Thinking Ahead: Summer Activities

The hard thing about a blog is when you start writing, you truly have to keep writing...even when you run out of words or other things vie for your attention. Or at least...that is what I thought.

I do love to write about really fun things to do in our area but there are just other things that need my attention... plain and simple...and at the end of the day...it's just a silly 'ol blog anyway, right? And with the miracle of the internet and word-of-mouth communication with Cypress Ladies..there are a bazillion ways to get information.

But...I didn't want to leave you hanging on summer activities.

I won't be creating the normal posts this year but I am going to link to last year's posts and all you'll have to do is visit that site and look for this year's info. And I am also going to include links to where I have gotten my info in the past so you can find awesome summer camps that might be brand new.

Spring Break Camps

Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Sports Camps

Outdoor Camps

Indoor Camps

Summer Fun 2011 (includes all camp posts from last year)

Great resources for Community Fun

*Community Impact Newspaper

*CyFair Magazine

*CyFair Magazine Events Page

*CyFair Magazine Camps Page (this is childcare as well, camps post in the Spring)

*Living Magazine

*Summer Day Camps.com

And as always....if you have ideas, leave a comment or shoot me an email and I can add it to the post.

SoccerTots & SoccerTouch Now in Houston

Sports activities are an integral part of every child's physical and social development. And let's just be honest...anything activity based just flat gets the energy out of those little guys.

SoccerTots and Soccer Touch are now in the Houston area!

SoccerTots® franchised program is a child development program for kids ages 18 months to 6 years old. It uses a variety of fun games to delight and engage kids in physical activity. The curriculum is professionally designed to develop motor skills, promote physical fitness, and create self-confidence. Learn more about classes.

SoccerTouch® franchised program is a child development program focused on kids ages 6 to 10 years old. It uses a variety of skills-based games combined with small-sided soccer games in a weekly class format. The curriculum is professionally designed to develop soccer skills in an environment of fun with little emphasis put on competition. Emphasis is put on individual skill development. Learn more about classes.

SoccerTouch® Summer Camps develop motor skills and fitness for kids ages 4 to 10 years old by doing fun activities to enhance your child's soccer and athletic abilities! Learn more about camp dates and locations.

Classes are held at:

The Woodlands

Spring/Klein

Cy-Fair

West Houston-Katy

And you can never get rained out because it's inside! Bonus!

Snapfish Photo Adventure

It's August... summer camps, activities and vacations are winding down and you feel like you just might be the poster child for Sunsweet prunes if you don't cut back on the pool time.

Soon.

Very soon.



Help is here.

Snapfish Photo Adventure

Snapfish has partnered with Leap Frog to bring you and your kids a fun photo adventure everyone will enjoy. It's easy to get started, just choose one of their four adventure themes (beach, fun around the house, camping or theme parks & fairs) and let your kids get snapping.

And it's easy to win prizes! Complete all 7 challenges per theme and get 50% off any size collage poster. Finish four themes and get a FREE 5" x 7" photo book!

The fun only lasts until August 31 so get started today. This photo op could be in your future!

Melvin Adams Basketball Camp

THE Summer Camp you’ve been waiting for!

****Limited Space Available****

Melvin Adams Basketball Camp!
Former Harlem Globetrotter and San Antonio Spur

August 3-7, 2009 ◦ 9:00AM - 12:00PM

Prince of Peace Catholic Community
19222 State Hwy 249 / Tomball Parkway
‘Open to all’

Sign-up TODAY! Camp fills up…FAST!
Your child will never forget their camp experience with Melvin!

REGISTER with Peggi at 281.859.8810 ◦ merkey@sbcglobal.net

Boys and Girls ages 6-13 ◦ $125.00 per child for the week


Former Harlem Globetrotter and NBA San Antonio Spur Melvin Adams has worked with over 4 million youth at school assemblies, camps and other events. He is also a two-time NCAA All-American. Melvin is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the fastest dribbler and has also been on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Melvin will be at the camp personally teaching BOYS and GIRLS the great skills he had to learn from being only 5’8” tall and playing on these great teams!

