Try these ‘backyard’ campgrounds

Does the idea of sharing a tent with your toddler scare you more than noises in the woods? To camp with the comfort of knowing you could bail out anytime, consider these campgrounds in Yakima’s backyard. (Of course, your own backyard is an option, too.)

• Pedal a boat around the pond at the Yakima KOA, which offers cabin rentals as well as tent and RV spaces. With a store, heated pool, laundry facilities and even Internet access, the comforts of home are never far away.

For reservations, call 248-5882. The KOA Kampground is on the Yakima River at 1500 Keys Road.

• Catch a fish and a campfire program at Yakima Sportsman State Park, which offers a fishing pond for anglers under 15 and river fishing for adults. The park has a stroller-accessible wetlands trail. Saturday evening campfire programs run through Labor Day. Tent and RV sites are available.

For information, call 360-902-8844; for reservations, call 888-226-7688. The park is located at 904 S. 33rd Street.

• Sleep in a tepee at the Yakama Nation Resort RV Park in Toppenish. The park offers 14 tepees as well as sites for tents and RVs. There’s also a swimming pool and hot tub. No need to rough it: Catch a movie at the next-door Heritage Theater, or splurge for a slice of huckleberry pie at the adjacent restaurant.

For reservations, call 509-865-2000. The Resort RV Park is located at 280 Buster Road, Toppenish; it’s about 20 miles south of Yakima.

Grammy Gallant’s Outdoor Activity Guide

By Janet Gallant

As a Grammy with a cabin in the woods, coming up with fun things to do isn’t always easy. But also being involved with Cub Scouts has helped me come up with a few fun and age-appropriate things.

For younger kids…

1. Make a bird feeder: Gather a few pinecones and tie a string on the top of each cone. Cover the cones with peanut butter. Place wild bird seed in a small lunch bag, place the peanut-buttered cone in the bag and shake the bag to cover the cone with seeds. Hang from the tree branches for the birds and squirrels to enjoy. We’ve even had elk and deer eat our cones.

2. Go on a nature hike and gather some natural materials such as leaves, cones, moss, grass, bark, etc. Using paper plates or paper lunch bags, glue these items on a lunch bag to make a hand puppet, or decorate a paper plate with them.

3. Lay on the ground and watch the sky. See how many shapes you can find in the clouds.

4. Close your eyes and tell what you can smell, feel and hear. Can you smell weather? Can you hear weather? Etc.

5. Gather medium-sized rocks and let the kids paint them for pet rocks, door stops, etc. We spray-painted them white, then had the children paint them with water colors as gifts for Daddy for Father’s Day.

For older kids…

6. Make a water scope using a small peanut butter jar and two tin cans (such as soup cans). First, remove the top and bottom ends of the tin cans and cover any sharp edges with 1000 mile tape (duct tape). Tape the cans together end-to-end, then tape the cans to bottom of the jar, creating a long scope. Go to a shallow place in the river, put the jar in the water and see what kind of parasites and water bugs you can find. You can also scoop water out of the lake or river with a bucket and look in the bucket with your water scope.

7. Go on a hike and see how many trees, birds and plants you can identify. Teach the kids what each of these are in your neighborhood. Look for ant hills and watch the ants work.

8. Play shadow tag: Chase each other around stepping on shadows until everyone has been caught.

For more than 40 years, Janet Gallant has never lacked for something to do with her daughter, niece and nephews while camping or staying at the family cabin. Now she is “Grammy” to Couper, age 5, and Chase, 2.

Grandma Scofield’s Hints for Camping Fun

By Donna Scofield

• Give each child a disposable camera to photograph a record of the trip that they can put into an album of their own back home. Turn it into a sneaky educational experience as you help younger children word the captions for their snapshots. (Be sure to take a couple of extra cameras for the kid whose trip is spoiled by dropping his camera into the river or leaving it at a rest stop.)

• Take a sturdy little box for each child to collect cones, leaves, shells, rocks and all that “junk.” Back home, they can have fun making a shadow box to display their found treasures.

