Fisher Park Family Golf Month

FISHER PARK FAMILY GOLF MONTH | Weekends in July, children 17 and under play nine holes of free golf when accompanied by a parent. Also, the week of July 6-10 is “Take Your Daughter to the Course Week”: Free green fees for young ladies accompanied by a paying adult.

Mad Science to visit libraries

Mad Science is bringing “Sounds Like Science” programs to Yakima Valley Libraries in July as part of the Summer Reading Program. The interactive programs are free, but advance registration is required; call or visit your local branch to sign up.

Children ages 5-12 are invited to make noise during the following workshops:

• July 20: 2 p.m. Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-7070.
• July 21: 2 p.m. Sunnyside Library, 621 Grant, Sunnyside; 837-3234.
• July 22: 3 p.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Dr., Yakima; 457-5319.
• July 23: 2 p.m. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St., Yakima; 452-8541.
• July 24: 2 p.m. Southeast Yakima Library, 1211 S. Seventh St., Yakima; 576-0723.

Even tots can trek Wildlife Refuge

Story and photos by Heather Caro

Looking for an excuse to take a walk on the wild side this summer? The Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge may be just what you’ve been waiting for.

Nestled in the lower Yakima Valley, this protective wetlands habitat has been created to enhance natural, historic settings and encourage wildlife habitation.

The tall grasses and secluded waterfowl sanctuaries make this outing perfect for budding bird watchers and nature aficionados.

More than 250 species of birds — including ducks, geese, hawks, eagles, herons, owls and songbirds — are known to reside here at varying times throughout the year. Other animals make the refuge their home as well. So, be on the lookout for river otters, badgers and beavers.

What to Expect
Though the refuge sprawls across nearly 2,000 protected acres, the most easily accessible trail ambles over a mile of mowed grass. The trailhead begins at the first parking lot and leads to the headquarters/maintenance office. The hike is flat and can be easily trekked by all age groups; however, there are no amenities available, so plan accordingly.

Getting There
The Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately six miles south of Toppenish on U.S. Highway 97. The drive from Yakima is about 35 minutes.

The refuge entrance is located on the west side of the road. Parking is available in front of the Wildlife Observation viewing gazebo. No fees are required.

Tips for Wetland Walkers
For best bird watching, remind children to try to stay quiet so as not to frighten away wildlife. Binoculars are also helpful though not mandatory. The birds are most active during early morning and evening hours, and populations are most plentiful during spring and early fall. However, the refuge can be enjoyed year-round for wildlife observation, hiking and seasonal hunting in designated areas. Hours are from 5 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset.

For a quick lesson on habitats, ask your kids what they need to survive (food, water, shelter). Then talk about how the refuge is providing those same needs to the animals that live in it. They’ll learn something before they even saw it coming!

The refuge encourages discovery, but please leave all plants, animals, rocks and artifacts as you found them. Bring a camera instead, and take pictures of your discoveries to identify together later.

Watch for ticks in the spring and summer and bring plenty of sunscreen and water.

For more information, call 509-865-2405 or visit www.fws.gov/toppenish.

Museum program invites kids to explore Kittitas

Learn to make soap and butter, see the inside of a wind turbine and stargaze at the CWU planetarium. The Kittitas County Historical Museum’s annual summer program Exploring Kittitas County invites youngsters to learn about the region through a series of field trips and hands-on activities. Program registration is $2 per child and events are free, but participants should sign up for events they plan to attend.

For more information, contact the museum at 509-925-3778. Here’s a list of scheduled activities:

• July 6-11: Pebble Theatre drama workshop
• July 9: “The Great Race” Centennial Celebration & Parade
• July 9: Stargazing at the CWU Planetarium
• July 10: Friday Scavenger Hunt
• July 11: Geology hike on the Umptanum Creek Trail
• July 11: Tour the Wild Horse Wind Farm
• July 14: Tour the CWU Japanese Garden
• July 15: Ellensburg Police Department tour
• July 17: Soap making at the museum
• July 18: Visit Badger Pocket Bison Ranch
• July 20: Visit CWU green house
• July 21: Tour Cle Elum Fish Hatchery
• July 22: Learn about reptiles at CWU
• July 23: Tour the Wenas Creek Mammoth Dig (Selah)
• July 24: Tour Thorp Gristmill
• July 25: Who Wants to be a Pioneer?
• July 28: Tour the No. 4 Mine in Roslyn
• July 28: Tour South Cle Elum Deopt
• July 29: Ellensburg Police Department tour
• July 30: Tour the Wenas Creek Mammoth Dig (Selah)
• July 31: Soap making at the museum
• Aug. 1: Visit Olmstead Place Park
• Aug. 3: Tour Ellensburg Post Office
• Aug. 4: Tour Ellensbug Fire Department
• Aug. 5: Ellensburg Police Department tour
• Aug. 7: Friday Scavenger Hunt
• Aug. 8: Saturday Market Scavenger Hunt
• Aug. 10: Butter making at the museum
• Aug. 11: Ginkgo Petrified Forest tour
• Aug. 12: Wanapum Dam tour
• Aug. 13: Tour the Wenas Creek Mammoth Dig (Selah)
• Aug. 14: Soap making at the museum
• Aug. 15: Ginkgo Petrified Forest tour

