Summer Programs For Valley Kids Filling Up Fast

Parents who want to sign up their children for summer programs may find competition for spots.

The YMCA summer program for children is full, at least temporarily.

“We’re on hold until we can hire more staff,” said Kuray Arland, director of the Valley Y’s summer programs.

The Y’s summer enrollment usually reaches 130-140 children, in its busier weeks. “We had 180 today,” Arland said. Names will go on a waiting list until counselors are available.

Swimming lessons with Ron and Sal Jackson’s family, a perennial Valley favorite, are also nearly full.

Central Valley summer school’s exploratory classes are a different story. Some of the enrichment classes, such as kitchen chemistry, are full or nearly so. Others with enticing topics such as kite engineering and two foreign language classes have been canceled for lack of interest.

“It’s so weird,” said Phyllis Betts, who organizes the elementary classes for Central Valley’s summer school. “I’m totally baffled by what makes it go and what doesn’t.”

The lack of school bus transportation can make it difficult for some families to get to University Elementary School, Betts said. Central Valley’s summer school program is self-supporting and receives no district funding.

West Valley summer school classes are also filling, with only a few openings available in the secondary classes, and room left in most elementary classes. In East Valley, summer school classes are attracting adequate numbers of signups.

YMCA day camp sessions are grouped by age: The Y’s Club is for ages 6 to 11 years, at Valley Mission Park. The program includes arts and crafts, games, sports and field trips. Weekly sessions run 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m., now through Sept. 2. Cost is $85 per week or $75 for Y members. Other payment plans are available.

For 8-12 year olds, the Y offers Adventure Day Camp, which leaves the park daily for hiking, horseback riding and a once-a-week overnight. Cost per week is $99 for non-members, $89 for Y members.

Summer Fever, for 12-14 year olds, operates around a theme or overnight trip each week, inluding a trip to Seattle to see the Mariners, rock-climbing, rafting trips and sailing at Camp Lutherhaven. Prices vary by the week.

Swimming programs in the Valley are available through several sources.

The Valley Y offers swim lessons at the Valley Park Community Pool, at 17th Avenue and Bolivar. The early sessions are full, but two-week sessions starting July 20, Aug. 3 and 17 are quite open. Cost for the two-week sessions are $48 for non-members and $32 for Y members. Call 927-1474 for more information.

Spokane County swim lessons and a new summer swim team are taking sign ups.

The county offers swim lessons in two week sessions at the Valley Mission pool, 11123 E. Mission; Terrace View Pool, 13525 E. 24th Ave.; Park Road Pool, 906 N. Park Road; and at Liberty Lake Park, 3707 S. Zephyr Road.

Cost is $20 or $25 depending on the level of classes.

Classes are offered for parents and children ages 1 to 4, peewees ages 3-5, through advanced.

There’s plenty of room in sessions later in the summer.

For more information, call 456-4730, or stop at any of the county pools.

Carol Chrisnacht offers swim lessons at her home in Midilome. For information, call 924-4096.

The Jackson family offers swim lessons at 11722 E. Sixth. Two-week sessions are for ages 3-12, beginners through advanced swimmers. For more information, call 924-0746.

Other programs available in the Valley include art and drama lessons.

Spokane Art Supply, at 14208 E. Sprague, is offering five four-day art camps over the summer, with instructor Shawna Turnbull.

Projects will range from watercolors and paper machier, to mask-making and color tools.

One session is for ages 5-7 years; three sessions are from 8-12 years; a single session is for 13-18 years.

Cost is $45 per session.

Call 892-0353 for more information.

Theater Arts for Children is offering three summer workshops on drama.

The first, July 13-17, is for beginners, kindergarten-third graders.

The second, July 20-24, is for fourth- to seventh-graders who are beginners.

The cost for those sessions is $30.

The third session for intermediate drama students, grades four through seven, is Aug. 10-21. It costs $65.

Each workshop runs 11 a.m.-noon at University City Shopping Center. Call 921-1239 for more information.