[CHARLESTON COUNTY] – Families in the Johns Island and Hollywood areas are invited to a free Back to School Bash in each of the communities to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. Two events will offer free fun, information, and school supplies, with one also raising funds for The Parklands Foundation to build swimming pools.
On Saturday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) and The Parklands Foundation will host a Back to School Bash and Basketball Showcase at Schroder Community Center in Hollywood. Admission is free of charge for families with school-aged children (K-12). The highlight of the event will be a coed basketball showcase, which will benefit efforts to build pools in areas like Hollywood through The Genesis Project. Other activities will include a cheerleader performance, a mascot appearance, a jump castle, sidewalk chalk art contest, haircuts, school supply giveaways, library card signups, plus music and food. Schroder Community Center is at 7224 Hwy. 162 in Hollywood.
Then on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 5 – 8 p.m., CCPRC will host a Back to School Bash at Haut Gap Middle School’s Community Recreation facility on Johns Island. Families with school-aged children (K-12) are invited to attend for free. The Haut Gap Back to School Bash will serve as an opportunity for parents and their children to meet some of the CCPRC Community Recreation staff, who provide recreational programming in the Johns Island community. Parents can learn about upcoming sports and programs to be offered in the fall season. Activities will be set up for children to enjoy including a jump castle and a climbing wall. Families can also visit vendor booths on site, and receive free, donated school supplies while they last. Haut Gap Middle School is at 1861 Bohicket Rd.
Schroder and Haut Gap Recreation Complexes are two of three locations at which CCPRC offers Community Recreation programming and activities for local citizens. Developed through a cooperative effort with the Charleston County School District, these facilities offer a full range of recreation programs that benefit the schools that house them, local athletic leagues, and the community at large. CCPRC uses these facilities to provide recreation, sports, and leisure experiences the entire family will enjoy, including summer camps, community classes and activities for adults and children, open gym hours, and a variety of sports programs like football, archery and basketball. Amenities at Haut Gap include a basketball court, disc golf course, multi-purpose ball fields, paved walking trail, picnic shelter, playground, tennis courts, and a volleyball court. Amenities at Schroder include multi-purpose athletic fields, gymnasium, activity rooms, fitness area, tennis court, picnic area, and walking trail. St. James Santee Elementary in McClellanville also houses a CCPRC Community Recreation site.
For more information on the Back to School Bash, Charleston County Parks or the Community Recreation facilities, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com, call 843-795-4386, or download the Charleston County Parks mobile app.
The Parklands Foundation’s vision is to identify, develop, and sustain projects that actively encourage people to experience the Charleston County park system’s facilities, programs and services for the benefit of living a healthier and safer lifestyle. The vision of the Genesis Project is to reduce the number of drownings in Charleston County by providing access to pools in rural communities for swimming instruction, water safety classes, recreational programming and leisure activities. The project aims to solicit funding to build, maintain and cover the ongoing expenses of three pools in rural Charleston County and offer associated programs. TheParklandsFoundation.org.
