Summer offers additional PLAYpass use opportunities Published June 21, 2012 By Eric M. Grill Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- -- As summer approaches, eligible Airmen and their families have the opportunity to use the PLAYpass Get Out and PLAY program to save hundreds of dollars with discounts in recreational and life skills classes. PLAYpass cards, valued at more than $500, allow single Airmen returning from deployments, families of deployed Airmen and deploying Navy personnel to participate in Air Force Services activities such as trips, sports and childcare at either a reduced cost or free of charge. "Summertime activities offer different opportunities to use this great quality of life program aimed at supporting Airmen and their families at all stages of deployment," said Linda Weston, an Air Force Services Agency marketing specialist. "Many installations opened their pools Memorial Day Weekend," Ms. Westin said. "Using the PLAYpass card to pay for the summer pool pass and swim lessons is an excellent start to enjoying the summer." The PLAYpass card can also be used for some of the installations' youth summer camps and programs. "At Tinker, the PLAYpass program is extremely successful, said Carolyn Smith from the Airman and Family Readiness Center. "The (72nd Force Support Squadron) facilities are working hard to ensure the single members and the deployed families are offered great opportunities for recreation on base. The cards can be used for golf lessons, rounds of golf, bowling, pool passes, activities at the youth center, trips through ITT and much more. The youth card includes 10 hours of child care and $150 of activities just for the child. Eligibility for a PLAYpass begins with a copy of the deployed member's orders. The PLAYpass is good for 90 days from the day the member returns from deployment. Families can use the program the entire time the member is gone and still have time to make memories upon the member's return. Single members are able to use their PLAYpass to pay for a friend's recreation also. Since the Air Force program launched in 2011 and later expanded to include dependent-restricted assign-ments, more than 37,000 eligible members have participated in PLAYpass, Ms. Weston said. The top activities used with the discount cards include youth programs, swimming pools, outdoor recreation, golf, bowling, and information, tickets and travel offices, she said. The PLAYpass program runs through Dec. 31, 2012. For more information about the PLAYpass program, eligibility or how to obtain a card, call the Tinker Airman and Family Readiness Center at 739-2747 or visit www.MyAirForceLife.com. A variety of services at Tinker Air Force Base are offered through the PLAYpass program. Qualifying activities include: -- Outdoor Recreation, Bldg. 478: sailing classes, SCUBA classes, kayaking on Lake Hefner, and ODR trips. Call 739-3018. -- Information, Tickets and Travel, Bldg. 478: trips to Jenks, Arbuckle, Grapevine, Texas, etc. Call 734-3791. -- Tinker Club, Bldg. 5603: Comics on Duty. Call 734-3418. -- Bowling Center, Bldg. 5703: bowling leagues, Cosmic Rock and Bowl Night, open and cosmic bowling offered year-round. Call 734-3484. -- Tinker Golf, Bldg. 6601: adult link-up-to-golf, green fees, golf cart rentals, range ball tokens and club rentals, and golf tournament entry fees. Call 734-2909. -- Equipment Checkout, Bldg. 478: to get a list of rental equipment, call 734-2289 or visit www.tinkerliving.com. -- Arts and Crafts, Bldg. 478: basket making, crochet, dance, drawing and painting, machine embroidery, machine quilting, picture framing, shadowbox framing, fillet framing, pottery, sewing and "sew-cial" circle. For a complete list of dates and times, visit www.tinkerliving .com. Call 734-5616. -- Auto Hobby Shop, Bldg. 6002: for information about services and fees, call 734-5616. -- Bldg. 3705 Fitness Center: massage therapy, self-defense classes. Call 734-4664.