About
GEARS Recreation Programs offers activities that include Summer Playground, Iddy Biddy Basketball, Camp Ladybug, BEARS Basketball Camp, a Basketball Clinic, and Swim Lessons. These programs are part of the broader GEARS Recreation Programs schedule and use a variety of structured activity formats.
• Schedule: Weekday options, generally Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm
GEARS Recreation Programs operates as part of GEARS, a 501(c)3 non-profit agency formed through a partnership with East Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Mount Joy Township, and West Donegal Township, serving families and individuals in the Elizabethtown community. GEARS states the mission, “GEARS connects people of all ages through recreation, learning, childcare, and senior center services that strengthen the community and the quality of life,” and emphasizes the motto “LIVE. LEARN. PLAY.” The organization provides administration, scheduling of resources, a community center, a child care program, recreation, and a senior center, and states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression and identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in its activities or operations. GEARS was founded in 1976 as EARC (Elizabethtown Area Recreation Commission), began providing services as GEARS (Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation & Community Services) in January 2000 after a merger of EACSA and EARC, and formed a non-profit incorporation in 2025. The leadership team includes Executive Director David Wendel, Business Manager Joyce Hardman, Recreation Director Lee Eckert, Program Coordinator Karrie Norman, Administrative Assistant Erin Thomas, Kids Center Director Wendy Musser and Assistant Director Kelly Flowers, and Senior Center Director Jessica Raush with assistants Wayne Bream and Julissa Rivera-Santa. GEARS has been recognized as Elizabethtown Chamber’s Non-Profit of the Year.
Parents have shared that a child “just registered…for Summer Playground at the Community Park” and that it is “one of her favorite activities and something she looks forward to each summer.” Another parent reported that their daughters “are enrolled in the preschool basketball classes” and “absolutely love it and want to sign back up.” A comment about Camp Ladybug stated, “All those happy faces today prove camp ladybug is worth the effort.” Feedback on BEARS Basketball Camp described it as “such a fun and information basketball camp” where a child “absolutely loved it and learned alot of new skills in the process,” and another parent said, “Thanks for a great skills program, they learned alot!” A parent of a swim participant shared that “Luca LOVED the class” and noted “a big change in Luca’s stamina and persistence in the pool.”
Last updated July 15, 2026.
• Schedule: Weekday options, generally Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm
GEARS Recreation Programs operates as part of GEARS, a 501(c)3 non-profit agency formed through a partnership with East Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Mount Joy Township, and West Donegal Township, serving families and individuals in the Elizabethtown community. GEARS states the mission, “GEARS connects people of all ages through recreation, learning, childcare, and senior center services that strengthen the community and the quality of life,” and emphasizes the motto “LIVE. LEARN. PLAY.” The organization provides administration, scheduling of resources, a community center, a child care program, recreation, and a senior center, and states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression and identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in its activities or operations. GEARS was founded in 1976 as EARC (Elizabethtown Area Recreation Commission), began providing services as GEARS (Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation & Community Services) in January 2000 after a merger of EACSA and EARC, and formed a non-profit incorporation in 2025. The leadership team includes Executive Director David Wendel, Business Manager Joyce Hardman, Recreation Director Lee Eckert, Program Coordinator Karrie Norman, Administrative Assistant Erin Thomas, Kids Center Director Wendy Musser and Assistant Director Kelly Flowers, and Senior Center Director Jessica Raush with assistants Wayne Bream and Julissa Rivera-Santa. GEARS has been recognized as Elizabethtown Chamber’s Non-Profit of the Year.
Parents have shared that a child “just registered…for Summer Playground at the Community Park” and that it is “one of her favorite activities and something she looks forward to each summer.” Another parent reported that their daughters “are enrolled in the preschool basketball classes” and “absolutely love it and want to sign back up.” A comment about Camp Ladybug stated, “All those happy faces today prove camp ladybug is worth the effort.” Feedback on BEARS Basketball Camp described it as “such a fun and information basketball camp” where a child “absolutely loved it and learned alot of new skills in the process,” and another parent said, “Thanks for a great skills program, they learned alot!” A parent of a swim participant shared that “Luca LOVED the class” and noted “a big change in Luca’s stamina and persistence in the pool.”
Last updated July 15, 2026.
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