How your kids can spend their summer vacation How your kids can spend their summer vacation (June 25, 2004)

Variety of local camps abound

By Julie O'Shea

For parents looking for fun and stimulating things for their kids to do this summer, how about a course in homemade rockets? Or how do chaperoned day trips to Monterey and Santa Cruz sound?

There are dozens of local day camps to choose from, and while spots are quickly filling up, organizers say space is still available.

The Mountain View YMCA has 12 camps on its summer schedule, offering day excursions and outlets for sports lovers and science fanatics. The city's recreation department also has a number of sports camps open this summer. And the Mountain View Public Library will begin its teen summer reading program next month.

"The kids are really having fun," said John McChesney, the executive director of Rockit Science, a program focused on making science exciting for youth. The program is partnering with the YMCA and will have 22 science-related camps over the summer, the first of which took place last week. These camps include a session on biology and robotics, among other subjects.

"We are trying to get kids interested in science," McChesney said, adding that instructors usually start off their session with a "fractured fairy tale" about "Jack and Jill and the Evil Mr. Fred." The students are then asked to come up with ways to help Jack and Jill make their escape by using science.

"Our job is to be quiet and not tell them the answer," McChesney laughed.

Also being offered through the YMCA are a number of field trips to places including Great America, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Marin County.

For those who are looking for something quiet to do, the library has all sorts of reading programs for the family and for teenagers. And in August, children will be able to participate in a scavenger hunt. These programs are free, but library staff encourages kids to sign up in advance.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

Contact information

YMCA: 969-9622

Mountain View Public Library: 903-6335

Mountain View Recreation Department: 903-6331

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