Fun Summer Ideas for the Kids
By Mona Moore

Well, it's almost here ... Summer!! Most parts of the country look forward to summer so the kids can go outside and play and have fun. We are in the unique situation of making sure we stay INSIDE to stay cool in the summer!

With that in mind, what can the kids do this summer to stay active, have fun, and keep cool? We'll we found some great camps ... and we have a couple great ideas for those of you who want to have fun, but don't want to pay the costs of camps!

Fun and Unique Summer Camps:

Art and Education

June 4 to June 8, 9 a.m. – noon  
Summer Camp: Animals of the Land, Air and Sea
The Arizona Museum for Youth and Mesa Southwest Museum are teaming up to bring you an action-filled art and science camp this summer! With animals old and new, big and small, you won't want to miss this opportunity to discover animals in science and art. Children who attend the camp will work on art-based projects at the Arizona Museum for Youth, and later, head on to the Mesa Southwest Museum to learn about science and archeology.
Program is for ages 5-7 (944150-01) and ages 8-10 (944150-02). Fee is $100 for museum members and $150 for nonmembers. Call 480.644.3690 for more information and to register.

As You Wish Pottery
As You Wish Pottery lets kids get creative in a cool, fun enviroment. Kids can make a wide variety of projects -- Mosaic Stepping Stone, Marbleized Picture Frames, Caterpillar Bowls, Mosaic Fish Plaques, and more! Dates, times, and locations vary. Find the store nearest you for more details at their website: http://www.asyouwishpottery.com

Mad Science Camps
Mad Science® is the world's leading science enrichment provider. They deliver unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational. Mad Science offers a variety of summer camps throughout the Valley. Visit their website for more details:
http://www.madscience.org

Acting Camps

Actor's Youth Theatre of Mesa
All classes held at LaMusique Academy, Mesa, 480-807-4055
Summer Workshops for kids from 4 to 16!! Kids work with vocal coaches, choreographers, and directors. They can also learn the behind-the-scenes process! Young kids learn the basics of acting. At the end of the camp, all kids will participate in a stage production.
Find more details at their website:
http://www.actorsyouththeatre.org/

Desert Foothills Summer Theater
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 4-15. For Grades 3-12. Features workshops in music, dance, miming and multimedia, as well as a production of Cinderella and Fractured Fairy Tales.
Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th St., Cave Creek. (480) 575-2075;

Sports Camps

Summer Ice Skating Day Camp
Arcadia Ice Rink, 38th St & Thomas; 602-957-9966
Camp available weekly from May 29 - August 17. Full day of camp from  9am - 4pm. Lunch and snack included. Skate rental included. More details at website: http://www.arcadiaice.com

Kiwanis Park Recreation Center
6111 S. All-America Way, Tempe; (480) 350-5201
Offering indoor soccer camps, volleyball camps, tennis camps and more! Times and dates vary. Check out the website for more details:
http://www.tempe.gov/kiwanis/

Low Cost Summer Fun!

Science Day!
Moms, gather up a few of your friends with similar-age children and purchase a couple science kits. You can purchase these kits just about any where. I personally like the variety at the Discovery Store, http://shopping.discovery.com/. Kits start around $20 - $25. Then, one day each week, all the kids gather at one Mommy's house and do a couple science experiments. The kids get to have fun, learn some science, and play with their friends. The other Mommys can have the day off to run errands, get their nails done, or take a nap!

Craft Day!
Same idea as above, but with crafts!! Moms can create their own crafts or buy books or magazines that provide lots of fun craft ideas. Again, kids get to have fun and play with their friends. Moms get a break!

Hopefully, these ideas will help you decide how to spend some of your time this summer. Kids love having something to look forward to! Be sure to do something fun with the kids this summer!