NBC Basketball Camp

NBC BASKETBALL CAMP | Boys and girls, ages 8-14. Meets July 20-24 at Eisenhower High School. Energetic camp provides training in speed, skill development and sports psychology Cost: $250. Register at nbccamps.com or 800-406-3926; local contact Eddie Allen, 594-9365.

We’re on Facebook

WAHOOOOO!!!! It only took me forever, but I finally figured out how to paste a link to Playdate’s new page on Facebook. Gosh, I’ve been working so hard lately…

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Make free art in the parks

The Allied Arts ArtsVan is ready to hit the road, bringing free art projects to local parks around the Valley. The Summer ArtsVan is a drop-in daytime program designed for kids ages 5-12 (keep reading for Family Night info). New projects are offered weekly, June 22 through July; additional locations in Toppenish run until Aug. 14.

This year’s theme is “Great Moments in Art!” Each week will focus on a different artist and techniques:

• June 22-26: Pop! Paper People, focusing on Keith Haring and use of expressive lines.
• June 29-July 3: Coffee Filter Waterlillies (Claude Monet, color and value).
• July 6–10: Shoebox Sculptures (Louise Nevelson, space and form).
• July 13-17: Cubist Collage Faces (Pablo Picasso, variety and shape).
• July 20-24: Cut Paper Designs (Henri  Matisse, shape, color and texture).
• July 27–31: Mobiles in Motion (Alexander Calder, movement and balance).

Here’s where to find the daytime Summer ArtsVan, June 22-July 31:

• Mondays: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Franklin Park, 21st Avenue and Tieton Drive, Yakima; 1-3 p.m. Miller Park, N. 4th & “E” streets, Yakima.
• Tuesdays: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Randall Park, 48th Avenue south of Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima. 1-3 p.m. Southeast Community Center, 1211 S. 7th St., Yakima.
• Wednesdays: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Kissel Park, S. 32nd Avenue and Mead, Yakima; 1-3 p.m. West Valley Park, 1323 S. 80th Ave., Yakima.
• Thursdays: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Martin Luther King Park, S. Eighth Street and E. Beech, Yakima; 1-3 p.m. Milroy Park, 16th and Lincoln avenues, Yakima.
• Fridays: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Community Center at Buena Nueva Housing, 66 Highland Drive, Buena; 1-3 p.m. Wapato Library, 119 E. Third St., Wapato.

The ArtsVan also will stop from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays (July 10-Aug. 14) in various locations around Toppenish:

• Safe Haven: July 17, 31, Aug. 14
• Railroad Park: July 10
• Olney Park: July 24
• Lincoln Park: Aug.

And, look for the Arts Van at the downtown Yakima Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. third Sundays. It also will stop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. second Saturdays at the Chalet Place shopping center, corner of 56th and Summitview avenues, Yakima.

FAMILY NIGHTS

In addition to the daytime program, ArtsVan Family Nights are offered during the Sunset Concert Series at Yakima’s Franklin Park, 21st Avenue and Tieton Drive. Family Nights, geared for children ages 2-12 and their grown ups, will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 9-Aug. 13. Projects are different than those offered during the day; this year’s Family Night theme is “Around the World in Art!”

Family Nights will also be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, June 24-July 29 in Tieton Park in downtown Tieton.

For more information, visit alliedartsyakima.org.

Tiny Tykes Soccer

TINY TYKES SOCCER | Boys and girls, ages 4-5. Learn the basics of passing, dribbling and shooting, as well as teamwork and sportsmanship. Meets 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, July 13-22, at Eisenhower High School soccer field Cost: $28 Yakima resident, $34 non-resident; includes T-shirt. Yakima Parks, 2301 Fruitvale Blvd., Yakima; 575-6020.

