PHOENIX — It is a spot many families would have been heading to this summer: an indoor recreation center.
These facilities are great ways to beat the heat while beating boredom. However, with many of those air-conditioned getaways now closed because of the coronavirus, one Valley city decided to bring the classes directly to families by streaming them live online.
"Everybody ready?" asked a Phoenix Parks and Recreation staff member to the kids on the screen. "Everybody give me a thumbs up if you guys are ready!"
Every person who logs on is ready to play with other people, even if everyone is coming together virtually.
"Within the city of Phoenix, we always say, 'Parks and Recreation is the fun department,' and we really and truly are," Phoenix Recreation Supervisor Stacia Holmes said with a laugh.
Holmes told The Rebound Arizona about how her team is full of creative folks who are dedicated to finding ways to still offer unique programming this summer without having to leave home.
It is called PHXPlays at Home Virtual Recreation Program.
"They guide you through activities," Holmes explained. "So, they have things like scavenger hunts online, they have arts and crafts projects that they're doing, they have Simon Says."
The program runs every Wednesday through the summer, and you can register for any or all of them that spark an interest in your family.
"Some of our themes are, like, around things that are family-friendly," Holmes described. "So, we have a Disney theme... we have a super-hero theme."
The program is free and it runs through Webex, which you can download by clicking here.
"Kids have been in the house since March. Oh my God! They went on Spring Break and just never came back," Holmes said. "So, this is an opportunity for them to get to be active."
Along with the PHXPlays at Home program, the city also offers FitPhx online with a virtual fitness bootcamp and Fall into Fitness.