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Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

Calling all campers: Houston, Peach have lots of summer activities for kids

With the weather turning much warmer lately, local children may be wondering what to do on long, summer days.

Many area churches are offering Vacation Bible School programs, and there’s also much more happening in the community.

At The Westfield School in Perry, the campus is alive for the summer with Camp Westfield, an enrichment and athletic program. All classes are open to any child who wishes to attend. They include:

Ÿ Camp Read-A-Lot, June 22-26, first through third grade. Taught by Angie Westbrook, there will be reading, writing and other activities and projects based on summer reading selections. Cost is $65.

Ÿ Baseball, June 22-25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rising first- though seventh-graders. Coached by Rob Fitzpatrick, a member of the Georgia Southern University Baseball Hall of Fame and former professional baseball player, participants will learn skills such as throwing, catching, positional play, hitting, base running and pitching fundamentals. Cost is $125. Bring a sack lunch each day.

Ÿ Girls Sports Camp, June 22-25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rising third- through seventh-graders. Former University of Georgia player Julie Brooker will provide softball and basketball instruction. Fee is $125 for full day, $75 for half day. Fee for family of two or more campers is $175 for full day, $125 half day.

Ÿ Building Self-Esteem: Beauty 101, June 29-July 2, 9:30-11:30 a.m., for rising sixth- through ninth-graders. Instructed by Anita Arnett, the camp will include fun activities such as hair and makeup, manicures, pedicures and etiquette. A fashion show for family and friends will be held the final day. Cost is $90.

Ÿ Milk and Macaroni Manners, July 7-10, 9-11:30 a.m., pre-K through first grade. Kate Lewis will offer fun games and sing-alongs, with participants learning basic manners and skills that encourage respect. Topics to include playground behavior, words to watch for, food for forks and fingers, and more. Cost is $65.

Ÿ Mini Manners, July 7-10, 1:30-4 p.m., second through fourth grades. Kate Lewis will discuss table manners, an introduction to conversation and presentation skills, and tips on how to handle different school and social situations. Cost is $65.

Ÿ Express Yourself! A Creative Writing Workshop, July 7-10, 9 a.m.-noon, rising sixth-graders and up. Instructed by Mary Jane Kinnas, participants will explore various writing styles such as short stories, magazine or newspaper features, blogging and poetry. A guest lecturer will visit each day. Participants will also receive journals. Cost is $65.

Ÿ Acting Up, July 13-16, 9-11:30 a.m., fith-eighth grades. Taught by Kate Lewis, the interactive course will show participants the do’s and don’ts in the life of a middle-school student. Cost is $65.

Ÿ Manners Matter, July 13-16, 12:30-3 p.m., ninth-12th grades. Kate Lewis will teach the importance of social and interpersonal skills. Focus will be on conversation, interview and presentation skills, introductions and dining skills. Cost is $85.

For more information or to register your child for any program, visit www.westfieldschool.org or call 987-0547.

Houston County libraries

Tons of special activities are going on at Houston County libraries, including the Summer Vacation Reading Program. All area youths up to age 10 are invited to record the number of hours you read and attend fun library programs throughout June and July. Awards will be given for 10 and 20 hours reading, as well as for the child who reads for the most hours in each age group.

Ken Scott will perform for children at Perry Public Library at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 7 at Nola Brantley Memorial Library in Warner Robins.

More special events are planned throughout the summer, so be sure to check your local library branch.

You may call Centerville Public Library at 953-4500, Nola Brantley in Warner Robins at 923-0128 or Perry library at 987-3050. Also, visit www.houpl.org. All libraries are closed Sundays.

Museum of Aviation

Most summer camps fill up early at the Museum of Aviation, but a few classes are still open.

Ÿ Chem Prep Academy 2, July 13-17, 9 a.m.-noon, 10th-12th grades. $75.

Ÿ Across American in Five Days, July 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon, third-fifth grades. $75.

