Summer camp … summer fun!

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Tempe Kid Zone offers educational and entertaining field trips throughout its summer sessions. The student pictured above is enjoying a visit to the Butterfly Pavillion. (Wrangler News photo by Alex J. Walker)

 

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Families looking for fun and wholesome diversions for their kids during summer break have a wide variety of options to choose from this year.

From engaging academic enrichment programs to gymnastics and vacation Bible camps, Wrangler News provides an overview of what’s in store for young people after that long-awaited last day of school.

Tempe Kid Zone

Kid Zone programs, run by the city of Tempe, are available 6:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. for two, three or five days a week. The K-8th programs are held at Fuller, Hudson, Mariposa and Ninos. The sports programs, for students who have completed grades 2-5, are available at Ward. The middle school camp, known as “MKZ,” is being held at Fuller. Summer registrations are processed online and permission slips for field trips are mailed out following registration. There’s also a Kid Zone preschool being held May 23-June 29 at Getz Preschool, 625 W. Cornell. The kindergarten readiness program is aimed at children ages 3-5 and focuses on language, literacy, math, science, social studies, physical development, health, fine arts and social and emotional skills. The Kid Zone office is located at 3340 S. Rural Rd. Information: kidzone@tempe.gov

Arizona Community ChurchThe South-Tempe church offers fun-filled Thursdays for children as well as a unique vacation Bible school. Highlights of ACC’s summer program include:

$3 Thursdays — A.M. Session: June 9, 23, July 7 and 21 (every other Thursday): 9-11 a.m. for 4 years old and younger. Crafts, games and fun with friends. $3 per session, fourth one is free.

P.M. Session: June 9-July 28 (every Thursday): 6-7:30 p.m. for 5-11 years old.

Thematic lessons and fun activity. Connect to God and friends through lots of fun. $3 per session, fourth one is free.

Mobile VBSArizona Community church and the kids of ACC are taking the VBS to the neighborhood park in June, putting on the Armor of God and sharing the love of Jesus with the community.

Open to kids who are potty-trained up to 11 years old, the group meets 8-10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, at Sunset Park (next to the Sunset branch library), 4700 W. Ray Road, Chandler.

Information: 480-491-2210 or azcc.org

Kyrene School DistrictKyrene Kids Club offers early learners as well as school-age programs open to kids age 3 through incoming eighth-graders. Preschool kids have classes such as Fairy Tale Fun and Tinkering for Tots while incoming kindergarteners will have an opportunity to prepare for their new school experiences. Elementary students can choose from intramurals, marimba percussion, junior coders and a course dubbed Kids Dig Archeology. Middle schoolers have their own lineup, including baseball, mech-animation, coding and fantasy baseball stats. Kyrene is also offering a summer community theater experience for incoming fourth- through ninth-graders and after-hours care.

Information: kyrene.org or 480-783-4000

Tempe Elementary Enrichment—The summer enrichment program is for students grades K-9 and takes place at Rover Elementary, 1300 E. Watson Drive and Fees College Preparatory Middle School, 1600 E. Watson Drive, Tempe. Classes begin May 31 and run through June 23.

Highlights include:

Ocean Adventure: students explore the web of life that thrives below the sea with hands-on learning that uses reading, writing and math skills. Kids in grades 1-2 can take part in Readers Theater and Plays where they’ll read “scripts” and use props and puppets. Middle school students can choose from reading and math jumpstart classes as well as photography, keyboarding, engineering and art. Information: tempeschools.org 480-730-7323

Tempe First Baptist ChurchSharmon Steil of Tempe First Baptist has written her own vacation Bible school program. The former Kyrene de la Mariposa teacher wanted to offer something unique in the community, she said. One of the most popular activities is returning this year at the church’s “Go Big” camp as the kids take part in a live version of Hungry Hippos. Using scooters, ropes and plastic balls, campers assemble in the gym for the action. Other activities include hands-on science and learning how God wants kids to be part of The Big God Story. Information: FBC-Tempe.org or 480-839-0926

Gold Medal Gymnastics — Children ages 3 years and up will have the opportunity to experience a new theme each week of the summer camp at the Tempe location of Gold Medal Gymnastics. From an Aloha Summer Party to Wacky Olympics and Pirates and Princesses Adventures, there are themed activities, crafts, snacks and gymnastics each day. Kids are placed into groups that are appropriate for their skill level and age and may attend half-day or whole-day sessions. Information: GoldMedalGym.com or 480-557-0006.

Chandler YMCA — The Chandler Y is offering 10 weekly camps. For kids entering grades 1-3, there’s the Discovery camp where they’ll engage in arts and crafts, games, sports, songs, swimming and take field trips to places like the Kiwanis wave pool and Pollack Tempe Cinemas. Kids entering grades 4-6 can be part of the Explorers camp, where they build skills and engage in projects, games and sports. Weekly fieldtrips include an Arizona Diamondbacks game and the Jolly Roger Magic Show.

Information: 480-899-9622 or ValleyYMCA.org

 

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