The Selma Parks and Recreation Dept. will offer several summer sports camps. Registration is now open for the following camps:

FREE FOOTBALL CAMP

The Selma Parks Dept. will hold a football camp from 6:30 till 8 p.m., June 23-26 at Selma Middle School. The free camp is open to ages 6-12. A registration form must be turned into the Parks Dept. by June 20. No one without a completed registration form will be allowed to participate.

BASKETBALL CAMP

The Selma Parks Dept. will hold a youth basketball camp from 9 a.m. till noon from June 23-25 at Selma Middle School. The camp, for boys and girls ages 7-14, will be led by Lori Rose, head girls basketball coach at Smithfield-Selma High and a former N.C. State player. The registration deadline is June 13. The fee is $50 per player and includes camp T-shirt.

CHALLENGER SPORTS SOCCER CAMP

The Challenge Sports Soccer Camps for boys and girls ages 6-16 will be held June 16-20. A morning camp for ages 6-12 will be held from 9 a.m. till noon; the evening session camp (from 5-8 p.m.) is for ages 10-16. Both camps will be held at Selma Middle School. The registration fee is $97 and includes a ball and T-shirt. Those who register online (challengersports.com) by May 2 will receive a free soccer jersey as well.

For more info on any of the Selma camps, call 975-1411.

Other Selma Parks notes:

Summer Basketball

The Selma Parks Dept. is offering a summer basketball league for boys and girls ages 6-14 (as of Jan. 1, 2008). Practices will begin in late May with games in June and July. Games will be played on Mondays, Tuesdays and/or Thursday evenings. The registration fee is $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents.

Baton Classes

Learn the skills of baton twirling while benefiting from physical fitness, exercise and fun. Participants will have the opportunity to perform in parades and other special events. Instructor Lisa Batchelor has more than 25 years of experience. Classes are open to ages 4-18 and meet on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. at Harrison Gym. The cost is $30 per month. For more info, contact Lisa Batchelor at 284-0677.

Smithfield Parks notes:

Hog Trot and Piglet Stampede

The Smithfield Parks Dept. will host the annual Hog Trot 5K Run and Piglet Stampede on Sunday, May 4, during the Ham and Yam Festival. The entry fee for the Hog Trot 5K is $15 in advance or $20 on race day. The entry fee for the Piglet Stampede, a one-mile fun run for ages 12 and under, is $5. Registration is available online at smithfieldparksandrec.com or a the Smithfield Parks Dept. office (1500 Buffalo Road). Checks should be made payable to the Central Johnston Rotary Club, which is co-sponsoring the event with the Smithfield Parks Dept.

T-Ball league

Registration for T-Ball with the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Dept. is now open. Boys and girls ages 5-6 are eligible to play; players must be 5 years old as of May 1. Fees are $25 for town of Smithfield residents and $40 for non-residents. Registration forms are available at the Smithfield Parks offices (1500 Buffalo Road) or online at smithfieldparksandrec.com. Sign-ups will close on April 11. For more info, call 934-2148.

14th Annual Johnston County Baseball Camp

The 14th Annual Johnston County Baseball Camp for boys ages 7-16 will held daily June 23-26, at SSS High School Baseball Field from 8:30 a.m. till noon. The camp will be led by Smithfield-Selma high head coach Mike Joyner, other members of the SSS coaching staff and other area coaches. The camp fee is $75 per player, which includes a t-shirt and refreshments. Registration forms are available at the Parks Dept. office, or at www.smithfieldparksandrec.com. Checks should be payable to Mike Joyner.

Eighth Annual Johnston County Basketball Camp

A basketball camp for boys and girls ages 8-14, sponsored by the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department, will held daily June 16-20 at Smithfield Middle School from 9 a.m. till noon. Smithfield Middle School boys coach James Robinson will lead the camp. The camp fee is $75, which includes a camp T-shirt. Registration forms are available at the Smithfield Parks and Recreation office at 1500 Buffalo Road. Checks should be payable to James Robinson.

Beginner Tennis Camp

The Smithfield Parks Dept. will offer a beginner tennis camp from 6-8 p.m. June 24-26 (Tuesday - Thursday) at Smithfield Community Park. The camp is for ages 5-12. Doug Simmons will be the instructor. The cost is $50 per person. Sign-up at the Smithfield Parks Dept. office. Checks should be made payable to Doug Simmons.

Clayton Parks Notes

The 25th Annual Clayton 5K Road Race

The 25th Annual Clayton 5K Road Race will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10, over a course through downtown Clayton. There will be a 5K Race, 5K Walk, and a tenth of a mile Tot Trot for ages 6 and under. The 5K race is a TAC-certified course and a TAC-sanctioned race. Trophies will be awarded to runners in six age groups in both male and female divisions. Registration fee for all runners and walkers is $12 if postmarked by April 25 and $15 if postmarked after April 25 and on race day. The Tot Trot fee is $3. Race day registrations will be taken up until 8:30 a.m. at The Clayton Center on Second Street. T-shirts will be available to adult participants and beach balls for Tot Trot participants. The race is sponsored the Clayton Parks Dept. and Clayton Physical Therapy & Wellness. Registration forms are available at the Parks office (340 McCullers Street during regular business hours), Clayton Physical Therapy & Wellness, Town Hall, and the Hocutt-Ellington Library. Registration forms are also available by going to townofclaytonnc.org and following the links. Mail payment along with registration form to Clayton Parks & Recreation, P.O. Box 879, Clayton, NC 27528 or drop off at the Parks & Recreation office. For more info, contact Susan Jenkins at 553-1555.

Bocce Clinics

Come and learn to play one of the newest games in town and one of the oldest in the world, bocce. Clayton Community Park has eight courts, the most of the locations in North Carolina, and will host learn to play clinics on Wednesday, May 7, at 10 a.m., and Sunday, May 11, at 3 p.m. All equipment and refreshments will be provided. Come learn the game and all ages are welcome. Get outside and play.

Tennis

Are you looking to meet other individuals interested in playing tennis? The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department is offering free play tennis at Clayton Community Park Tuesday evenings at 6:30 and Saturday mornings at 10. A ladies’ group is meeting as well every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings at 9:30 for anyone interested in playing.

Volleyball

Free Play Adult Beach Volleyball will be held every Thursday (weather permitting) from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clayton Community Park for ages 18 and up.

Tae Kwon Do

The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department is holding Tae Kwon Do classes at The Clayton Center, room 300 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for ages 7-12 at 5:45 and for ages 13 and up at 7:15. The fee is $30 per month for town of Clayton residents and $35 per month for non-residents. Black belt classes are also being offered on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. in room 311 of The Clayton Center. Ken Farrell, the class instructor, has taught for 16 years and is a fourth degree Black Belt in International Tae Kwon Do. New students can register 10 minutes before class.

Tai Chi Classes

Tai Chi Classes are being offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. The fee is $45 per month for residents and $50 per month for non-residents. New participants can register 10 minutes before class and join at any time.

Buy-A-Brick Program

Residents can support Clayton Community Park with a one-time donation of $100 that lasts a lifetime. The donation includes a lapel pin and a brick engraved to your specification to be placed in a visible area near the three athletic fields in the park. If you buy one or more bricks for yourself, in honor of a loved one, or for your company or client you will become a permanent part of Clayton Community Park. Bricks will be ordered in lots of 100 and will be laid accordingly. When your brick is placed, you will be notified by mail of the approximate location of the brick.