The GREATEST CAMP of the SUMMER!


“Changing the world one child at a time”

Watercolor Family Fun Day

The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, located at Cypresswood and Stuebner Airline, is the only fine arts museum outside of the Houston Museum District. In a three-year partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Pearl will bring a series of exhibitions from the MFAH permanent collection and affiliated institutions to Northwest Harris County.

They are hosting many summer activities and one is this Saturday!

WATERCOLOR FAMILY DAY

Saturday, July 11, 2009

10:00am-5:00pm

Art Projects. Watercolor Experiments. All materials are provided.

Drop-In Sketching in the Galleries. Sketch pads and pencils provided.

Docent-guided tours of the current exhibitions

Want to stay in the loop? Click here to sign up for their newsletter.

Tennis, Anyone?

I don't know about you, but I think an INDOOR tennis camp deserves a post all it's own!

Check out King Daddy Sports Summer Tennis Camps.

We might just survive August after all.

Comedy Sports Summer Kidz Camp

They've been providing improvisational comedy to Houston for over 18 years. During the summer Comedy Sportz offers kids and teens the chance to explore their imaginations right along with us!

At ComedySportz, participants will laugh, have fun and learn some of the games played in our improv performances. They'll also focus on confidence, commitment, listening skills, working with others, acceptance, and being creative.

Each camp is a one-week session, running Monday through Friday, 1pm - 4pm. All camp sessions are held at the ComedySportz Arena and are run by a seasoned professional member of ComedySportz-HOUSTON. Each session also culminates with a Friday evening performance for family and friends at 5:00pm. Cost is $150 per session, per child.

Ages	Session Dates	Performance
8-12	June 15 - 19, 2009	June 19, 2009 - 5pm
	July 13 - 17, 2009	July 17, 2009 - 5pm
13-17	June 22 - 26, 2009	June 26, 2009 - 5pm
	July 20 - 24, 2009	July 24, 2009 - 5pm

Space is limited, so call us today at 713-868-1444 to register.

Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program

As I lover of books, I have to say Half Price Books is such a wonderland of treasures. They might pay beans for books, but sometimes you find exactly what you are looking for, for under $5.

They are having a summer reading program called Feed Your Brain. The program is from June 1st- July 31st. Kids 12 and under can earn a $3 Half Price Books Shopping Card for each week they read at least 15 minutes per a day. Do that math, people, that's a potential of $24 smackers!

Find a store near you and get started!

Pine Cove Day Camp

Summer is all about new adventure and trying new things....but is your kiddo (or maybe you) not quite ready for the over-night camp thing?

Then Pine Cove Day Camp might just be what you are looking for.

Day Camp Down Under is crazy fun for 2nd-6th graders living in the Houston and Columbus areas. This program is great for those little ones that are not yet ready for overnight camp or for those whose schedule doesn't allow it.

There is no need to worry about lunch…we’ve got it covered with a delicious meal, loud cheers, and crazy skit characters that could show up at any moment.

Also, the wheels on our bus go round and round as we pick up campers each morning at 8:30 am, at Katy High School, 6331 Highway Blvd in Katy. Campers will be returned to the high school at 4:30 pm. Proper identification to pick up your child will be provided by Pine Cove. Or feel free to drop your child off at Pine Cove directly!

And just so that mom and dad don’t miss out on the fun, we offer a special closing ceremony on Friday so that you can see everything your child has learned that week.

Through exciting activities, teaching, and singing, our desire is to share the message of Christ’s love with your child. We know you’ll agree, Day Camp Down Under is awesome!

Dates and Pricing can be found here.

Give them a shout and see if there is a special spot reserved for your kiddo!

Apple Summer Computer Classes for kids ages 8-12

This could be the best summer yet!