• Take a craft box for days when rain keeps you inside the tent or trailer. The edges of pine cones can be rolled in glitter for Christmas decorations, acorns can be glued to circles of cardboard for small wreaths, leaves and dried weeds can make interesting collages — the possibilities are vast. (Include glue, scissors, glitter, scraps of fabric, pipe cleaners, paper and markers in the craft box.)

• Stick a few special supplies in the box to make “gnome homes.” The little homes can be made of twigs, leaves, branches, etc., in the roots of trees or at the bases of bushes. If your kids need more of a “starter,” cut a plastic soda bottle or a round oatmeal carton in half, so they have a round-roofed structure to begin with. To this they can glue moss, feathers, twigs, flowers, etc. until they have a little shelter that invites a homeless gnome to move right in!

• Don’t forget a big supply of little cars. There’s nothing more fun than sitting at the shallow side of a lake or stream, digging little rivers and making bridges and tunnels for Matchbox cars.

• Older children may enjoy having a book describing (with illustrations) the local vegetation, so they can identify unfamiliar plants. Kids might want to collect leaves and blossoms for their scrapbook, too. (A bird book also is fun to bring along.)

• Let each kid be responsible for one meal. This will include planning ahead, so you have the proper supplies, and parental help, both to keep the planned menu within reason, and to ensure safety around knives, camp stoves or fires.

•Have fun with “dinner on a stick.” More than hot dogs and marshmallows can be roasted on a campfire. Try meatballs or meat chunks, quartered vegetables and biscuits.

• Freeze bottled water before leaving home to have icy water for the car trip and hikes. Pour out a little water before freezing to allow for expansion. A tiny shot of lemon, orange, or pineapple juice in the water before freezing is refreshing, too — not enough to make it sweet, but just a hint of flavor. This is something the kids will enjoy doing.

• Before leaving home, let kids make their own granola or trail mix. Personal selection of ingredients, plus pride of ownership, makes it taste much better.

• Give each child a small, cheap flashlight. Shining a beam of light into a spooky corner of the tent makes a kid into a brave super-hero instantly! Plus they’re a fun way to drive a sibling crazy.

Yakima freelance writer Donna Scofield raised two sons and two daughters. She has two grandchildren.

Ice Cream in a Bag

from the cabin of Janet Gallant

Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk (doesn’t matter what kind; chocolate milk makes chocolate ice cream)
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla (try other flavors)
zip-lock freezer bags (pint and quart sized)
rock salt
ice

Directions:
Add these to a pint-size zip-lock freezer bag; zip closed. Place that bag in a larger (quart or bigger) zip-lock bag. Add ice to fill larger bag 1/2 way, plus 6 tablespoons salt (rock or regular). Zip that one closed and shake, turn, toss and mix the bag. In about 5-10 minutes you will have cold hands and yummy ice cream!

Janet’s Tips: Don’t try to double this recipe, as it doesn’t seem to work. Rinse all of the salt off of the small bag before you open it. BE SURE TO USE FREEZER BAGS; the others are too thin. Hold onto the zipper part of the bag at all times. The bag does get cold, so gloves are recommended. Kids will have jumping around and shaking the bags. The ice cream thickens and you’ll need to eat it with a spoon. Melts very fast.

Plan a fun family camp-out

Kelli Connell was seven months pregnant in Aug. 2006 when she and husband Mike loaded up their three children — plus a niece and nephew — and set out for a weekend in the woods.

Friends called them crazy.
Read more

Give kids a mission

You’ve heard the rumor: Children aren’t spending enough time out of doors. In your heart, you know those children are your own. (They’re mine, too.)

So, what’s a mom to do to keep from hearing “after this game” or “but Mom” just one more time?