Peewee Golf Lessons

PEEWEE GOLF LESSONS | Boys and girls, ages 4-5. Games and activities introduce golf basics. Meets 9:30-10 a.m., multiple sessions: Tuesdays, July 7-28 or Aug. 4-25; Thursdays, July 9-30 or Aug. 6-27. Cost: $24 Yakima resident, $29 non-resident. Fisher Park Golf Course, 823 S. 40th Ave., Yakima; 575-6075.

Gymnastics Plus offering day camps

Gymnastics Plus is offering two different programs this summer that will allow kids to get some exercise while their parents get a break.

SUMMER SCHOOL | Ages 5-10. Morning and afternoon sessions each weekday, June 15-Aug. 28. The morning session, which includes Kids Castle games, meets from 8 a.m. to noon. Afternoon session, including swim time, meets from 1-5 p.m. Other activities include gymnastics instruction, crafts, science and guest speakers. Cost is $20 per four-hour session; 10 percent discount when you register for 10 sessions. Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 453-8126.

GYMNASTICS DAY CAMPS | Ages 5 and up. Sponsored by the Gymnastics Plus Booster Club, three one-day camps will be held this summer at Gymnastics Plus: June 19, July 24, Aug. 14. Meets from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per session or $90 for all three; includes T-shirt and a picture. Participants will learn new skills with the guidance of safety-certified coaches. Demonstrations by competition team members. For more information, call Shannon at 453-8126 or Ava at 945-0845.

Teen Game Day

June 16, 2009

4:00 pm

TEEN GAME DAY. 4 p.m. Console games for teens in grades 6-12. Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave., Selah; 698-7345.

Yakima Bears

July 21, 2009

7:05 pm

YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball v. Vancouver at Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave. General admission: $6.50 adults, $5.50 kids 3-12. Carload Tuesday: Pick up a voucher at any Smitty’s Conoco to get your entire carload into the game free. yakimabears.com

Yakima Bears

July 20, 2009

7:05 pm

YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball v. Vancouver at Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave. General admission: $6.50 adults, $5.50 kids 3-12. yakimabears.com

La Leche League

July 14, 2009

6:00 pm

LA LECHE LEAGUE. 6 p.m. Support group for pregnant and breast-feeding mothers; children welcome. Free. Meets at Cascade Women’s Health, 1601 Creekside Loop, Yakima. For nursing help or questions, call Katy, 248-2610, or Denita, 575-3715.

Selah Pool

July 14, 2009
1:00 pm	to	8:45 pm
July 21, 2009
1:00 pm	to	8:45 pm

SELAH POOL. Tuesday Open Swim: 1-4 p.m., 5:45-8:45 p.m. Cost: $3 adults, $2 youth, $8 family. Selah’s J. Francis Pool, 214 S. Third St.; 698-7306.

Maryhill Family Fun Day

July 18, 2009
1:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

MARYHILL FAMILY FUN DAY. 1-4 p.m. Fun with Photomontage: Kids can learn how to make a collage with photos from home. Opening events for “Ansel Adams: Masterworks” exhibit. Children under 17 admitted free with paid adult ($7) during Family Fun Day events. Maryhill Museum of Art, south of Goldendale on State Route 14; 509-773-3733. maryhillmuseum.org

Franklin Pool: Splashin’ Around

July 11, 2009
1:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

FRANKLIN POOL/SPLASHIN’ AROUND. 1-4 p.m. Free swimming and other water activities. Franklin Pool, 2102 Tieton Dr., Yakima; 575-6035.

Saturday Nite Live

July 11, 2009
7:00 pm	to	9:30 pm
July 18, 2009
7:00 pm	to	9:30 pm
July 25, 2009
7:00 pm	to	9:30 pm

SATURDAY NITE LIVE. 7-9:30 p.m. Free drop-in program open to youth ages 7-15. Swimming, sports, games, Christian message. Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima; 248-1202 or 961-9898.

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

July 11, 2009
12:00 pm	to	4:00 pm
July 18, 2009
12:00 pm	to	4:00 pm
July 25, 2009
12:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

OFFICIAL YU-GI-OH! DUELIST KING TOURNAMENT. 12-4 p.m. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.

Yakima Bears

July 11, 2009

7:05 pm

YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball v. Salem-Keizer at Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave. General admission: $6.50 adults, $5.50 kids 3-12. Fireworks after the game. yakimabears.com

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