Gem County Recreation District

A one-hour hands-on cooking class for ages 5 to 12, run by Little Pallets for Kids at the Gem County Recreation District building, 212 East 3rd St in Emmett. Each Friday session cooks one dish: the October 2026 sessions make mushroom carbonara (October 9) and ricotta gnocchi (October 23). Dishes may contain nuts and dairy. Each session takes up to 10 children, and families sign up for individual dates online.

Youth flag football run by the Gem County Recreation District at Gem Island Sports Complex in Emmett. The fall 2026 season ran August 11 to September 16 for ages 6 to 8, with room for 48 players. Registration was online from May 12 to July 19; once it filled, children could join a waitlist, and families were asked to note the child's shirt size.

A free Lego building session for ages 6 and up at the Gem County Recreation District building, 212 East 3rd St in Emmett. Sessions run for one hour on Friday afternoons with room for 12 builders, and each date has its own online sign-up.

Free one-hour STEM sessions for ages 7 to 12 at the Gem County Recreation District building, 212 East 3rd St in Emmett, listed in the district's catalog as STEM Adventures. Sessions meet on Friday afternoons with room for 12 children each, and families sign up for each date online.

A free monthly Friday-night social for teens ages 14-17 at the Gem County Recreation District in Emmett. The older sibling of the district's Tween Night. Nights are held at the district building, 212 East 3rd St, with room for 30 teens each.

A free Friday-evening hangout for ages 10 to 13 at the Gem County Recreation District building, 212 East 3rd St in Emmett. Each night runs two hours with room for 30 participants, and each date has its own online sign-up. The district runs a separate Teen Night for ages 14 to 17.

Youth basketball run by the Gem County Recreation District, played indoors at Shadow Butte Elementary, 3900 W Idaho Blvd in Emmett. Fall 2026 divisions are Little Dribblers (a camp-style parent-and-child group for preschool and kindergarten, held only if gym space allows), coed grades 1-2, boys grades 3-4, girls grades 3-4 and girls grades 5-6. Teams depend on volunteer coaches, so children are waitlisted until enough coaches sign up, and the district invites parents to coach.

Traditional Shotokan karate for ages 8 and up at the Gem County Recreation District, beginner to advanced. Focuses on discipline, confidence and traditional basics in a structured class. Runs September through May.

Recreational youth soccer run by the Gem County Recreation District at Gem Island Sports Complex in Emmett. Players are grouped by age or school grade, from the Gem Tot group for 3- and 4-year-olds up to a coed group for grades 5 to 8. Registration is online and closes several weeks before play starts; once a division fills, children can join a waitlist, and the district asks families to note the child's shirt size.

Youth volleyball run by the Gem County Recreation District in two grade groups, grades 3-4 and grades 5-7, at Shadow Butte Elementary, 3900 W Idaho Blvd in Emmett. Games are on Thursdays. The number of teams depends on volunteer coaches, so children who miss an initial spot go on a waitlist until more coaches sign up.