Yakima Greenway’s Kiddin’ Around kicks off in April

Yakima Greenway will offer a number of daily and ongoing activities for its Kiddin’ Around program starting in April and running through the summer. Check out this list of daily activities for April and May:

April 14: Spring Thaw Jamboree
April 20: Yoga for Kids
April 27: Kids’ Fish-In
April 28: See Spot Run
May 5: Golfin’ Around
May 10: Runnin’/Walkin’ Around
May 11: Family Field Day
May 18: Disc Golfin’ Around
May 18: Golfin’ Around
May 19: Color Naches Fun Run

Other ongoing activities are planned. The “Techin’ & Trekkin’” program runs Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The free activity lets you check out a GPS to record your mileage as you walk, run or bike the Greenway.

The “Photo Scavenger Hunt” is also available Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. You’ll use a digital camera to take photos as you walk the Greenway. Free.

“Walkin’ the Dog” is available Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 12-3:30 p.m. This free activity lets you check out a dog from the Humane Society of Central Washington and go for a walk. Kids need to be accompanised by an adult. For this activity, call the Humane Society at 509-457-6854.

For information on all other activities, call the Yakima Greenway at 509-453-8280 or visit yakimagreenway.org.

Be One with Nature

 There’s the joke about the Buddhist who walks up to a hot dog vendor and says, “Make me one with everything.”

Now, your family can be one with nature with the plethora of options available this summer.

 

Sometimes you don’t have to go very far to experience a real outdoorsy summer here in the area. Try these local options:

Spend a few evening hours under the stars by Star Gazing at Randall Park one Friday each month through October. Thanks to a partnership between the Yakima Astronomical Society and Yakima Parks and Rec, families can observe the moon, planets, stars and other sky objects. Contact Yakima Parks and Rec at 509-575-6020 for more info.

Starting times vary, but here’s the schedule:

May 25: 8:30-midnight

June 29: 9 p.m.-midnight

July 27: 8:30 p.m.-midnight

Aug. 24: 8 p.m.-midnight

Sept. 21: 7 p.m.-midnight

Oct. 19: 7 p.m.-midnight

 

Another great way to be one with the earth is to get your hands dirty and grab hold of some plump earthworms.

 Sure, you can try to hunt down the night crawlers on your own, or you can head to the Yakima Area Arboretum to give your kids an educational and fun outing. The Arboretum’s “Worm Composting for Kids” class is set for 1-3 p.m. June 19.

Kids grades 2 and up will learn all about worms in a real hands-on setting. The cost is $20 for YAA members and $26 for non-members. The fee includes a starter kit. Parents are free if they accompany their child.

The class takes place at the Jewett Interpretive Center at the Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima. Contact: 509-248-7337, or visit ahtrees.org.

The YAA is also holding “Nature Camp” for six weeks this summer. The week-long camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and is intended for ages 5-11.

Pick from the following weeks: June 18-22, June 25-29, Jul. 2-6, Jul. 9-13, Jul. 16-20, or Jul. 23-27. The cost is $139 per child, which includes snacks, a T-shirt and a bottle.

Let your voice be heard this summer!

Ahhh … the sounds of summer.

 Melody Lane is offering classes to boost your musical prowess with voice and instrument lessons.

July 2-7 (no July 4 class): Sing Like a Pop Star. Vocal lessons. 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 8 and up.

July 3-31: Beginning guitar. 5-week session: Tuesdays, 4:30-5 p.m. Ages 8 and up.

July 5-Aug. 2: Beginning piano. 5-week session: Thursdays, 5-5:30 p.m. Ages 5 and up.

July 30-August 3: Sing Like a Broadway Star. Vocal lessons. 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 8 and up.

 Allied Arts is keeping with the rhythm of music with its own Strings Music Camp. Beginners will meet 8-9:30 a.m. June 18-22 or June 25-29, and intermediate musicians will meet 9:45-11:15 a.m. June 18-22 or June 25-29. The cost is $125.

Another musical treat is Allied Arts’ Music Camp, which runs July 23-27 & July 30-Aug. 3. The weeklong camp, from 9-11 a.m. each day, is for ages 7-12.

The music camp is open to everyone in that age group, and is inclusive of kids with special needs. The class will feature free-flowing music and give kids a hands-on music experience and lessons on instruments from around the world. The cost is $80 each.

 

Allied Arts of Yakima Valley

5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima

509-966-0930 • alliedartsyakima.org

 

CoMotion Dance Center for the Arts

4001 Summitview Ave., Suite 20, Yakima

509-966-0676

 

Meloday Lane Performing Arts Academy

2610 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Suite A, Yakima.

509-248-9623 • melodylaneacademy.com

 

More Musical Notes

If you want to enjoy music but don’t want to commit to a week-long camp, there are some other options out there.

 Gone Fiddling Again hosts its “Circle Music Jam” the third Thursday of each month from 7-9 p.m. Next dates: June 21, July 19 & Aug. 16.

The jams are for all ages and abilities and are described as “nutrition for the music soul.” The jams include country, folk, fiddle, bluegrass and blues.

Gone Fiddling Again is located at 217 S. 63^rdAve. in Yakima. Contact: 509-949-2100; gonefiddlingagain.com

The Yakima Valley Community Band marks its summer debut of “Concerts in the Park” 7 p.m. on July 4, with free concerts running each Wednesday from July 4-Aug. 8. A variety of music includes jazz, classical, pops, Broadway tunes and marches. Each concert is performed at Randall Park at 48 N. 44^th Ave. in Yakima.

