YAC Soccer Camp

YAC SOCCER CAMP | Boys and girls, grades 1-5. Meets 10 a.m. to noon July 6-10. Focus on soccer skills and fun. Cost: $100 YAC member, $110 non-member. Open registration begins June 2. Bring a soccer ball, shin guards and cleats. Yakima Athletic Club, 2501 Racquet Lane, Yakima; yakimaathletic.com; 453-6521.

Mom and Baby

MOM & BABY. 10 a.m. to noon. Discussion group for moms with infants under 1 year; bring your baby. Free. Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Community Education in the Nob Hill Plaza, 2506 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima; 575-8484.

Summer ’09 Day Camps

ART CAMP: NOW YOU’RE COOKING | This delicious four-day camp combines art and drama. Participants will decorate an apron, make an accordion-fold recipe book and create a clay snack bowl. The camp wraps up with a family performance of “The King’s Dessert” and a taste of the king’s royal treat.
DETAILS: Girls and boys, ages 9-11. Meets 1-4 p.m. July 27-30 at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Cost: $65. CONTACT: alliedartsyakima.org; 966-0930.

ART CAMP: SUPERHERO TRAINING | Participants will design their own cape, mask and illustrated comic in this heroic camp that combines drama and art. On the final day, campers will wrap up with a family performance of “Funnyman.”
DETAILS: Girls and boys, ages 9-11. Meets 1-4 p.m. Aug. 3-6 at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Cost: $65. CONTACT: alliedartsyakima.org; 966-0930.

ART & SCIENCE CAMP | Crafty kids can explore art and science through hands-on projects at this downtown studio. New themes and projects each week. Offered by Red Art Gallery and Mad Science of Yakima Valley.
DETAILS: 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. New sessions weekly, June 29-Aug. 17. Ages 6-18. Cost: $65. Preregistration required; limited space available. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. CONTACT: Mindy Clark, 469-2766.

Looking for more summer activities? Find a list of summer art classes HERE.

CAMP HORSEPOWER | Participants will build new friendships – two- and four-legged – at this camp, which aims to foster relationships and respect in a nurturing, safe environment. Campers will learn to dress the horses and work with them on the ground; not a riding camp.
DETAILS: Meets 9-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Sessions: June 15-18, ages 8-12; June 22-25, ages 12-15; July 13-16, ages 8-12; July 20-23, ages 12-15. Or, schedule a private camp with group of five. Cost: $100; partial scholarships available. Camp located four miles north of Selah. CONTACT: Jayne Beebe, 831-2407.

CARROLL CHILDREN’S CENTER SUMMER DAY CAMP | All-day program for school-aged kids includes weekly field trips, crafts, science and other themed activities.
DETAILS: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, June 15-Aug. 21. 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.

EARTH GIRLS: KEEPIN’ IT GREEN | Girls ages 5-17 can make toys and crafts from recycled items and learn how to save the planet with Girl Scouts.
DETAILS: Meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 22-26 in the Franklin Middle School commons, 410 S. 19th Ave., Yakima. Cost: $10 per day or $40 for the week; one-time $10 fee for non-registered Girl Scouts. Preregistration required. Girls who participate at least three days receive Earth Girls participation patch. CONTACT: Lisa Tapia, 834-9785.

FREE SUMMER DAY CAMPS | 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 15-July 29. Free; lunch provided. Locations: Milroy Park, N. 16th and Lincoln avenues (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday); Southeast Community Center, S. Eighth Street and Arlington (9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.); Kissel Park, 32nd and Mead avenues (9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.). CONTACT: Yakima Parks, 575-6114.

GYMKIDS CHEER CAMP | Pep up the summer with these “cheer”-ful day camps for kids ages 5-12.
DETAILS: Meets 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday at Selah GymKids, 709 North Park Center, Selah. Two sessions: June 29-July 2, Aug. 17-20. Call for fees. CONTACT: Selah GymKids, 698-5437.

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.

GYMNASTICS PLUS 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.