Ÿ Leaves, Minerals and Trees, July 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon, fifth-eighth grades. $75.

There is also a photo contest sponsored by the museum’s education department and Middle Georgia College and open to everyone from now until Oct. 30.

For additional info about camps or the photo contest, visit www.moaeducation.com.

The museum is also open to visitors daily, except for New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. There is no charge for admission. To learn about volunteering opportunities, call Dan Hart at 926-6870 or e-mail dan.hart@museumofaviation.org.

Bliss and Feet Center for the Arts, Fort Valley

Ÿ The Art of Acting: Audition Techniques, Parts 1&2, July 6 and July 13; Acting for the Stage, July 20; and Acting for the Camera, July 27. For beginning and intermediate actors. classes will be Mondays at 5:30 p.m. for youths, and 7 p.m. for adults. Cost is $25 per workshop, $85 for the session.

Ÿ Adult Ballet: Tuesdays starting July 7, 6-7:15 p.m. Cost is $20 per class or $65 for the session. All students should wear a leotard, tights and ballet shoes.

Summer arts classes will be taught by Karan Kendrick, actor and choreographer, who has appeared in “Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleading Scandal,”Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” and “Madea Goes to Jail,” and the upcoming Lifetime Television series “Drop Dead Diva.”

The arts center is located at 122 E. Main St., Fort Valley. For more information, call 825-8544 or visit www.blissandfeetcenter.com.

Academy of Dance

Starting this week, the Academy of Dance in Warner Robins will host a series of classes, including jazz, pre-pointe, ballet, Pilates, leaps and turns, modern, intermediate and advanced lyrical, tap, beginning hip-hop, belly dance, zumba and theater.

If you are interested in enrolling, call the school at 922-6220.

Hodac’s Teen Center

Any child between the ages of 10-18 may visit Hodac’s Teen Center, 116 Wallace Drive, Warner Robins. All programs are free after the purchase of a $15 T-shirt. This summer, the center will host a variety of activities, including an Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug prevention program, classes on physical fitness, nutrition and cooking, and leadership programs. Betta Roots Music of Warner Robins will be teaching instruments such as violin, cello and bass guitar. Tours of Middle Georgia colleges will also be held. The Teen Center is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. Monday through Friday, and will be closed Friday, July 3. Located at 116 Wallace Drive, for more information you may call 929-6967.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia Heartlands

Located in Byron, Fort Valley and Roberta, the clubs are offering a program filled with recreational activities, pottery classes in conjunction with Fort Valley State University and more. This Friday, a simulator from the Museum of Aviation will be on site at all three clubs. Camp is from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for eight weeks, with costs to cover breakfast and lunch each day. In Byron, the club is located at 200 Mosely Road.

For information about fees, call 956-1395. In Fort Valley, the club is located at 500 Riley Ave. For information, call 825-1800.

The Georgia Children’s Museum, Macon

Ÿ Summer Enrichment Program 2009, June 22-26 and July 6-10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Children entering first through sixth grades are welcome. “Our Perfect Planet” will have children celebrate the world through arts and crafts, music, dance, acting, sports and more. Cost is $175 per child for museum members, $200 per child for non-museum members.

To learn more, call 755-9539 or e-mail shudson@georgiachildrensmuseum.com.

Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon

The Museum of Arts and S, located at 4182 Forsyth Road, in north Macon, will host “Reptile Rendezvous” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 20. The event is free with museum admission. There will be reptile shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with Jason clark.

“Bug Day” will be July 18 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free with museum admission. Jeff Burne from Macon State College and the University of Georgia entomology department will showcase their extensive collection of insects from across the globe!

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and military, $5 for students, $5 for ages 12-17, and $4 for ages 2-11.

To learn more about the museum, visit www.masmacon.com or call 477-3232.

All sessions are closed at the Warner Robins Recreation Department. Waiting lists are also no longer available.

To contact writer Jenny Gordon, call 923-3109, extension 240.