EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow Recreation Department is offering several programs for children to get some exercise and learn safety skills.

The After School Escape is a program that sprouted out of the recreation department’s Day Camp. Children ages 3 to 12 can go to the Pine Knoll Recreation Area at 1974 Allen St., Springfield, to take part in supervised exercise, activities and play on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to activities like sports, games and arts and crafts, there is a quiet room for students to do homework. There is also a “snack shack” available for kids to purchase snacks.

Recreation Director Donna Prather said that the program has been running for three weeks and there are about 20 children each week, although there is room for up to 40.

Families can register their children for the program for one to five days per week. The cost of the program for East Longmeadow residents begins at $20 for a day and goes up to $85 per week. For non-residents, the cost is $35 daily or $100 per week. Registration can be done at elrec.recdesk.com.

“We’d like to keep it going. Once we go inside, our numbers will have to drop,” Prather said of the program continuing through the cold weather months. She said they may have to limit the number of participants to 10 to stay within pandemic parameters.

Another program run by the recreation department is Safe@Home by SafeSitter, a national babysitting training program. Safe@Home is a program that teaches children to practice safe behavior when they are home alone, prevent unsafe situations and how to deal with emergency situations. Children also learn first aid and how to assess injuries and illnesses.

Pre-registration is required for the program, which is open to children in grades four to six. There is a limit of eight participants per session. The next session is on Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 35 School St, East Longmeadow.

For more information of programs from the recreation department, visit elrec.recdesk.com or call 525-5437.