Solution: Send ‘em outside with something do. Hey, we’re not saying they should mow the lawn (although that’s not a bad idea). Try a scavenger hunt.
Read more

Family Camps

CAMP DUDLEY
End the summer with a memorable weekend at the Yakima Family YMCA’s Labor Day Family Camp on Clear Lake, near White Pass.
DETAILS: Aug. 29-31. Cost for a family of four: $175-$200.
CONTACT: Matt Rusch, 972-5271; yakimaymca.org

GHORMLEY MEADOW CHRISTIAN CAMP
Raft, bike and worship together during the “Ride & Slide Family Weekend” at Rimrock Lake.
DETAILS: Affiliated with First Presbyterian Church of Yakima. Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Call for fees.
CONTACT: 672-4311; ghormleymeadow.org

LAZY F FAMILY VACATION PACKAGE
Spend some quality time in the great outdoors at this faith-based family camp in the Manastash Canyon near Ellensburg.
DETAILS: Affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Aug. 8-11. Cost for a family of four: $420.
CONTACT: 962-2780; lazyfcamp.org

Band Camps

It’s totally OK — expected, really — for students to make some noise at these instrumental programs. However, by the end of the week, the noise should have the sound of music.

BAND EXPLORATION CAMP
A three-day introduction to woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. Open to students in grades K-8; no experience needed.
DETAILS: 10-11:30 a.m. Aug. 12-14. Cost: $20 plus tax. Ted Brown Music, 2612 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima.
CONTACT: 248-6015; tedbrownmusic.com

BEGINNING GUITAR
Students interested in learning to play the guitar will be pickin’ and grinnin’ at this two-week workshop led by Cathy Kloster. They’ll learn how to read music and basic techniques.
DETAILS: 11 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, June 23-July 3. Cost: $90; acoustic guitar and method book required. Register by June 13. Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima.
CONTACT: 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org

JAZZ BAND CAMP
Players entering grades 8-12 can jazz up their summer and improve their skills at this two-week camp led by Dave Walter.
DETAILS: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays, June 16-27. Cost: $25; fees and applications due June 6. Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima.
CONTACT: 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS
Middle school students, including incoming sixth-graders, can practice tooting their own horns (and other band/orchestra instruments) at these camps led by Dave Walter, Christy Baisinger and Ed Cunnington.
DETAILS: Weekdays, June 16-27. Intermediate: 8:15-10:15 a.m. Advanced: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: $75; fees and applications due June 6. Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima.
CONTACT: 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org

SUMMER BAND
Students in grades 6-8 should play with fewer squeaks and squawks after practicing with this three-week program.
DETAILS: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, July 15-31. Cost: $75 plus tax. Ted Brown Music, 2612 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima.
CONTACT: 248-6015; tedbrownmusic.com

Vacation Bible School

Kids can expect an adventure this summer at vacation Bible school, where local churches will lead treks through the rain forest, host Olympic-style “Son Games” and dig into God’s word in ancient Egypt. There’s sure to be lots of songs, skits, prayer and praise at each of the following programs. Preregistration is appreciated.

JUNE 8-SEPT. 7
WEST VALLEY CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE | 7109 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. “Son World Adventure Park.” Meets 9-11:15 a.m. Sundays. Ages 3 years-sixth grade. Free. 966-1550, ext. 14.

JUNE 16-20
WILEY HEIGHTS COVENANT CHURCH | 12504 Gilbert Road, Yakima. “SCUBA: Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure.” Meets 6-8 p.m. Ages 4 years-fifth grade. Donations accepted. 966-2383. wileyheightscovenant.org

WILEY UNION CHURCH | 3004 S. Wiley Road (at Ahtanum Road), Yakima. “The Life of the Prophet Daniel.” Meets 9:30-11:30 a.m. Ages 3 years-sixth grade. Free. 453-4244. wileyunionchurch.com

JUNE 22-26
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH | 5606 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. “Rain forest Adventure.” Meets 5-8:30 p.m. Preschool-fifth grade. Free, includes a light meal. 966-1720. christlutheranyakima.com

JUNE 23-27
CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH | 1604 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima. “The Trek.” Meets 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; ages 4-5 leave at noon. Ages 4 years-sixth grade. $10 suggested donation, lunch provided. 575-6490. centrallutheranyakima.org

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima. “Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 4 years-sixth grade. $20, includes T-shirt; $30 after June 16. 248-7940.

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH | 5315 Tieton Drive, Yakima. “The Wizard of Oz.” Meets 9-11:30 a.m. Ages 4 years-fifth grade. $20; preregistration required. Rose Meyer, 966-0788.