This summer, your kid could make a movie, create a photo slideshow, write and record a song, put on a show for everyone, and have a blast doing it all. At Apple Camp, kids learn how to do cool stuff on a Mac and discover their hidden talents along the way. Apple Camp occurs at every Apple Retail Store, and each free workshop lasts three hours. Sign up your kiddo today and get ready for an adventure.

Movie Workshop: Lights. Camera. Action.

Kids take the director’s chair in the Movie Workshop, where they learn how to make a movie in the time it takes to watch one. From importing and cropping video clips to adding cool special effects and transitions, kids go home as up-and-coming filmmakers with a DVD of the movie they’ve just made.

What to Bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, a digital camcorder, or existing footage, feel free to bring them, along with any required cables.

Music Workshop: Ready to rock?

Kids become instant rock stars in the Music Workshop. With GarageBand and a MIDI keyboard, they get to play bass, electric guitar, drums, and sing their own lyrics — even learn how to play a real instrument. Kids will also explore iTunes and see how to sync an iPod. And they’ll burn their latest hit to a CD so they can share it with adoring fans at home.

What to bring: Have your kid bring a few favorite CDs or an iPod or MP3 player to work with. Sample CDs will also be available for demonstration purposes.

Photo Workshop: Point. Shoot. Share.

The iPhoto Workshop will show kids the basics of digital photography — and then some. They’ll learn how to import photos from a digital camera and make them look even better. Organize photos by who’s in them and where they were taken. Create slideshows with music and cool photo effects. And even build their own photo web page using iWeb to show them off to the world.

What to bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, a digital camera, or favorite photos, feel free to bring them, along with any required cables.

Presentation Workshop: Take the stage.

Kids are the stars in the Presentation Workshop. First, they’ll create a super-slick slideshow with movies, music, photos, and charts and graphs. Then, they’ll learn how to present it all to a captivated audience. By the time this workshop is over, they’ll go home with a multi-media presentation in hand and lots of tips to wow family, friends, and everyone at school.

What to bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, favorite photos, videos, or music, feel free to bring them along, with any required cables.

The Latest and Greatest

Updated 5/27/09

5 days and counting...

Here's a few additions:

*CyWoods Crimson Cadettes 4th Annual Dance Clinic
August 12th-14th
8:30-11:30 am

*CyCreek Silverados Silvie Dance Clinic
August 11th- 13th
8:30-11:30
Hamilton Middle School

*Dance Central's Summer Dance Camp

*Chrysalis Summer Day Camp
9 weeks of Action-Packed Fun
June 8th - August 7th
email for more information info@chrysalischildren.org

*Cypress United Methodist Son Powered Summer: Field Trips, Fitness Camp and Science Camp

*Applause Musical Theatre Summer Camps

*Free Hockey Clinic by Houston Wild Hockey Club

*Champion Youth Outreach: Karate, Cheerleading, Soccer and Hip Hop

*Summer Tennis and Day Camp : Cypress Tennis Academy is hosting its THIRD Summer Tennis and Day Camp at Lakewood Residents' Club. The camp is open to kids entering grades 1-6. Campers will not only receive tennis instruction from a certified USPTA professional, but will also learn additional sports and skills as well (fishing,swimming,arts and crafts, etc...)

*Time Flies Clubhouse: Summer Camps featuring Music and Movement for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Located in Coles Crossing

*Precious Dancers Dance Camp

*After School Education Summer Enrichment Camps; Math facts, reading enrichment and Spanish

Summer Camps Updated

13 days until summer...do you have a game plan?

A few additions have been made the the summer camp posts. Check them out! If you are a lover of horses, science, or volleyball (2 choices)....you're in luck!

Know of a camp I've missed? Please leave a comment or email me at intheknownorthwest@gmail.com. There is still serious fun to be had this summer!

Outside The Box

When it comes to Summer '09, your head might be spinning at all the choices for camps and activities.

I'm updating the choices weekly, but here are 3 new additions I'd like to highlight that are unique ideas that may not have crossed your path.

