Free water playgrounds

Keep your cool in the summer at Yakima’s two interactive water playgrounds.

The playgrounds, featuring spray toys and sprinklers, are free — but we like to bring a couple of bucks in case an ice cream vendor passes by.

The playgrounds are at Miller Park at N. Fourth and “E” streets; and Martin Luther King Park, corner of Eighth Street and E. Beech.

Oh, and don’t worry if the water’s not running when you get there — just press the button on the red post.

10 outdoor art activities

The Nature of Things: 10 arty activities for the great outdoors

By Jessica Moskwa

1. Capture the Earth’s Textures
Collect your favorite leaves and place them under a piece of typing paper. Use the side of a crayon to capture their texture. Try the same method on the bark of a tree! Supplies: Paper & crayons, leaves & trees.

2. Make & Fly a Kite
Download instructions on the Drachen Foundation Web site (www.drachen.org) to make three different types of kites. Try the Kono Box kite, designed by Seattle-based kite maker Greg Kono. The design (circa 1893) was immediately adopted for meteorological investigation and contributed to the worldwide quest for stable flight!

3. Visit the ArtsVan
This summer, make art in the parks with Allied Arts’ traveling art classroom, ArtsVan! For details, visit alliedartsyakima.org.

4. Adopt a Rock Pet
Always wanted a pet? Make one from a rock! Search for a rock with an interesting shape, and then take it home to paint it into a fdog, bear, or ladybug — anything your heart desires. Supplies: Rocks, acrylic paint.

5. Sketch Outdoors
Looking is one of the most important skills needed in making art. Famous artists often draw from real life. Sit outside and choose something that doesn’t move (a pond, tree or flower). Then, use your eyes to draw what you see. It doesn’t matter if what you end up with doesn’t look like the real thing — your drawing will represent how you see life. Supplies: Sketchbook & pencils.

6. Indulge in Outdoor Summer Cinema
Summer evenings, enjoy viewing almost-new releases and time-tested favorites in one of Yakima’s lovely city parks. Visit alliedartsyakima.org for details.

7. Make Windchimes
Love the sound of the wind? Using a clean, empty 8-10 oz. clear plastic deli tub, permanent markers, clear nylon fishing line, and metal washers, you can make your own windchimes. Decorate the tub with patterns using your markers, punch 4 holes along the rim, and then tie a 12-inch piece of fishing line through each hole. Attach the washers to the bottom of the lines. Clink!

8. Attend Summer Sunsets Concerts
Thursday evenings in the summer, take your blanket and enjoy summer music at Franklin Park. While you’re there, join ArtsVan to make Creatively Green art projects like newspaper origami critters, egg carton bouquets and bottle fish.

9. Make a Boat & Float It
Sail the high seas — or just your bathtub. Using clean plastic-foam trays, cut out a flat base. Then, for the cabin, cut out three rectangles and two squares from another tray. Glue together at sides, then glue to the base. Then, add details like flags, a captain’s chair or ropes! Color with permanent or waterproof markers.

10. Storytelling Yarn Ball
It is an American Indian storytelling tradition to use knots or small objects in balls of yarn to remember important life events. Get a ball of yarn, and as the summer passes, tie mementos of your summer activities to the yarn. Try things like tiny toys, a found stick, ribbons or pieces of postcards. Share the ball with your classmates during the first week of school. It’s a great way to remember your summer!

ArtsVan (Tuesday)

Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to noon at Randall Park, 48th Avenue south of Nob Hill Boulevard; 1-3 p.m. at the Southeast Community Center, Eighth Street and E. Arlington.

Enjoy free craft projects at the park this summer with the Allied Arts Summer ArtsVan. The van visits two locations each weekday, inviting children to stop by and make some art. This summer’s theme is “The Art Forecast.”

Weekly themes:
Sparkling Northern Lights, June 23-27
Tetrahedron Kites, June 30-July 3
Texture Rubbings, July 7-11
Wind Socks, July 14-18
Garden Stakes, July 21-25
Climate Zone Collage, July 28-Aug 1.