SELAH COVENANT CHURCH | 560 McGonagle Road, Selah. “Jerusalem Marketplace.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Preschool-fifth grade. Donations accepted. 697-6116.

WESTPARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH & CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 3902 Summitview Ave., Yakima. “Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.” Meets 9-11:30 a.m. Ages 4 years-fifth grade; preschoolers must be able to use restroom on their own. $10 suggested donation. 966-1632. diversityexcels.org

YAKIMA ALLIANCE CHURCH | 902 S. 36th Ave., Yakima. “Son Harvest County Fair.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 3 years-fifth grade. Free. 966-5707. yakimaalliancechurch.com

JUNE 27-28
WEST VALLEY MISSIONARY CHURCH | 11107 Wide Hollow Road, Yakima. “Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.” Power Up Family Fun Night: 6-8 p.m. June 27. Power Lab Super Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 28. Ages 4 years-fifth grade. Free. 966-6322. westvalleymc.org

JULY 7-11
ST. TIMOTHY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | 4105 Richey Road, Yakima. “Veggie Tales: The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 3 years-sixth grade. $20 suggested donation. 966-7370.

JULY 14-18
MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH | 7809 Tieton Drive, Yakima. “The Trek.” Meets 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; kindergartners leave at noon. Grades K-sixth grade. Free, includes lunch. 966-0685. mtoliveyakima.com

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | 6015 Summitview Ave., Yakima. “Rain forest Adventure.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 4 years-fifth grade. $15. 966-1900; 698-6245. westpress.org

YAKIMA FOURSQUARE CHURCH | 700 N. 40th Ave., Yakima. “Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Entering K-fourth grade. $20. Pastor Susan, 575-1490.

AUG. 4-8
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | 91 Wernex Loop Road, Selah. “The Trek.” Meets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Ages 4 years-sixth grade. Free, lunch provided. 697-4353.

SUN VALLEY CHURCH | Church office at 103 S. Third St., Suite 200, in Yakima; VBS will meet in Moxee. “Son Games 2008.” Meets 9-11:30 a.m. Ages 4 years-sixth grade. $5. 965-6800. sunvalleychurch.net

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH | Corner of 13th Avenue and Tieton Drive, Yakima. “Egypt Expedition.” Meets 6-8:30 p.m. Ages 4-12. Free. 248-9405. yakimatbc.org

WEST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH | 6901 Summitview Ave., Yakima. “Galilee By-the-Sea.” Meets 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 4 years-fifth grade. Free. 965-2800; 307-3761. westsidechurch.info

Overnight Camps

CAMP DUDLEY
Sleep in bunks, sing, swim and participate in other traditional camp activities at the Yakima Family YMCA’s camp on Clear Lake, near White Pass. A variety of sessions offered for kids ages 5-15, with a special backpacking trip for teens ages 13-17 the week of Aug. 3.
DETAILS: Mini-sessions offered June 29-July 1 (ages 8-10) and July 1-3 (ages 5-7). Regular sessions begin each week, July 6-Aug. 10; themes and ages vary. Cost: $275-$297; multi-week discounts and scholarships available.
CONTACT: Matt Rusch, 972-5271; yakimaymca.org

CAMP PRIME TIME
Children who are seriously ill or disabled can enjoy nature and outdoor activities at this free summer camp, especially for families with special needs. Enjoy boating, fishing and stories around the campfire in an accessible, rustic setting.
DETAILS: Groups and individual families can reserve space at this camp, located on Clear Lake near White Pass. Expect a waiting list; priority is given to children with especially serious or life-threatening illnesses.
CONTACT: 248-2854; campprimetime.org

CAMP ROGANUNDA
Camp Fire USA’s overnight camp on Chinook Pass helps boys and girls “Reach for the Stars,” developing leadership skills while participating in classic camp activities, such as swimming and archery.
DETAILS: Girls’ camp, July 6-12. Co-ed camps throughout the summer, June 29-Aug. 9. Ages 5-15. Cost: $225 for four-night mini sessions (recommended for ages 5-6), $325 for six nights. Additional fees for some activities, including horseback rides.
CONTACT: 453-9151; yakima-campfire.com

