by Michelle Schmidt for Inland 360
Kids can hardly contain their excitement during these last days of school. But seasoned parents give it about a week. Enthusiastic cheers will give way to videogame-induced stares, and then the boredom laments begin. Since curiosity and a sense of adventure don’t take a summer vacation, here are five questions kids can answer this summer:
What do bugs taste like?
Craving a mealworm cookie? Then the Creepy Crawlies class at LCSC’s Kids College is the place to be. There you’ll learn all about insects – what they do, their buggy body parts and, of course, what they taste like. Not into eating bugs? Kids College offers around a hundred different classes, ranging from archery to local history, CSI techniques to cake decorating. Some kids attend a full day of classes, others just pick a class or two throughout the summer.
LCSC Kids College Date: Four four-day sessions and a five-day theater workshop, beginning June 10. Sessions run in four time blocks, beginning at 8:15 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $50 plus additional fees, depending on the class. Scholarships are available. Ages: 6-15. Some classes have age restrictions. Registration: Register at www.lcsc.edu/kidscollege or mail in the form from their catalog. The deadline for registrations is one week prior to session start date, but registering earlier will secure your spot in popular classes. For more info online or call 208-792-2207
Can I build a robot to rule the world?
World domination might be a stretch, but it is one step closer to possible if you can win the robot battle held at the end of every RoboCamp put on by the Palouse Discovery Science Center. At the camp, kids explore robotics by creating and programing robots using Lego Mindstorms and WeDo construction sets. RoboCamp is the most popular camp, with three age-based sessions, but there are three others: DinoCamp, Kitchen Chaos and Kids in Space. Can’t make it to camp? Come in for one of the daily lessons on weekly themes, posted online.
Palouse Discovery Science Center Summer Camps Date: Six camp sessions throughout the summer, beginning June 24 Cost: $85 for members, $95 for non-members Ages: Entering grades 1-6. Some sessions have age restrictions Registration: Pullman Parks and Rec at 509-338-3227 by the Friday prior to the camp For more info: 509-332-6869
Where can I “act” like a kid and get away with it?
At the Children’s Studio Workshop, you’ll learn everything there is to know about producing a show, from acting to working backstage to making programs – with the most important part of any show being teamwork. Everyone who participates will get a part in the full-length production, “Don’t Fool With Mother Nature,” written and directed by Jacqulyn Haight. The show tells the story of Mother Nature, who, in her attempt to move into the digital age, is interrupted by Jack Frost, who is holding her data captive in cloud storage.
Children’s Studio Workshop at the Lewiston Civic Theatre Date: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. June 10-28 Cost: $100 Ages: 6-16 Registration and more info: Call the Lewiston Civic Theatre at 208-746-4301. Scholarship applications are due June 1.
Is it a good idea to invite birds into your art studio?
In the outdoor studio space at Jeanne Leffingwell’s ArtCamp, bird visits are always a possibility. They won’t pick up a pencil to develop their drawing and design skills, like students will, but they might contribute a song or two of inspiration. Both indoors and out, students will explore both art basics and a new art medium each day, including beadwork, mosaic and paper arts, all within a greater context of art tradition and current use. The class will enjoy using unique materials under the instruction of Leffingwell, a local artist with over 30 years of art teaching experience. Sounds like fun, but you’re 16 or older? Ask about becoming an ArtCamp youth apprentice.
ArtCamp Date: Four 10 a.m.-3 p.m. five-day sessions beginning June 10 Cost: $160, includes materials Ages: 8-15 Registration: Call Jeanne Leffingwell at 208-882-7211 or visit www.jeanneleffingwell.com/artcamps
How can I join Taylor Swift’s dance team?
We don’t really know, but it probably starts with learning some moves to her songs – which you can do at Country Kidz Rock. At this workshop, you’ll learn about stage presence, verbal projection, choreography to Taylor Swift songs and create your own performance costume. Even if you’ve never danced before, in just one week you’ll learn enough to be part of a 20 minute mini-musical, to be performed at the Moscow Farmers Market. And you never know where dance team scouts hang out. Festival Dance offers several other dance workshops over the summer, including Ballet Princess for ages 4-7, and workshops for hip hop, ballet and Celtic dance.
Country Kidz Rock – Imagination Arts Workshop Date: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. June 24-28 Cost: $85 Ages: 6-12 Registration: Festival Dance at www.festivaldance.org or 208-883-3267
Didn’t see your event listed here? You can still submit it to our free online calendar at www.inland360.com. More summertime learning and entertainment events for kids will be featured in print mid-June. Contact Schmidt at themichelleschmidt@gmail.com or (208) 305-4578.