Youth can also try out for a seat on the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 2012-2013 group. Auditions are held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 2 and June 9 at Englewood Christian Church, 511 N. 44^th Ave. in Yakima. For more details email yyso.yes@gmail.com.

Care to dance?

Your kids can dance the summer away with a variety of dance camps.

Co-Motion Dance will run weekly dance camps and intensives for ages 3 and up from June 11 to August 16, and each week will offer something different.

The cost is $68 for one week for ages 6-9, and $78 for the week for ages 10 and up. The 6-9 age group runs from 3-4:30 Monday-Thursday; intermediate from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; and advanced from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

June 11-14: Hip hop

June 18-21: Tap

June 25-28: Modern

July 9-12: Jazz

July 16-19: Ballet

July 23-26: Modern (not a repeat)

July 30-Aug. 2: Jazz (not a repeat)

Aug. 6-9: Tap (not a repeat)

Aug. 13-16: Hip hop (not a repeat)

 

The Melody Lane Performing Arts Academy is offering music, dance and theatre camps this summer. You like princesses? Check. Movie-inspired courses? Check. A variety of music genres? Check!

Princesses first! Ages 3-5: $65 per week. Each week offers two sessions: 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m.

June 25-29: Cinderella Princess

July 9-13: Little Mermaid Princess

July 23-27: Sleeping Beauty Princess

July 3-31: Disney Princesses (5-week session), 11-11:50 or 4:30-5:20 p.m.

Music/Theatre/Dance classes: Two session options: 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m. $65-$99.

July 9-13: “Annie” Musical Week. Sing and dance. Ages 6 and up.

July 16-20: “Star Wars” stage combat and Jedi training. Ages 6 and up.

July 23-27: “Wicked” musical theatre. Ages 8 and up.

Aug. 6-10: “Tangled” musical theatre. Ages 3-7.

Other dance camps:

June 25-29 & Aug. 6-10: Pop Stars Hip Hop Dance Week. 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 6 and up.

July 2-7 (except July 4) & July 23-27: Ballerina Boot Camp Dance Week. 10-10:50 a.m. or 5:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 6 and up.

July 16-20: “So You Think You Can Dance?”-style dance week. 10-11:50 a.m. or 4:30-6:20 p.m. Ages 12 and up.

July 30-August 3: “Get the edge.” Strength and flexibility. 10-11:20 a.m. or 5-6:20 p.m.

Theatre, anyone?

“All the world’s a stage!”

So says the character Jacques in Shakespeare’s play As You Like It.

With that in mind, if you can’t travel the world, then make the world come to life with theatre!

This summer there are several programs available for your kids to get in the stage spotlight.

Eisenhower High School will host its Eisenhower Summer Drama Camp June 18-22. The camp, which runs from 9 a.m.-noon each day, is intended for kids 6-13.

Participants will learn the ins and outs of the stage, including acting, dancing, singing, improvisation, props and costuming.

A “Grand Finale” show will be held at 11:30 a.m. on June 22, the last day of the camp.

The cost is $68 per child, which includes a daily snack and a camp T-shirt.

The drama unfolds at Ike’s Little Theatre, located at 702 S. 40^th Ave. in Yakima. Call 509-833-7676 for more info.

 

Allied Arts of Yakima Valley has prepared a lineup of theatre fun, too.

The organization is holding its “Theatre For Kids” program June-August. Each camp runs from 4-6 p.m. for kids 7-12. Cost: $80.

June 25-29: The film “The Artist” hits the stage.

July 9-13: Myths and storytelling on stage.

July 15-20: Murals come to life on stage.

Aug. 20-24: Puppets on stage.

Allied Arts will also resume its two-week Shakespeare Camp in August. Elementary and middle school students meet from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 13-17 & Aug. 20-24, and high school students meet from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 13-17 & Aug. 20-24. Cost: $150.

Programs for the Young Artist this summer

Programs for the Young Artist

 

Yakima Valley’s beautiful summer is a work of art itself, and it might inspire kids to get their hands working creatively. Here are some programs for kids who want to get artistic.

Maxin Art Studio is offering a drop-in drawing class each Friday from 4-6 p.m. The studio is located at 106 S. Third St. in Yakima. You can call 509-494-3850 for details, or visit maxinartstudio.com. Ongoing.

Red Art Studios, located at 2522 W. Nob Hill Blvd. in Yakima, has a lineup of summer art and science day camps beginning in July. Each camp costs $65 per participant, and pre-registration is required. Call 509-469-2766 to register. All camps run 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the schedule:

July 17-20: “Explore Ancient Egypt” Art, culture, math and language.

July 24-27: “Weather Central” Weather in art, weather machines and observing.

July 31-Aug. 3: “Masks of the Americas” Mask construction, history, culture and expression.

Aug. 7-10: Rocket camp. (First session)

Aug. 14-17: Rocket camp. (Second session)

 Allied Arts of Yakima Valley will resume its popular summer ArtsVan program, which brings art to various parks in the area (check out our website, playdateyakima.com, for a full schedule!). Allied Arts also has a number of art camps at its facility at 5000 W. Lincoln Ave. in Yakima. Call the office at 509-966-0930 or visit alliedartsyakima.org for more info and updates.

Each art camp costs $80 for a full week or $140 for two theatre or art camps. Each camp is designed for ages 7-12 and runs from 2-4 p.m. on the dates listed below.

Jun. 25-29: Explore the movie “The Artist.”

July 9-13: Explore myths and storytelling in an art classroom setting.

July 16-20: Explore the art of murals.

Aug. 20-24: Explore the world of puppet creation.