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FAMILY   -   EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT
Kids Summer Activity Guide
June, 2015 - Issue #128
What's your plan for keeping the kids entertained this summer? Oh... you don't have one? Well, we didn't either until we started compiling this fun collection of hot-weather activities and camps. Read on for your go-to guide to Summer in the SCV!

Horseback Riding Lessons for Kids 5 & Up
What they'll learn:
Your rider will grow confident while learning natural horsemanship, vital safety procedures, grooming processes, horse anatomy, their way around equestrian equipment and beginning riding skills like walking, trotting and cantering.

Why it's ultra convenient: Parents will enjoy the indoor viewing room that faces one of London Equestrian's beautiful arenas, where they can relax and observe their child's lesson while taking full advantage of the free wireless service, television and... air conditioning. On-site, well-appointed dressing rooms make it easy to swap out of summery street clothes and into pants and closed-toed shoes.

Why it's extra safe: The entirely-fenced-in property ensures that there are no "wanderers." Plus, the paved parking and entry areas make it ultra easy and comfortable to get where you need to go without dust and walking hazards. Kids always wear helmets while riding, too.

Who you'll meet: Owners (And sisters!) Summer and Bree are the nicest - and most experienced - equestrian instructors you'd ever want to meet. They're dedicated to instilling their love and respect for horses into each of their lucky students.

What it costs: Individual lessons are available in half-hour ($30) and full-hour ($50) sessions.
Where you're going: London Equestrian is located in Castaic.
510-7290

Pottery Painting Camp for Kiddos 5 to 14
What they'll do:
Cure your kiddos of the summer-boredom blues by signing them up for fun-filled pottery classes that will ignite their imagination. Your child will discover bright, creative ways to express themselves through pottery painting, all while making new friends along the way.

When they'll go: Classes at Paint A Dream are scheduled from 10am to 1pm and include a set pottery project, pizza, juice and dessert.

Why parents will love it: You can sign your kiddo up for one class... or all of them! Reservations are required with a deposit necessary for booking. You can get the whole list of classes at www.paintadream.com.

What it costs: The three-hour experience is a steal! For only $30, parents score a nice chunk of time to run errands or relax while their precious kid is entertained and fed. Sign us up!

Where you're going: Paint A Dream is located on The Patios at Westfield Valencia Town Center. 255-1177

courtesy of Shutterstock
courtesy of Shutterstock
Gymnastics Summer Camp
What they'll do:
Wallers' GymJam Academy's summer camp is back - and better than ever! Your kiddo will flip for Wallers' GymJam's professional gymnastics instruction that is combined with awesome activities like arts and crafts, games, field trips and much more.

When they'll go: Two sessions are offered: Lil' Jammers for sweeties 4 to 6 years old and GymJammers for kids ages 6 to 12. Camp dates start on June 22 and run through July 31. Choose partial or all-day sessions and go for one week or all summer!

Where you're going: Wallers' GymJam Academy is centrally located in Santa Clarita. 251-3390

courtesy of Shutterstock
courtesy of Shutterstock
Tennis Camps for Kids
What they'll do:
All levels, from true beginner to ranked tournament player, will hone their skills and have fun at The Paseo Club Summer Tennis Camps, running from June 15 to August 7 on weekdays from 11am to 4pm. The typical day schedule for kids 5 to 8 is two hours of tennis instruction, drills, games and practice, followed by a provided lunch, then swimming, indoor games, arts and crafts. Kids 8 to 18 have a similar schedule, but end their day with 90 more minutes of tennis instruction, games and practice instead of crafts. Your children will learn this great game of tennis and have a wonderful time playing and meeting other children.

How much it costs: You'll spend $55 per day for Paseo Club members and $65 a day for non members; the camp is open to children ages 5 to 18.

Where you're going: The Paseo Club is located in Valencia. 257-0044

courtesy of Shutterstock
courtesy of Shutterstock
Group & Individual Riding Lessons
What they'll do:
Don-e-brook Farms provides top-notch English and western riding lessons, jumping, gymkhana, trail riding, competition, shows and birthday rides for all ages.

Where they'll go: During the summer, the convenient spot just a few-seconds drive up San Francisquito Canyon Road turns into the town's premier Equestrian Day Camp.

When you'll go: Running June 15 through August 7, camp includes formal lessons, trail rides, snacks and crafts from 9am to 12pm, all with professional trainers and fun counselors. Group and individual lessons are also available with reservations. Don-e-brook Farms is just moments away from Copperhill in Valencia. 297-7669

What's Neat!
Santa Clarita Optimist Foundation's "Safety Town" Camp

The Santa Clarita Optimist Foundation will sponsor "Safety Town - Santa Clarita," a five-day, 3 ½ hour per day, safety education and awareness program for TK, Pre-K and Kindergarten-age children in the Santa Clarita Valley. Two camps will be held at North Park Elementary School - July 13 to July 17 and July 20 to 24.

During the camp, through repetitive, interactive instructional play, children will learn and practice essential safety skills they will use in their everyday lives - at home and at school. Safety Town is a miniature city built to the scale of a small child that will be assembled within a secured playground, with traffic light, street and stop signs, striped walkways, crosswalks and streets.

Children learn under the guidance of California-credentialed teachers and youth volunteers how to safely cross the street, how to obey traffic signals while walking and while driving miniature cars complete with safety belts, and to evaluate "safe" from "unsafe" situations. Videos, craft projects, songs, games and role-play reinforce the safe conduct rules the children have learned.

Children will learn and practice:
• earthquake and disaster safety
• personal safety/stranger danger
• fire safety/911
• water safety
• vehicle and passenger safety
• playground safety
• pedestrian Safety
• bicycle safety

On each day of the camp, representatives from community agencies will talk and give safety demonstrations to the students.

The agencies represented include:
sheriff
highway patrol
fire department
paramedics
forest service and Smokey the Bear
local lifeguards
Santa Clarita transit
health department

Applications are being accepted now for both camps. Scholarships are available for families who qualify. Youth counselors in seventh to 12th grade are needed and can earn community service hours. Adult volunteers from the Canyon Country Optimist Club are needed to help prepare for the camps. This program only costs $150 per child - and that includes a t-shirt and school bag! 299-8942

Summer Safety Tips
Don't forget the helmets!

A well-fitting helmet can protect a child from serious injury. An appropriate helmet should always be worn when your kiddo is "on wheels."

Practice "touch supervision" whenever around water.
This means that an adult, at all times, is within an arm's length of a child in or near the water.

Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit in the car - and include a list of emergency numbers in there, too. You'll want contact info for your doctor, dentist, helpful local friends and family, as well as the emergency contact info for any non-related children you might be toting with you.

Make sure your kids (And you!) stay well hydrated.
Don't wait until "thirst" to offer or drink fluids. Drink up before going outside, while in the great outdoors, and afterwards.
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