School-Age Library Program

 

SCHOOL-AGE LIBRARY PROGRAM. 2 p.m. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541.

Teen Tuesday

TEEN TUESDAY. 4-6 p.m. Crafts, anime showing, book and manga discussions. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541.

Preschool Play & Praise

PRESCHOOL PLAY & PRAISE. 9-10:30 a.m. Preschool kids and their moms play, sing and have fun together at Sarg Hubbard Park, just east of Wal-Mart. Organized by Sun Valley Church. 965-6800.

Children’s Story Hour

CHILDREN’S STORY HOUR. 3 p.m. Moxee Library, 255 W. Seattle. 575-8854.

Beetle Mania

BEETLE MANIA. Bug-inspired stories, games and silliness for all ages. 3:30 p.m. Zillah Library, 109 Seventh St. 829-6707.

Yakima Valley Community Band

YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND. 7 p.m. Free concert at Randall Park. Picnics welcome. yakimacommunityband.org.

ArtsVan (Thursday)

Thursdays: 10 a.m. to noon at La Casa Hogar, 106 S. Sixth St.; 1-3 p.m. at Milroy Park, 16th and Summitview avenues.

Enjoy free craft projects at the park this summer with the Allied Arts Summer ArtsVan. The van visits two locations each weekday, inviting children to stop by and make some art. This summer’s theme is “The Art Forecast.”

Weekly themes:
Sparkling Northern Lights, June 23-27
Tetrahedron Kites, June 30-July 3
Texture Rubbings, July 7-11
Wind Socks, July 14-18
Garden Stakes, July 21-25
Climate Zone Collage, July 28-Aug 1.

Terrace Heights Story Time

LIBRARY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM & VELCRO BALL THROW. 10:30 a.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive. 457-5319.

Musical Bugs

MUSICAL BUGS. Jory Aronson uses instruments, props, puppets and energy to give her audiences a rollicking good time. 2 p.m. at the downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541; 6:30 p.m. at the Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave., Yakima. 966-7070.

School-age library program

SCHOOL-AGE LIBRARY PROGRAM. 2 p.m. Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave., Yakima. 966-7070.

Story & craft hour

STORY & CRAFT HOUR. 2 p.m. Union Gap Library, 3104 S. First St. 452-4252.

One World, One Valley

ONE WORLD, ONE VALLEY, ONE NATION. Yakima celebrates Independence Day with a free family festival at State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Gates open at noon. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Live entertainment, vintage cars, children’s activities and water fun. Ticket fees apply for carnival and Sundola rides. Food vendors available. yakima4thofjuly.org.

Cherry Days

CHERRY DAYS. Cherry tree cutting by George and Martha Washington, pit-spitting contests, walking tour, cherry tasting, hay rides, u-pick, chocolate-dipped cherries. Free admission. Barrett Orchards at Washington Fruit Place, 1209 Pecks Canyon Road, Yakima. 966-1275. treeripened.com.

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

OFFICIAL YU-GI-OH! DUELIST KING TOURNAMENT. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.

ArtsVan (Monday)

Mondays: 10 a.m. to noon at Miller Park, Fourth and “E” streets; 1-3 p.m. at Franklin Park, 21st Avenue and Tieton Drive.

Enjoy free craft projects at the park this summer with the Allied Arts Summer ArtsVan. The van visits two locations each weekday, inviting children to stop by and make some art. This summer’s theme is “The Art Forecast.”

Weekly themes:
Sparkling Northern Lights, June 23-27
Tetrahedron Kites, June 30-July 3
Texture Rubbings, July 7-11
Wind Socks, July 14-18
Garden Stakes, July 21-25
Climate Zone Collage, July 28-Aug 1.

Teen Book Discussion & Craft

TEEN BOOK DISCUSSION & CRAFT. 3-4:30 p.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive. 457-5319.

Teen Mondays

TEEN MONDAYS. 3-4:30 p.m. Book discussions, crafts and more. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth, Yakima. 457-5319.

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