FARMINGTON – With school letting out soon, the Farmington Recreation Department is offering several programs to keep children busy.

The Junior Olympic Development Track Team begins June 15 at Mt. Blue High School. The program runs through Aug. 12 and is offered to youth ages 6-15. Competition is separate for girls and boys and by age. Practices will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

Also starting this month will be the Mountain Bike Challenges for ages 10-16. The beginner class will be offered June 19-23 and introduces novice riders to bike safety, basic maintenance, first-aid and riding technique. The advanced session will run July 24-28 and offer a review of the basics before riders challenge themselves on rigorous trails. Each day will begin and end at Hippach Field with rides lasting from 9 a.m. to noon.

Youth ages 7-12 will be able to learn the fundamentals of self-protection, self-control and aggression management during the Youth Self Defense program June 22-27. Emphasis will also be placed on the physical conditioning and sport aspects of martial arts. Classes will meet in the Farmington Community Center Bjorn Gymnasium from 9 to 10 a.m. every Thursday.

The rec department will offer two sessions of swim instruction for children ages 3 to 7 at the wading pool this summer. The first session will be June 26 to July 21, and the second will be July 24 to Aug. 18. Children will be divided into the preschool “prep” swim group for ages 3 and 4 and level one or two depending on ability of those ages 5 and older.

The Sumner P. Mills Swim Program is offered to swimmers 18 and younger at levels one through six. The first session runs June 26 to July 14, and the second will be July 17 to Aug. 4. This program will offer continuing swim instruction by following Red Cross recognized achievement levels in the swimming pool at the UMF Health and Fitness Center.

Rain or shine, children ages 7 to 10 will be entertained from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 26 to Aug. 18, at the Hippach Field Playground through structured activities and free play opportunities. Enrollment is limited to 20 children each day.

A four-week tennis instruction program will be offered each Tuesday and Thursday morning at the Hippach Field tennis courts. Participants will learn and practice basic strokes, as well as gain understanding of the rules and scoring associated with the game. The first session will be offered June 27 to July 20, and the second will be July 25 to Aug. 17.

A day of supervised fishing at the Abbott Park Pond will be offered Monday, July 3, to children ages 7 to 10. Supported by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, this program will begin to teach children basics such as casting for accuracy, the proper way to set a hook and release fish, and how to clean and prepare the catch.

Youngsters age 6 to 15 can improve their game in the off-season with the Paul Blauvelt Baseball Program, July 10-21. Ballplayers will be divided by age into the Farm League (6-8), Cal Ripken Beginner (8-9), Cal Ripken Advanced (10-11) and Babe Ruth (12-15).

The rec department will also offer a noncompetitive softball program with instruction that focuses on the development of proper technique in the areas of throwing, catching, base running and hitting. Players will be divided into a 9-11 age group and 11-13 age group.

Pre-Season Soccer Camp will be four days, Aug. 7-11, devoted to skills development. It’s an opportunity for veteran players to get a jump on the season, while beginners will be introduced to the basic fundamentals. The camp is open to 7- to 14-year-olds.

For more information phone the Farmington Recreation Department at 778-3464.