What’s a Kid to Do in Laughlin?

Playing outside in the Laughlin area fortunately means enjoying assets such as the Colorado River, area lakes, treasured national, state and county parks, a relatively new Laughlin Aquatics center and a soon to be constructed skate park. Laughlin has recreational bragging rights few communities can boast.

Still, agencies have prepared many activities for the inevitable summertime moan from the kids: “I’m bored - there is nothing to do in this town!”

Literally dozens of Clark County programs are available and many, many more are also being presented by other area entities this summer.

Your child can be dubbed “the Champion of the Laughlin Aquatics Center Slide” in a planned summer competition, learn to aqua kick box, take up golf, prepare for a career in criminal justice or become an assistant to National Parks Service Rangers in the Lake Mead National Recreation area.

Here are some of the options for your families:

Clark County Parks and Recreation

The Laughlin Aquatics Center will open on May 26 for the weekend. Then it will open for June 11-15 just for the weekdays – after the fine-tuning, jump in for the full summer season. This year, nighttime activities include a Luau, Wild, Wild West Wednesdays, Haunted House H20 and an Olympic Day. Kids get in free when accompanied by a paying adult at evening swim sessions.

During open swim times all summer, the youth who goes down the slide the most times (there will be tallies kept) will be crowned “Slide Champion” on August 24th.

The schedule from June 18 to August 24 is:

Class descriptions are available at the pool. The schedule is subject to change so please call Clark County Parks and Recreation’s Laughlin office at 298-3413 to confirm.

Tri-State Junior Golf is also open to kids 6 to 16 years of age, co-sponsored by Laughlin Ranch Golf Resort. Participants meet Sundays from 9:30 AM to 12 PM for clinics with golf pros and can go to the course on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 4 PM to 6 PM for supervised practice.

In May, Hot Spots Competition give youth ages 15 and up to one minute to attempt to score as many points as possible on the basketball court. Just as an aside, there is also an adult 3-on-3 basketball event in May.

Registration is required for the golf and basketball programs, so please call or stop by the Parks and Recreation office at Spirit Mountain Activity Center on Arie Avenue in Laughlin to make sure you don’t miss out.

Laughlin’s Library has one of the most long-standing programs for kids in the summer. Each year, a children’s library encourages kids to read books for prizes in June and July. A series of programs compliment the summer reading program and feature dancers, singers, magicians and special guests. The activities are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays making it more possible for participation by mixing up the days of the week. This year, the Laughlin Library staff is very excited about a new summer teen program as well and plans to announce the events and schedule soon. Call the Laughlin Library at 507-4061 for information.

The Library also hosts an annual program presented by the Laughlin Family Resource Center for moms and toddlers, which includes educational programs, reading, arts, crafts and development activities. Call the LFRC at 298-2592 if you have younger kids and want to participate in activities.

The Laughlin Substation of the Las Vegas Metro’s Police Department is expanding its Explorer Program this summer. Metro Officer Jim Carter oversees high school aged youth and residents up to 20 years old in the curriculum and events. It prepares youth for a career in criminal justice as they learn a great deal about Nevada’s public safety laws and the police department. The group participates in real law enforcement activities, including helping METRO with aspects of the annual Laughlin River Run and other community undertakings. The youth search buildings, travel to competitions with other Explorer groups in the nation and learn the value of giving during outreach and volunteer work with the American Heart Association’s Laughlin efforts and the Shop with a Cop holiday program. Call 298-2223 for information.

Boys and Girls Club

Laughlin’s Branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Colorado River has an expansive and popular summer program. Weekly outings include field trips to our pool, the movies and the Laughlin Library, just to name a few. Call 299-9223 to find out more.

Rangers at Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave are seeking volunteers interested in helping to staff information desks at the ranger station and working at the launch ramp. Older youth would need good communication and interpersonal skills and a willingness to learn about the national park. A minimum of four hours a week is asked of volunteers. For more information call Bob Montgomery, supervisor, at Katherine Ranger Station, 928-754-5603 or 928-754-3272.

This is not a complete list of all that Laughlin kids might enjoy in the region this summer but it does offer many safe and accessible options.