'Kids Need To Play!' Campaign Discounts Camps In Gig Harbor

GIG HARBOR, WA — Many local kids have spent more than a year stuck indoors because of the pandemic. But now that the pandemic is waning, local leaders say it's time to get those kids back outdoors and enjoying their lives.

To help local children get their summer back, Pierce County and the cities of Puyallup, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Tacoma and Gig Harbor have teamed up for the new Kids Need to Play! (KNP!) campaign, a program offering deep discounts to local summer camp programs.

Through KNP!, participating summer camps in the Gig Harbor area all have their prices cut 70 percent. There are options both for pre-school kids aged 3-4, and for school age children 5 - 18. All participating camps run between June 28 and September 3.

Organizers say, they hope the KNP! program offers a safe, easy way for local kids to get out, enjoy their summers, and enrich their lives.

“Parents will definitely want to take advantage of this great program,” said Puyallup Parks and Recreation Director Sarah Harris. “These discounts are an incentive to get kids outside to play and explore our natural environment or to participate in fun and exciting camps and classes. At the same time, the discounts will not impact the quality of our programs. We will continue to deliver programs that are the highest quality for our residents.”

The KNP! program was created using $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. Organizers estimate that money will benefit nearly 15,000 Pierce County kids.

More information on participating camps in the Gig Harbor area can be found on PenMet Park's website.