Free Goodies on Tax Day!

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza -- ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese -- at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. (Gonna have to go to Aggieland for this one, ladies)

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

-- DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

Family Camping Workshops

Camping in Texas can be a great family activity but can be a be a bit intimidating if you have never planned a trip or gone camping before.

The Texas Outdoor Family Program offers families the opportunity to learn the basics of camping through weekend workshops around Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

These workshops are hosted at state parks and at various partner sites (such as city and county parks) where your family receives hands-on experience learning basic outdoor skills. You will learn everything you need to create great memories enjoying the outdoors with your family, including:

* How to set up and break down camp (including your tent)
* Fire starting
* Outdoor cooking
* Guided walks
* Nature activities
* How to use a GPS
* Geocaching
* Introductions to a wide range of outdoor activities (such as fishing, kayaking, wildlife watching) depending on the site location, facilities and the season of the year

Best of all, no experience is necessary and you get all the help and advice you need from highly skilled outdoor specialists and trained volunteers!

Take a look at their calendar and pick a workshop that works for you!

Sleeping Beauty at the Berry Center

The Houston Repertoire Ballet will be performing Sleeping Beaty and Other Tales Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 at the Berry Center.

HRB's studio is on Jackrabbit Road just off of Highway 6 and consists of local area ballerinas. In addition, Houston Ballet principal dancers Sara Webb and Connor Walsh will perform as Princess Aurora and Prince Florimond in the timeless tale of Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora’s Wedding. HRB is the organization that performed Cinderella last spring at the Berry Center and they also perform the Nutcracker annually in Tomball.

Here is the link to the performance page and to purchase tickets.

Hugs for Layla Grace Fundraiser

Hugs for Layla Grace

Come join us as we raise money for Layla Grace’s family and
help find a cure for Stage IV Neuroblastoma!

Where: Legacy Learning Center
12300 Queenston Houston, TX 77095

When: April 10, 2010 - 10 am. to 12 pm

Nothing gives a child comfort like that of a hug of a favorite stuffed animal. Join us as we stuff animals in honor of precious Layla Grace. Animals will range from $20 to $25. You can stuff an animal for your own children or stuff one and donate it to be given to the patients at Texas Children’s Hospital. All profits will be given to Layla’s family to help with their medical expenses and to further the research for a cure for Stage IV Neuroblastoma.
So, invite your family, friends, neighbors and come join the fun and we honor Layla’s legacy. 100% of the profits will go to the Marsh Family. Lots of fun activities for the kids!!!

This fundraiser has been approved by the Marsh Family.

Call Leigh Ann at 281-970-2404 with any questions
or email at ldyer4@hotmail.com

Path To The Cross 2010

You and your family are invited to an interactive Easter drama depicting Jesus' life as He journeyed through Jerusalem in His final days. Scenes included are Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the garden of Gethsemane, Herod's trial, and the crucifixion.

In its 4th year, this precious church desires for The Path to the Cross to reach across faiths in the worship of Christ. Take the time to be a part of this amazing opportunity. Such a tremendous effort with everlasting benefits.

The ultimate sacrifice.

The Easter story.

The greatest story ever told.

The Path to the Cross.

Wednesday – Friday, March 31st-April 2nd

Jersey Village Baptist Church

Outdoor walks start every 10 minutes

between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Jersey Village Baptist Church

16518 Jersey Drive, Houston, TX 77040

713.466.6102

www.jvbc.org

VBS 2010

Have you ever been sailed the high seas? Experienced a trail ride while relaxing on the ranch? Traveled to a galaxy far, far away?

What better way to travel than through Vacation Bible School? Pack your bags.... Adventure ahead!

We love us some VBS! Pick a week that works for you (or 2! They often have different themes at different churches)

****Updated 6/7/10
**some churches are still updating their sites. If my information is wonky, let me know. Thanks!

John Wesley UMC: June 7-11

Foundry UMC : June 14-18

St. Mary's Episcopal: June 14-18

Champion Forest Baptist Church: June 14-18 (they are breaking into different ages groups this year over different days. Be sure and give them a shout for details)

Faithbridge UMC: June 14-18

Good Shepherd UMC Fairfield: June 14-18

Jersey Village Baptist: June 14-18

Salem Lutheran Church: June 14-18

St. Mary's Episcopal Church: June 14-18

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church: June 21-25th
Session 1: 9:30-12:30 and Session 2: 5:30-8:30

Houston Northwest Baptist: June 21-24

Trinity Vineyard Church: June 21-24 (6:30-8:30 pm)

West Houston Church of Christ: June 21-25

Cypress Methodist: June 28-July 2

Houston's First Baptist Church: June 28-July 2

Lakewood Methodist UMC: June 28- July 1

Prince of Peace Catholic Church: July 12-16

The Met: Jones Road Campus: July 19-23

The Met: Fry Road Campus: July 19-23

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church: July 26-30

Do you know of more VBS fun in the Northwest Houston area? Please share! intheknownorthwest@gmail.com

But Wait, There's More.... Summer 2010

******Updated 5-5-10
***Some links have 2009 information..Hang tight. The sites are updating daily with 2010 info.

Alrighty...roll out the red carpet for additional summer camps!

*After School Enrichment Facilitators

*All About Music

*Apple Summer Computer camps :
Nothing beats Apple Camp when it comes to a fun summer activity for your kids. In free workshops at the Apple Store, kids learn how to do cool stuff on a Mac using iLife and iWork applications. They’ll make a movie, compose a song, create a photobook, and learn how to present everything to an audience. When Camp is over, they’ll bring the projects they made home on a DVD, along with skills and ideas to create even more. All workshops are recommended for ages 8 to 12.

