Recreation

The Orange County Coastkeeper is inviting Mission Viejo residents to a free "Firescape" Workshop on Thursday, August 29 from 7-9 pm at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

With record rainfall this past year, Orange County is bracing for an extreme fire season. The workshop will teach folks how to create a fire-wise garden and defensible space for their homes. It will also cover which plants are less likely to burn and how to maintain current landscaping for fire control.

Get ready to make a splash under the stars during the Teen Scene Splash and Inflatable Night on Friday, September 13 at the Montanoso Recreation Center.

The City of Mission Viejo is offering free community lap swim hours for recreation members and nominal fees for non-members at its newly renovated Marguerite Aquatics Complex.

Get ready for a free Concert on the Green on Friday, August 23 featuring one of the area's most popular bands - The Kelly Rae Band.

The six-piece, high-energy country band takes the stage from 6 to 8 pm at Oso Viejo Park, 24932 Veterans Way. The Kelly Rae Band has been delivering crowd-pleasing music to audiences throughout Southern California for more than two decades. The band plays a wide range of country music from Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash to the current artists like Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town.

Ahoy! Get ready to make a splash and compete for ultimate bragging rights at this year's Cardboard Boat Derby event on Saturday, August 24 at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex.

The fun takes place from 2:30-6 pm and includes an exciting derby race where teams will build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape and attempt to race to the other side of the pool without sinking. Before the competition heats up, guests will enjoy recreational swimming, games and music.

If you want to see elite swimmers from around the globe compete, head to Mission Viejo's Marguerite Aquatics Complex for the 2019 Masters Summer Nationals through Sunday.

More than 1,400 athletes (ranging in age from 18-97) including a few Olympians are competing in this event that has attracted folks from just about every state as well as countries like Italy, Japan, Brazil, Columbia and Canada.

Cheer on your favorite athletes and enjoy the vendor village, which includes a beer garden.

The City of Mission Viejo is seeking volunteers (ages 15 and older) for Camp Out Under the Stars at Cordova Park, August 17-18.

The annual Camp Out event helps the community unplug and connect during a night filled with fun family activities including life-sized games, crafts, a scavenger hunt, bonfires, and more.

Volunteering is a great way to give back, earn community service hours, and assist campers (your neighbors!) during a fun community event.

Duties and hours needed:

Get ready for a free Concert on the Green on Friday, August 9 featuring one of the area's most popular bands - Family Style.

The fun takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oso Viejo Park, 24932 Veterans Way. With a dynamic stage show and music from Stevie Wonder, Prince, Marvin Gaye and James Brown plus a healthy dose of David Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Van Morrison, Family Style will get you on your feet for a funky good time.

What are you doing this weekend? We're heading to the Village Green, which will be transformed into a quaint Spanish plaza, for the Symphony in the Cities and Prelude in the Park event Saturday, July 27.

With "An Evening in Seville" theme and spectacular Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the fun takes place from 4-9 pm at Oso Viejo Community Park, 24932 Veterans Way.

Enjoy the great Mission Viejo outdoors during this year's Camp Out August 17-18 at Cordova Park, 26931 El Retiro.

A few tickets are still available for this fabulous overnighter that takes place from 4 pm to 10 am and includes family activities, life-sized games, crafts, a scavenger hunt, bonfires and more!

The Habit will serve up a delicious dinner for people who pre-purchase meal tickets before Friday, July 26, and breakfast will be provided.