CAMP WAHOO
Tweens and teens can learn the ropes of living in the wilderness at this horse camp near Cle Elem. Campers will care for their camp horse, cook with a Dutch oven and learn survival skills.
DETAILS: All-girls and coed sessions, June 29-Aug. 29. Ages 10-16. Cost: $805-$975. Special family rides available to former campers.
CONTACT: 888-235-0111; campwahoo.com

COLUMBIA GORGE SCHOOL OF THEATRE
Expect some drama at this White Salmon residential camp for young thespians, ages 8-18. Professional instructors lead daily classes on acting, singing, dance and other subjects associated with show biz.
DETAILS: No experience necessary. One- to six-week sessions held throughout the summer, June 30-Aug. 10. Cost: Up to $800 per week; significant savings for early registration. Some scholarships available.
CONTACT: 509-493-1213; theatrecamp.com

CYBERCAMPS ACADEMY
Techies, this program claims it’s not your typical computer camp. Kids ages 10-17 can specialize in Web design, game design or programming, but the camp also promises a healthy dose of outdoor activities, including games of laser tag and capture the flag, and other “responsible frolicking.”
DETAILS: Sessions begin weekly, June 23-Aug. 11. Held at the University of Washington in Seattle. Cost: $947.
CONTACT: 888-904-2267; cybercamps.com

GHORMLEY MEADOW CHRISTIAN CAMP
Campers will investigate the “Mystery” of the Gospel at this faith-based summer camp on Rimrock Lake. Visiting detectives will help campers analyze evidence and clues. Outdoor activities include canoeing and sliding on a zipline.
DETAILS: Affiliated with First Presbyterian Church of Yakima. Various sessions throughout the summer for campers in grades 2-12. Cost: $155-$330. A Water Adventure Camp (coed, grades 9-13, Aug. 3-9) includes a two-day trip to Hood River, Ore. Cost: $425.
CONTACT: 672-4311; ghormleymeadow.org

LAZY F CAMP
Enjoy the great outdoors at this faith-based camp in the Manastash Canyon near Ellensburg. Activities include tubing in the creek, hiking, skits and other classic camp fun.
DETAILS: Affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Various sessions offered for students in grades K-13. Cost: $150-$535 per session, tiered pricing.
CONTACT: 509-962-2780; lazyfcamp.org

NORTHWEST MINISTRY NETWORK KIDS’ CAMP 2008
Students entering grades 3-7 can join the “Ultimate Expedition” at this faith-based summer camp on Silver Lake. Traditional camp activities include swimming, foosball tournaments and Frisbee.
DETAILS: Affiliated with Yakima’s Stone Church Assembly of God. July 28-Aug. 1. Cost: $195. Register by June 20.
CONTACT: Shannon Bowen, 575-3720.
OPERATION PURPLE
Free summer camps for military kids with parents who have been or will be deployed. Campers enjoy a week of fun and adventure with a focus on learning coping skills to better deal with a parent’s deployment.
DETAILS: Organized by the National Military Family Association, Operation Purple offers 100 weeks of camps nationwide. Deadline to register is typically early May.
CONTACT: 800-260-0218; operationpurple.org

SPACE CAMP
Experience weightlessness and sample space food at this overnight camp for budding astronauts. Programs offered for cadets ages 9-18 specialize in aviation, space or robotics.
DETAILS: Three- and six-day camps offered throughout the year. Other programs include parent/child camp (kids ages 7-12), and camps for adults, educators, and students with visual or hearing impairments. Located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
CONTACT: 800-63-SPACE; spacecamp.com

TROLLBACKEN SWEDISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CAMP
Release your inner Viking at this residential camp for kids ages 7-13 featuring Scandinavian crafts, food, dance and storytelling.
DETAILS: Aug. 18-23. Located at Menucha Retreat in Corbett, Ore., about an hour east of Portland. Cost: $350.
CONTACT: Tina Kreft-Tengblad, 503-296-4884; trollbacken.org

Day Camps

ART DAY CAMP
Crafty kids can explore mixed-media arts — including computer graphics, sculpture and painting — at this downtown studio. Short- and long-term projects offered, so students participating multiple weeks won’t need to repeat. Monthly themes explore theater, science and myths.
DETAILS: 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. New sessions weekly, June 16-Aug. 18. Ages 6-18. Cost: $50; fee and registration due the week prior to camp. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima.
CONTACT: Mindy Clark, 469-2766.

