Yes, I realize that school is still in session until Friday…but Monday, June 11 will be hot on the heels of that final day of school. Sooner or later, kids tire of the novelty of not getting to ride the school bus every morning and they–if not the adults in their lives–will be looking for something to do.
Want to know how not to hear the mournful refrain, “There’s nothing around here to do!”? Hastings Community Ed has multiple ways to pre-empt the complaint! Because there are so many options, I paged through our Summer Activities booklet (available throughout the community and at our office, Tilden Community Center, 310 River Street, www.hastingscommunityed.com) and picked out a few to highlight.
Falling into the Lifelong Learning category is Little Linksters Golf Lessons beginning on Monday, June 11, for children ages 5-8 and 9-12. Held at Bellwood Oaks Golf Course, this class is taught by LPGA Teaching Pro Letitia Zilar. $35 for three consecutive Mondays, times vary. My golf game is so bad, I should probably take this class but would be embarrased when the kids out-putt me.
Keeping it local is Life With the LeDucs for 10-14 year olds. You’ve driven past the historic mansion on Vermillion with your kids–now find out what life was like growing up in Hastings without electricity and running water! June 19-21, 8 am-noon, $75. The description had me with, “Dress in period costumes.” How fun is THAT!
I’m torn between two different film/movie making classes because, yes, I am both a Harry Potter and Star Wars geek. (I dressed my now adult son as an Ewok for Halloween one year. It was a great costume.) Fortunately Hogwarts Film School (entering gr. K-4) and Star Wars Jedi Movie Making (entering gr. 3-8) are held on two different weeks. You can visit Hogwarts on Monday-Thursday, July 16-19–or Tilden Community Center, where the class is held–for a 4 session class on digital film making, 9-11:30 a.m., $115. Then the next week, become a Jedi and work on a stop action Legos Star Wars digital movie. Star Wars and Legos? Whoa! July 23-26, Tilden Community Center, 9-11:30 a.m., $115. Please, please, please tell your children in this class to invite me to their film screenings!
Skyhawks camps are amazing! I have been particularly impressed with their staff and ability to keep kids active and engaged the entire day at camp. This year, Hastings Community Education has teamed with Skyhawks for a number of different camps, including Volleyball Camp, ages 6-12, July 23-26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mc Auliffe, $125 (I played collegiate volleyball WAY BACK when anyone could make the team). Check out the great selection for kids as young as 3 1/2 on our website, www.hastingscommunityed.com, or page 43 of the Spring-Summer catalog.
August can get l-o-n-g so I think it’s a great time to pack up your kids and ship them off for the day on one of our fabulous Field Trips. On Friday, August 3rd, let them bounce off the walls at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. Leave Hastings HS at 10:45 a.m., return at 2:30 p.m., bring a lunch, $25.
Have you ever driven across the Mendota Bridge where Highway 55 dumps into Highway 62, seen what appears to be a large teepee and wondered, “What the heck is that?” It’s Boy Scout Base Camp, and if your child is in 5th-8th grade, they can climb that teepee! Archery is included in this trip on Tuesday, August 7, leave Hastings HS at 9:30 a.m., return 3:45 p.m., $32.
The following is my Five Star Recommendation of the Summer: Circus Juventus on Wednesday, August 15. It’s where Cirque du Soleil performers get their start–well, not exactly but the skills demonstrated by these young artists will have your children talking about them for days afterward.
Wednesday, August 15, depart Hastings HS at 11 a.m., return 3:30 p.m., $25 and if I can score a ticket, you’ll see me on the bus.
Kids, sunshine, water–the perfect summer combination comes together in this field trip to Cascade Bay Water Park on Friday, August 17, leave Hastings HS at 11:15 a.m., return 4 p.m., $23.
And don’t forget that the Playgrounds in the Summer, a free program, begins on Monday, June 18. Check our website for which Hastings Parks this program is visiting.
So there you go, and believe me, there is something every weekday of the summer for your children through Hastings Community Education! We are so looking forward to providing great experiences all through this peach of a season.
Mary…excellent and valuable information/opportunities…recommend Skyhawks as an excellent learning experience