St. Aidan's Lutheran Fast Forward Summer Camps

Lakewood Methodist Sizzlin' Summer Camps

Foundry Methodist Dive In '09

Do you know of Summer Fun that I have missed? Please leave a comment and I'll update the list. Thanks!

Lone Star College Summer Camps

Lone Star College Kids on Campus courses are now online! Visit their website to view classes and mark your calendars because registration for the CyFair classes in THIS SATURDAY the 18th, from 8:30-2:30, in person. These classes fill quickly. It might be a little nutty, so bring some extra patience and grace. Deal?

**I received a flyer in the mail for Lone Star College Tomball and registration is shown as the 25th. This flyer is for the Willow Chase and Tomball locations. Their registrations are a week later. Tomball is from 8-12 on the 25th and Willow Chase is from 1-5 on the 25th.

Need more camp information? Here's some ideas that might catch your interest.

Know of a camp not listed? Send 'em my way by commenting or email me at intheknownorthwest@gmail.com and I'll update the list. Thanks!

The Rest of the Story...as far as Camps Go

******Updated 6/26/09


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

*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.

*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

*Kidventure: 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.

*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.).

*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.

*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

Lots of Themes, One Location

***Updated 5/15/09


Often churches/organizations will offer camp several weeks in the summer but have different themes each time. Check out these great choices below.

Arts of Glaze Summer Camps

Bear Creek Methodist Church
*too many to list-those south of 290 check this out!

Cornerstone Methodist Church
*2yrs- completed 4th graders. They have a week long camp in June, July, and Aug. Taught by the preschool teachers with super fun themes. Cornerstone is located in Copperfield.

*Cypress Christian School: from Tech Science to arts to sports. Camps in June and July

*Foundry UMC Dive In! Summer 2009

Jersey Village Baptist Summer Camps
6/8-6/12: Preschool Outer Space Camp
7/6-7/10: Sports Skills Camp
7/20-7/24: Summer Musical Activities Camp
8/3-8/7: Be a Bookworm Preschool Camp
****Registration Opens 3/30/09....these fill quickly

Houston Family YMCA
Creating summer fun the longest- gotta love the good 'ol Y

Houston Museum of Natural Science Summer Xplorations (2 locations, Main and Woodlands)v

John Wesley S.A.C.K. 2009
*Summer Adventures for Curious Kids (SACK) is designed for children 18 months old through 5 years (as of September 1, 2008). Registration was Friday, March 27, at 9:30 a.m. for church members and 11:00 a.m. for non-members. Contact church to see if spots are still available.

*KIDConnect: Swim Lessons, Summer Camp and Tennis Camp at The Met

Lakewood Methodist Church
*2009 brochure can be found here

Lone Star College. Registration is Saturday, April 18th...in person. Super Yikes. Those classes fill crazy fast.

St. Aidan's Fast Forward Kids Summer Camps

Wee Wuns at Cypress Methodist Church
*Summer camp that runs MWF for 2 weeks from July 13-24 and is available for ages 14 mos.- current 2nd graders. Contact the Wee Wuns office at Cypress United Methodist Church for more information.

Winwood Presbyterian Summer Ministries Camps
*Check site for camp information and registration



Know of any multi-themed-one-location ideas? Please share! intheknownorthwest@gmail.com

Sports Camps

**updated 7/1/09

I feel as if I need to apologize for two things.

#1-The sports camps getting all the love before many other camps
#2- The sports camps list being dominated by baseball camps

What can I say? Go with what you know.


*Advantage Baseball Camp

*Champion Forest Baptist Sports Camps, brought to you by Triumph Sports.