CARROLL CHILDREN’S CENTER SUMMER DAY CAMP
This all-day program for school-aged kids includes trips to the library and pool, as well as crafts, science and dramatic activities arranged around weekly themes.
DETAILS: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, June 16-Aug. 22. Open to students entering first grade through 12 years. Meets at Englewood Christian Church, 511 44th Ave., Yakima. Cost: $125 per week, includes lunch and snacks; family discount available. Preregistration required.
CONTACT: Carroll Children’s Center, 965-7104.

FREE SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
Instead of staying home alone, kids ages 5-12 can play and make crafts with friends at this Yakima Parks program, which offers supervised activities at local parks.
DETAILS: Weekdays, June 16-July 30. Free; lunch provided. Locations: Milroy Park, N. 16th and Lincoln avenues (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.); Southeast Community Park, S. Eighth Street and Arlington (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.); Kiwanis Park, Fair Avenue and E. Maple (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
CONTACT: Yakima Parks, 575-6020.

KIDS SEWING CAMP
These three-day workshops will have you in stitches! Students ages 8-16 will practice basic sewing techniques using sewing machines, sergers and embroidery machines.
DETAILS: Several camps offered in July and August. Call for details. B & C Sewing & Vacuum Center, 613 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima.
CONTACT: 453-8301.

READING & SPELLING CAMP
Tackle phonics, spelling and penmanship at this private summer school for students in grades 2-12. After 11 years in Tri-Cities, this program organized by the Writing Road Connection is new to Yakima this year. All skill levels welcome.
DETAILS: Weekday mornings, July 7-Aug. 1; meets at Yakima Adventist Christian School, 1200 City Reservoir Road in Naches Heights. Cost: $360 per student; materials $60 per family. Register by June 25.
CONTACT: Verlene Hartwig, 829-6224.

SHAKESPEARE CAMP FOR KIDS
This performance-based workshop will help students decipher Elizabethan language and appreciate the complexity of Shakespeare’s characters and themes. They’ll hold an evening Shakespeare in the Park festival and receive awards for outstanding performances.
DETAILS: Dates not available at press time; call for more. Grades 4-12. Cost: $120. Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima.
CONTACT: 966-0930.

SIMPLY SPANISH
Little amigos will have fun learning Español at this hands-on program led by a state-certified and licensed bilingual teacher. Vocabulary will focus on weekly themes such as colors, parts of the body and foods.
DETAILS: 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, June 17-July 31. Sign up for one week or more. Ages 4-8 years. Cost: $60 weekly. Limited to five students per session. Meets in a West Valley home.
CONTACT: Tamara Thornell, 388-7434.

SUMMER IN THE PARK
School-age kids can enjoy games, crafts and other supervised activities at Selah’s Wixson Park. At 1 p.m., the pool opens next door.
DETAILS: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, June 16-July 24. Ages 6-12. Cost: $35-$47, depending on residency; includes a T-shirt. Register at the Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St. Friday field trips available for extra fee.
CONTACT: Selah Parks, 698-7300.

TREK N TRAVEL TROLLEY
Young explorers can hit the road with this day-trippin’ tour bus exploring Washington locations, including Mount Rainier and the Moses Lake Aquatic Center.
DETAILS: Week-long sessions offered June 23-27, July 28-Aug. 1 and Aug. 11-15. Ages 8-12 years. Register early; space is extremely limited. Call for fees.
CONTACT: Yakima Parks, 575-6020.

YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP
Kids participating in this popular summer program will visit area parks and pools each day and take a major field trip each week.
DETAILS: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 16-Aug. 22. Ages 5 through fifth grade. Cost per week: $118 YMCA family members, $128 YMCA members, $145 program participants; bring a sack lunch. This program fills up; register as soon as possible. Meets at the Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave.
CONTACT: Mikeal Doyle, 972-5251; yakimaymca.org