IKE DRAMA CAMP | All the world’s a stage at this camp, where participants will learn about singing, dancing, acting, costuming, sets, props and improvisation in a fun, supportive atmosphere.
DETAILS: Ages 7-13. Meets from 9 a.m. to noon, June 15-19 at the Eisenhower High School Little Theatre, 702 S. 40th Ave., Yakima. Performance for friends and family at 11 a.m. June 19. Cost: $65, includes T-shirt and snacks. CONTACT: 833-7676.

INTERMEDIATE SUMMER BAND | Middle-school students, including incoming sixth-graders, can toot their own horns (and other instruments) at this two-week camp.
DETAILS: Meets 9-10:30 a.m. weekdays, June 15-26, at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Cost: $65. CONTACT: Allied Arts, 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org.

JAZZ BAND | Musical middle-school students, including incoming sixth-graders, can jazz up their summer at this two-week camp.
DETAILS: Meets 11 a.m. to noon weekdays, June 15-26, at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Cost: $25. CONTACT: Allied Arts, 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org.

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. Call for details. B & C Sewing & Vacuum Center, 613 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima. CONTACT: 453-8301.

LITTLE GREEN THUMBS PRESCHOOL CAMP | Pre-K and kindergarten students can learn about the science of seeds, weather and bugs in the garden.
DETAILS (Selah): Ages 3-6 years. Meets 9-11:30 a.m. at Wixson Park, 214 S. Third St., Selah. Multiple sessions: June 15-19, July 6-10, Aug. 3-7 Cost: $64. CONTACT: Mad Science, 966-3015; madscience.org/yakima
DETAILS (West Valley): Ages 3-6 years. Meets 9-11:30 a.m. at West Valley Community Park, 323 S. 80th Ave., Yakima. Multiple sessions: June 29-July 3, July 27-31, Aug. 10-14. Cost: $83 Yakima resident; $95 nonresident. CONTACT: Yakima Parks, 575-6020.

NASA: JOURNEY INTO OUTER SPACE CAMP | Hands-on program for kids ages 5-12 will explore the Earth’s atmosphere to the outer reaches of our solar system. Learn about planets, comets and the forces of flight; participate in a rocket launch.
DETAILS (Selah): 9 a.m. to noon at Wixson Park, 214 S. Third St., Selah. Multiple sessions: June 15-19, July 6-10, Aug. 3-7. Cost: $84. CONTACT: Mad Science, 966-3015; madscience.org/yakima.
DETAILS (West Valley): 9 a.m. to noon at West Valley Community Park, 323 S. 80th Ave., Yakima. Multiple sessions: June 23-26, July 27-31, Aug. 10-14. Cost: $107 Yakima resident; $122 nonresident. CONTACT: Yakima Parks, 575-6020.

READING & SPELLING CAMP | Tackle phonics, spelling and penmanship at this private summer school for students in grades 1-4. All skill levels welcome.
DETAILS: Weekday mornings, June 22-July 21, except July 3 and 6; meets at Yakima Adventist Christian School, 1200 City Reservoir Road in Naches Heights. Cost: $360 per student; materials $60 per family. Register by June 10. CONTACT: Verlene Hartwig, 829-6224.

SUMMER IN THE PARK | Enjoy games, crafts and other supervised activities at Selah’s Wixson Park, 214 S. Third St. Weekly themes. At 1 p.m., the pool opens next door.
DETAILS: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 15-July 24. Ages 6-12. Cost: $38-$50, depending on residency; fee covers entire summer and includes a T-shirt. Scholarships available. Register at the Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St. Friday field trips available for extra fee. CONTACT: Selah Parks, 698-7300.

SUMMER ORCHESTRA | This camp might prove instrumental for middle-school students, including incoming sixth-graders, who want to bring their playing to a new level.
DETAILS: Meets weekday mornings, June 15-26, at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Two levels: Intermediate meets 8:15-10:15 a.m.; advanced meets 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: $75. CONTACT: Allied Arts, 966-0930; alliedartsyakima.org.

