where you can easily envision the history and uniqueness of the town of Jerome.

Love a bottle of Wine? Want to taste an authentic bottle of Arizona wine? See wine-making reinvented with Cellar 433 Tasting Room, located at 240 Hull Ave in Jerome. Their wonderful tasting room spans two floors, both with an astounding view of the Verde Valley and the glowing red rocks of Sedona. Take a sip of authentic Arizona wine, and enjoy the beautiful view of Jerome and the surrounding area.

Former Phoenix Sun’s player, Steven Hunter brings the ultimate basketball experience back to Fountain Hills this summer in a two week, jam-packed session for young athletes. For a third year in a row, boys and girls ages 7 to 15 will focus on the fundamental skills of basketball. Steven and his team of coaches dig deeper than endless scrimmages to zero in on skills and drills. Participants will learn skills of passing, ballhandling, shooting, and defense. The camp isn’t all about the basketball, in fact, its only part of the equation.

Participants will learn skills of passing, ballhandling, shooting, and defense.

Steven Hunter’s Life Skills and Basketball Academy exposes the campers to etiquette, how to act as an athlete, manners, eating right, and good sportsmanship.  The camp provides the opportunity for kids to learn leadership. Campers will receive visits from different guest speakers throughout the two-week camp. The speakers will be from different career paths, and will share their knowledge of their career field with the participants.

Hunter’s passion for basketball, and community service stems deep throughout his ten year career in the NBA.  During the 2004-2005 season, Hunter played for the Phoenix Suns as a part of his impressive career.  While in Phoenix, he participated in providing food for the homeless, serving upwards of 2500 individuals.  Toward the end of his playing career, Hunter returned to the Phoenix area in 2011, and in 2012 he was named the community ambassador for the Suns.  Hunter actively enjoys working with the kids of Fountain Hills and providing the community with  a program that gives the campers an outlet to keep them positive and active.

The speakers will be from different career paths, and will share their knowledge of their career field with the participants.

This year’s summer camp will run from June 19^th– 29^th, and will be held at the Fountain Hills Middle School. The basketball camp will begin promptly at 9:00 am, and will run until 3:00 pm. On June 29^th, a special awards banquet will be held for all participants and sponsors held at CopperWynd Resort and Spa. The price to register is $325, and lunch will be provided. Participants will receive a camp jersey with registration.  Full and partial scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance.

Registration is ongoing at www.stevenhunterbasketballacademy.com, and for any additional information, please call 480-369-2622.