*Cypress Academy of Gymnastics offers Parent's Day Out each Thursday in June, July and August

*CyFair Baseball Camp (not listed yet, but watch for camps that will be held the first 2 weeks of
June)

*Cypress Infield Academy

*Jersey Village Baptist Sports Skills Camp: July 6-10

*Huber Tennis Ranch (camps not listed yet, keep a look out for them soon)

*Christi Borne Tennis Camp at The Met

*Cypress Lakes Golf Camp

*Matt Bullard Basketball Camp

*Longwood Golf Camp

*Blackhorse Ranch also offers a golf camp, but nothing mentioned on their site yet.

*Miracles Baseball Camp

*K.I.D.S Camp Soccer Camp

*Sports Prep USA

*Sports Quest Soccer Camps (lots of locations)

*Sports With A Twist

*Texas Tornadoes Volleyball

*Velocity Sports Nike Summer Perfomance Camps

*The Good 'Ol YMCA offers a multitude of summer programs for members and non-members. Stop by for a schedule. My boys enjoyed the Sports Camp last summer (indoor gymnastics-feel to it)

Although this is a pretty good start to run off some of that summer energy, basketball got absolutely no love in the camp department.

Please share your summer camp information! intheknownorthwest@gmail.com

Vacation Bible School

Have you ever been to Australia? Outer Space? Camping in a Fun New Place? Down on the Bayou?

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 5/19/09

Houston's First Baptist Church: June 8-12

John Wesley UMC: June 8-12

Cypress Methodist: June 15-19

Cypress Point Baptist Church: June 15-19

Foundry UMC : June 15-19

St. Mary's Episcopal: June 15-19

Trinity Vineyard Church: June 15-19

Champion Forest Baptist Church: June 16-20 (they are breaking into different ages groups this year over different days. Be sure and give them a shout for details)

Cypress Bible Church: June 22-26

Faithbridge UMC: June 22-26

Good Shepherd UMC Fairfield: June 22-26

Houston Northwest Baptist: June 22-26

Jersey Village Baptist: June 22-26

St. John's Luthern: June 22-26

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church: June 22-26th
Session 1: 9:30-12:30 and Session 2: 5:30-8:30

Lakewood Methodist UMC: June 29- July 2

The Met: Jones Road Campus: July 13-17

The Met: Fry Road Campus: July 13-17

Prince of Peace Catholic Church: July 13-17

St. Aidan's Episcopal Church: July 27-31

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

Princess With A Purpose/Warrior Prince Academy

Building character in our kiddos and helping them discover who they truly are is a huge task!

Would you like a little help in that area this summer?

Princess with a Purpose Ministries is offering 'Princess Prep School' and 'Warrior Prince Academy' at 5 different locations all over Houston. These courses teach teach boys and girls, ages 4 through entering 3rd grade, what it means to be daughters and sons of the King.

Princess Prep School 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 is a 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.

Locations, times and pricing can be found here.

Thank you, Kelly, for your heart for kids to know who they truly are so they can live out their purposes God planned for their lives. Many a jewel in your crown, Sister.

PS- Do you have girls ages 8-12? Check out Secret Keeper Girl. This site is about all about 'modest' being 'hottest'. They'll be in Beaumont 1st and then College Station May 2nd. Road trip!

Also, Precious Dancers Academy is worth a look!

Christian Youth Theater

Do you have drama around your house?

Channel it for good!

Christian Youth Theater is offering 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!

Online registration is now open and the best part? They are offering camp at SEVEN different locations!

Their week-long summer camps run from 9 am- 3 pm for 8-18 year-olds and 9 am-12 for 6-7 year-olds. A showcase on Friday evening is a fun culmination their week at theater camp. (The 6-7 year-olds stay until 3 on Friday to practice for the showcase.)

Cost:

Ages 8-18, 9 am – 3 pm, $145
Ages 6-7, 9 am – noon, Mon-Thurs, 9-3 on Friday, $100

There is a $15 early registration discount for registration postmarked at least one month before the camp starts. There is a $25 processing fee for refunds before early registration ends, and no refunds are given after early registration ends. There is a $10 sibling discount, and a $10 discount for students attending more than one camp.