SUMMER SCIENCE FUN FOR GIRLS | Girls ages 5-17 who participate in this Girl Scout day camp will conduct summer science experiments, including water rockets.
DETAILS: Meets 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays, July 9-30 at Central Lutheran Church, corner of 16th and Yakima avenues, Yakima. Cost: $2 each day; one-time $10 fee for non-registered Girl Scouts. CONTACT: Lisa Tapia, 834-9785.

SUMMER SCIENCE IN THE PARK | Girls ages 5-17 will conduct fun science experiments at this free drop-in Girl Scout program in the parks.
DETAILS: Multiple sessions and locations. Meets 1-2:30 p.m. Mondays, June 15-July 6, at Milroy Park, corner of 16th and Lincoln avenues, Yakima; 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays, June 23-July 14, (same time as the ArtsVan) at Southeast Community Park, S. Eighth Street and Arlington, Yakima; and 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, July 10-31, at Applewood Park, Naches. CONTACT: Lisa Tapia, 834-9785.

SUMMER SHAKESPEARE CAMP | Students at this two-week camp will learn to deciper “ye olde” Elizabethan language, appreciate the complexity of Shakespeare’s characters and get a taste of some of the planet’s greatest literature, one bite at a time. Performance-based class with lots of stage time. The camp’s own Shakespeare in the Park festival will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.
DETAILS: Boys and girls, ages 9-18. Meets 9 a.m. to noon July 27-31 and Aug. 3-7 at Allied Arts, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Cost: $120. CONTACT: alliedartsyakima.org; 966-0930.

TREK ‘N’ TRAVEL TROLLEY | Young explorers can hit the road with this day-trippin’ Washington tour bus.
DETAILS: Weeklong sessions offered June 29-July 3, July 27-31 and Aug. 10-14. Ages 8-12 years. Register early; space is extremely limited. Cost: $115 Yakima resident, $137 non-resident. 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 15-Aug. 21. Ages 5 through fifth grade. Cost per week: $124 YMCA family members, $135 YMCA members, $153 program participants; bring a sack lunch, water and sunscreen. This program fills up; register as soon as possible. Meets at the Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. CONTACT: Mikeal Doyle, 972-5251; yakimaymca.org.

Youth Tennis Lessons (Selah)

YOUTH TENNIS LESSONS (SELAH) | Boys and girls, grades 3-8. Two sessions, both meet Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: June 16-25, July 21-30. Grades 3-5: 9-10 a.m. Grades 6-8: 10-11 a.m. Instruction, games and matches. Cost: $18-$30, depending on residency; bring a racket and one unopened can of tennis balls. Meets at Carlon Park, 400 E. Goodlander Road, Selah. Register with Selah Parks, 216 S. First St.; 698-7300.

Introduction to Golf (Selah)

INTRODUCTION TO GOLF (SELAH) | Boys and girls, ages 6-15. Meets 8:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 22-July 16, at River Ridge Golf Course, 295 Golf Course Loop Road, Selah. Golf fundamentals, rules and etiquette. Cost: $80; provide your own clubs. Register with Selah Parks, 216 S. First St., Selah; 698-7300.

Inklings Toddler Story Time 6/09

INKLINGS TODDLER STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Inklings Bookshop in Chalet Place, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 965-5830.

Union Gap Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Stories and craft. Union Gap Library, 3104 S. First St., Union Gap; 452-4252.

CoolMoms kickoff meeting

A chapter of the Seattle-based CoolMoms organization is starting up in Yakima. The group’s mission is to unite mothers to help the environment through changes in our homes and communities. A kickoff meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 2 at North Town Coffeehouse, 128 N. First St., Yakima. Non-walking infants are welcome. For more information about the organization, visit coolmom.org. For information about the local chapter, contact Elise Cardenas at elise1976@charter.net.

MOMS Club of Yakima – June

MOMS CLUB OF YAKIMA. 10 a.m. Daytime activities for stay-home mothers and their children. Meets at Central Lutheran Church, 16th and Yakima avenues, Yakima. $30 annual dues. Candice: 388-0820.

