The Stonington Community Center has revamped its programming for children to give kids and their parents more options this summer.

In the past the COMO has operated a traditional summer camp with arts and crafts, playground activities and trips to DuBois Beach. While those activities still will be offered this year, the COMO is also offering new programs, ranging from hip-hop, tennis, pottery, and science to cooking, lacrosse, and Borough history. There's also soccer, art, karate, Irish step dancing, gardening, theater, flag football, and field trips.

The programs, which are offered in the mornings and afternoons, begin June 25 and end Aug. 27. There is also extended care for parents who need to go to work early or stay late along with a preschool program.

"We're calling it the summer of choice. Parents have been asking us for so many different things, so we wanted to give them these options," said Jim Truscio, the COMO's executive director.

In addition to the programming, which changes on a weekly basis, Truscio said parents can also choose to sign up for morning or afternoon sessions or both, whatever works best for them.

"We have all kinds of combinations. Parents can choose programs that are interesting and appropriate for their child and which fits their needs," he said. "We really wanted to give parents some flexibility."

Truscio said the new programs will also let the COMO use its entire campus, from the pottery studio, tennis courts, and soccer fields to its drama and karate studio, playground, and beach.

The COMO will also provide transportation to and from the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club Sailing Foundation in the Borough, where children can take sailing and marine biology classes.

Truscio said a lot of parents have begun to sign up for the new programs, which have limits on enrollment.

Program costs range from $90 to $125 per session.

More information is available by calling the COMO at 860-535-2476 or going to www.thecomo.org.

j.wojtas@theday.com