*Artisan Ballet Company Summer Intensive

*Arthur Murray Dance Studio

* Camp Cook- A Slice of Summer Big Adventures in Cooking : A hands-on cooking adventure for little chefs. Through the process of cooking, kids hone their skills in reading, math, and science. In addition to educational skills, kids learn to be organized, how to complete tasks, all while building social skills, self esteem, and the important character trait of patience.

*Camp Invention: Camp Invention is a non-profit program of the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame that inspires creativity and inventive thinking through hands-on activities that are fun and also integrate science, mathematics, history, and the arts in an exciting environment conducive to learning. Weeklong day camps for students entering grades 1-6 are held at area schools and churches. Here is a snapshot of their locations. Most camps are 9 am to 3:30 pm, but the camps at Pump It Up, which is the Cy-Fair location off of Sam Houston Tollway at Fallbrook, include two hours of after camp care and free play on the Pump It Up inflatables, until 5:30 -fun for all kids and particularly good for working parents.

*Christian Youth Theater: summer day camps that combine singing, dancing, and acting with lots of fun games, including a wild and wacky water day. Everyone at camp participates in the showcase and all campers receive a camp t-shirt. You know kids dig t-shirts!

*CyFair Music and Arts: KinderMusik, Guitar, Piano, Art and Drama camps

*Cypress Dance: Ballroom, Latin, Line Dancing, Salsa, Swing, Hip Hop, Zumba, Ballet

*Drama Kids Camp: Unique combination of fun, creativity and entertaining theater and speech activities such as large group improv, silent scenes, dialogue development, scene starters and theater games. Four locations:Copperfield, Fairfield, Cypress and Spring. Early Bird Savings......$20 off when you enroll by May 1st and use Code: Flyer20

*Dinosaurs Rock: Campers participate in a highly interactive presentation by DINOSAURS ROCK experts. Hands-on activities include a fossil dig, fossil excavation and/or crystal-filled Geode opening. Campers also get to "see & touch", up-close an extensive 50+ piece exhibit including genuine Dinosaur Eggs, Meteorites, Dinosaur Teeth, Dinosaur Claws, Dinosaur Footprints, Amber and many other fossils that range from 2-Million to over 500 Million years old right at your camp. 2008 Camp information currently posted...keep checking back for 2009 info

*Grand Oaks Farms Horse Camp

*Houston Family Arts Center Drama Camps

*K2 Academy
**Mention Bunny Hop ad and receive $25 off summer camp. Expires 4-30-10

*Kidventure: *New location in Coles Crossing!! Summer day camps provide Houston families with the opportunity to experience the adventure and opportunities of Kidventure Camp in a variety of camp locations that are convenient. Each campsite provides outstanding amenities for a safe and rich curriculum.

*Mad Science: Their mission is to spark the imagination & curiosity of children. They provide fun, interactive & educational activities that instill a clear understanding of science & how it affects the world around them. Mad Science camps are hands-on, have daily take homes, include daily snack-tivities & supervised play breaks, offer many different themed weeks and are not to be missed! Over 30 locations in the greater Houston area.

*Mathnaseium Jump Start for School

*Mark Kistler's Art Camp

*The Artist Within Summer Art Camp

*Nature Trekkers: Join Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Naturalist teachers for fun-filled week long camps that explore the natural world through active hands-on indoor and outdoor adventures at our 155 acre sanctuary. Children are taught in classes by age (5 & 6 yrs., 7 & 8 yrs., and 9-12 yrs.).

*Pine Cove Base Camp at Salem Lutheran Church: July 19th-23rd (1st-5th grade)

*Posh Cookie Baking Camp: intro to baking and decorating in July and more advanced
decorating in August for 3rd-6th graders

*Precious Dancers Academy: a special and whimsical event where your princess learns she is truly royal because Christ is King (1 Peter 2:9). We will have a giggly girly time learning through Princess Fun Dance, Protocol Etiquette, Regal Crafts, Courtly Games and Castle Story Time. The week will culminate with a special Finale Day where the Princesses come in Princess Attire, we have a Royal Dinner and also conduct a Regal Procession for parents, siblings and friends to attend.

*Princess With A Purpose
teaches the true meaning of “princess” through puppet shows, live princess performances, hands-on lessons, crafts, music, sign language, Biblical truths, and manners to help them discover their royal purpose in Christ.

*Warrior Prince Academy
Warrior Prince Academy is biblical warrior training program for young boys. Throughout the event, the boys learn leadership development, chivalry, and scriptural truths of who they are in Christ Jesus.


*Robotics Camp: Katy Texas, Working in teams, students learn how to design remote and computer controlled robots. Students work with all the mechanical and technical LEGO building materials, including specialized pieces such as axles, gears, beams, wheels, motors, pulleys, microcomputers, and pneumatics enabling them to safely design robots to do the things they want it to do. They decide and build, as a team, the best design of their robot for the end of class competition. We focus on team building, problem solving, creativity and fun.

*Science Adventures: Champions Science Adventures^TM engages your child in exciting and educational hands-on science programs. The day camp format allows your child to participate in involved, multi-day projects such as constructing robots, building and launching model rockets, and engineering an electric race car!

*UH College of Technology Discovery Camp

*CyLakes Science Summer Camp: for kiddos 10-14 years old

Free Summer History Camp At Bayou Bend: Bayou Bend's Summer History Camp is a unique, interactive history camp that gives students a fun, educational opportunity to learn about life in 18th-century America. Geared toward students entering 5th grade

And finally....a few more to wrap up:

Houston Family Magazine Summer Camp Directory provides additional camps around or near the Greater Houston area

Know of more summer camps? Please share at intheknownorthwest@gmail.com