Libraries launch Summer Reading Program

Yakima Valley Libraries are encouraging readers to “Be Creative @ Your Library” this summer. The annual all-ages summer reading program will explore art, music, dance, photography, books and more. Participants can can earn prizes by reading.

Participants can register online and create a personal reading Web page at www.yvl.org. The Web pages will notify participants when it’s time to pick up a prize.

The reading program will also offer a series of special events at the libraries, including chainsaw carving demonstrations, Mad Science workshops and  story times with local children’s author Guy Brooke. For more information, visit your local branch or  check the library’s Web site at yvrl.org. To find the calendar, look for the black tab labeled “Events” on the upper right side of the home page. Once the calendar loads, select the “Search Slider” on the upper left side of the screen to customize the calendar for your local branch.

Are we there yet?

A vagabond mama cures the backseat blues

By Sara Bristol

Some mothers swear by it, but I just can’t buy into the idea of my kids watching movies in the car.

No, I’m not one of those anti-TV fanatics. My kids certainly watch more than their share of round-the-clock satellite programming in our three television household.

So I guess that’s why I draw the line at the driveway. When we’re on the road, the scenery should be different than that which we can watch from the sofa.

After all, the whole point of a road trip (or any vacation) is to do something that you don’t do everyday at home.

That said, long hours in little space can be uncomfortable and, yes, sometimes boring. Here are a few suggestions to keep your next road trip from veering off course:

MAP YOUR ROUTE
When children are in the car, driving straight through doesn’t make the trip go faster. It makes the kids whine.

* Schedule breaks. When MapQuest says the drive takes four hours, allow for five. Plan to get out of the car — at a rest area, park or roadside attraction — every couple of hours.

Do this religiously unless the kids are asleep, in which case our advice deviates: Drive, drive, drive until you’re running on fumes.

Hint: Kids love chicken nuggets and using public restrooms. The trip planner at mcdonalds.com can help you find every McDonald’s Playland between home and your destination.

EMERGENCY ROAD KIT
The question is inevitable: “Are we there yet?” Combat this by giving kids some tools:

* A map. Show the kids the route you’re traveling and encourage them to read road signs to note your progress. For very young children, try drawing a simple Dora-style map with major landmarks, i.e. “When we cross the river, we will be halfway there.”

* Audio books. Check them out from the library. If you choose a chapter book, listen for 30-minutes at a time when you need the gang to quiet down.

* Music. Sing-along CDs are corny good fun. The library has a good selection. If you’ll be using the car stereo, preview new tunes before you go to make sure they’re not too annoying. Or, choose “grown up” tunes everybody can enjoy; our kids go crazy for The Beach Boys.

Last Christmas, we bought simple MP3 players for about $10, paired them with $5 headphones and enjoyed the quietest drive to Grandma’s house in years.

* Travel games. The best car toys will pass the time without making a mess. Unfortunately, many games labeled “travel” are just smaller with lots of pieces — OK for the hotel, maybe, but not the car.

Instead, turn to the old faithfuls, including Etch A Sketch, Doodle Pro and auto bingo. (Find the classic Regal Travel Auto Bingo cards online at kidslovetravel.com; set of four is $5.95.)

Imaginetics makes a line of magnetic play boards and magnet stickers that are convenient for travel and fairly affordable at about $5-$10 each. My favorite is the Magnetic USA Map for its “puzzle factor,” which gives kids a job and helps keep them busy. Use caution when giving magnet toys to very small kids, however; magnets can be dangerous to children under age 3 or who might swallow them.

Activity books can be another good option for kids old enough to hold a pen. Crayola Color Wonder and other invisible ink products are perfect for messy preschoolers. Dover’s pocket-sized series of Little Activity Books include easy mazes and connect-the-dot puzzles that even non-reading youngsters can handle. (Hint: Tuck one in your purse for those when-is-our-food-gonna-get-here restaurant moments.) Older children enjoy crosswords, word search puzzles, Sudoko and Mad Libs.

