Well into summer vacation, kids have beat every video game on their PlayStation 2, lost all their toys in the sandbox, wearied of earning a measly 25 cents a day selling lemonade and grown sick of asking mom to take them to the pool. It's usually raining anyway. With nearly two months of the summer left, what kinds of community activities are available to youngsters?
Instead of riding your bike down the street to Jimmy's house begging his older brother to take you to Wild Waves, check out the summer activities available through Seattle Parks and Recreation. Parks offers a range of things to do - reading activities, discovering-nature camps, swimming lessons and other sports camps. Most activities are close to home and don't cost a thing.
New to Parks this year are the summer reading/activity programs at environmental learning centers around Seattle. They're designed for young children to learn about their natural environments. Partnered with Seattle Public Libraries, Parks is offering four different reading/activities programs.
Although two of the four programs have already come and gone, "Annie and the Enchanted Whale," a puppet show about a young girl befriending an Orca, takes place Thursday, July 21, at 11 a.m. at Carkeek Park. The fourth program, "Amazing Animal Adventures: Animal folktales from around the world," is at Seward Park on Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. Each program lasts approximately 30 minutes, and they're free for everyone.
"We've been very excited about the turnout and outcomes of the programs so far," said Belinda Chin, education supervisor at Carkeek. Chin said the reading programs are being held at envi-ronmental centers this year because they fit with Seattle Public Library's summer theme, "Reading is Natural."
Parks is also offering a Summer Playground Program. The program offers free supervised playtime for Seattle children 6 to 14 at playgrounds and parks around the city.
"We're just hoping to provide more venues for children to be able to come and participate in free activities such as arts and crafts and big game activities," said Michael Figueroa, youth program coordinator for Seattle Parks and Recre-ation. "It's also a great way for kids to meet other kids from around the city."
There are numerous daily activities, and some of the playgrounds offer free sack lunches. The playground program runs Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m.
Although the playground program isn't for children under 6, wading pools are generally available at the same locations as the playground programs for the youngest members of the family. The wading pools are open seven days a week all summer, and the hours typically range from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The playground and wading pool programs end Aug. 17.
For kids interested in sports activities and camps, there are a number of different free sports camps this summer such as boating, swimming, basketball and volleyball.
Pro Parks is sponsoring "Learn to Swim," which entitles Seattle-area third- and fourth-graders to free group swim lessons. "Learn to Swim" vouchers should have been mailed to the homes of students at that grade level. The voucher is good for one single series of free group swim lessons. However, the voucher does not guarantee a child's enrollment in a class if the class is full. The voucher can be redeemed at one of many specified Parks swimming pools, including Magnolia's Mounger Pool. If you are unable to redeem your voucher this summer, never fear: it doesn't expire until Dec. 31, 2005. (For children not in grades three or four, there are swimming lessons offered all summer at various pools - but you will have to pay.)
In addition to free swimming, kids can participate in free basketball camps at various locations around Seattle. These camps are for children ages 8 to 15, but children are allowed to attend only one session. Sessions continue through the end of July.
Girls who want to refine their basketball skills this summer have the chance to learn and interact with one of the best college women's teams in the West. The UW Husky women's basketball team is hosting three free camps for girls ages 7 to 14, to be held at different Seattle locations on Aug. 15, 17 and 19. The Aug. 17 camp will be at Magnolia Community Center from 1 to 3:30 p.m.; plan to arrive early because only the first 50 girls will be admitted into each camp.
A volleyball camp is also being offered by Parks this summer. Boys and girls ages 6 to 14 are welcome to participate. The volleyball camp will be held on August 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eckstein Middle School.
For kids looking to learn more about their natural environment and enjoy the outdoors this summer, Discovery Park is offering weeklong day camps to children ages 4 to 12 throughout the summer. This year there are three different camps to choose from: Nature Fun, I Love Nature and, new this year, Gross Out Week.
"Gross Out Week was added this year to hopefully get kids more excited about what they're learning," said Natalie Fuller, Discovery Park nature day camp director. "For example, we're going to be learning about mosquitoes and leeches and the gross things they do."
Each camp caters to a slightly different age group. They help lead children through the discovery of nature with different interactive activities and games. Older kids are introduced to the four habitats of the park, and all kids are encouraged to continue their own exploration of the park once the camp has ended.
"Our main goal through these camps is to help create good citizens through the children's increased knowledge of their natural environment," said Fuller. "The kids really seem to enjoy games, and exploring things, and I think they have a lot of fun teaching their parents things that they've learned."
Some of the Discovery Park day camps have already taken place, but there is still limited registration for the camps in late July and August.
For additional summer activities, check out Camp Long, Carkeek Park, Seattle Aquarium and Woodland Park Zoo.
For further information or registration for Parks activities, contact Seattle Parks and Recreation at 684-4075 or at www.cityofseattle.net/parks/default.htm[[In-content Ad]]