PREPARE TO DETOUR
Even the best laid plans are likely to run into the occasional roadblock. Just when you think you’ve run out of tricks, reach into your bag and see if you can’t pull out another rabbit:

* Slug Bug. Even little kids can recognize a Volkswagen Beetle. This game’s pretty simple: When you spot one, call out “slug bug.” We play non-competitively and without slugging; everybody calls it when they see it. In our car, we also call the color: Green bean, true blue, bright white, etc. And, to mix things up, we also keep an eye out for PT Cruisers and Jeep Wranglers, which are each distinctive enough for a 3-year-old to identify.

* I Spy. You say, “I spy something blue,” and the other players guess what you see: The sky, dad’s sweater, a car, etc. Whoever guesses correctly starts the next round.

* 20 Questions. Think about anything; the other players have 20 questions to try and narrow down what it is. The first question is always, “Animal, vegetable or mineral?” Players then take turns asking pointed yes-or-no questions: Can it fly? Is it bigger than a car? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Only 16 more to go!

By age three, the Bristol kids had each been to at least five states and Canada. They’ll drive to Disneyland this summer.

Kids’ Art Studio

KIDS’ ART STUDIO. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Age-appropriate art activities for school-age children (K-12). Cost: $12 drop-in, or $40 a month. Preschoolers and toddlers welcome ($5); parents must accompany children age 6 and younger. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Dig this: Arboretum hosts kids’ gardening workshops

CHILDREN’S GARDENING WORKSHOP SERIES | Grades 2-5. Learn about soil, insects, container gardening and attracting birds and butterflies. Hands-on projects each day. Meets 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays, July 9-30. Cost: $20, includes four workshops and materials. Register by July 3; limited to 20 students. Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima; ahtrees.org; 248-7337.

Toddler and Preschool Art Studio

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL ART STUDIO. 10 a.m. to noon. Drop-in open studio for children age 5 and under. Cost: $5. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Mad Hatter Tea Party

MAD HATTER TEA PARTY. 4 p.m. All ages welcome. C0st: $5. Out On A Whim, 108 S. Third Ave., Yakima; outonawhimbooks.com; 576-3635.

Funky Friday Night – June

FUNKY FRIDAY NIGHT. 7-8:30 p.m. Rockin’ recreational swim featuring loud ‘80s music. Special rates: $1 adult, $.50 youth, $3.25 family. Lions Pool, 509 W. Pine St., Yakima. 575-6046.

Night Action: Late Night

NIGHT ACTION: LATE NIGHT. 8-11 p.m. Activities for youth in grades 6-12 include movies, pool parties, dances and dodge ball tournaments. Southeast Community Center gym, 1211 S. 7th St., Yakima. 575-6114.

20th Annual Mural in a Day

20th ANNUAL MURAL IN A DAY (Toppenish). 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See a mural come to life in just seven hours. Free; bleacher seating for spectators. Car and tractor show, craft and food vendors. Toppenish Chamber: 509-865-3262. toppenish.net

Home Depot Kids Workshop: Hardware Sorter

HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOP: HARDWARE SORTER. 9 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects for kids 5-12. The Home Depot, 2115 S. First St., Yakima; 452-3016.

Correction: Cinema Circle season ender on Tuesday

Cinema Circle, the matinee movie program for parents of young children, will wrap up Tuesday with a special showing of “Land of the Lost.” In the Playdate magazine calendar, the event is listed on the wrong date. Cinema Circle typically meets on Thursdays, but the final movie of the 2008-09 season will be shown Tuesday to accommodate the end of the school year.

“Land of the Lost,” starring Will Ferrell, will begin at 11 a.m. June 9 at the Yakima Cinema, 1305 N. 16th Ave. The movie is rated PG-13 for crude humor, sexual content and for language including a drug reference.

Cost: $6 adults, $4.50 children ages 4-6; one child 3 and younger is free with each paying adult.

Cinema Circle showings are open to parents or caregivers accompanied by a baby or preschooler.  The special matinees are held twice a month throughout the school year; Cinema Circle will resume on Sept. 10.

For more information, contact Circle of Success at 469-9888.

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