School is almost over, and you can officially start planning for your kids to be involved in summer activities right now! There are always a variety of activities available at different time intervals during the summer months that will keep your kids busy while keeping their minds and bodies active and engaged. These activities are important for fun, structure, peer interaction, and developing skills and relationships. Choosing activities that best fit the needs and preferences of your kids while fitting into your schedule is a bit challenging at times, but there are many resources available in our community to help you and your kids decide what activities they will participate in.
Parkway Lanes, located at 2555 S. 48th street, and Hollywood Bowl, located at 920 N. 48th street, both offer the Kids Bowl Free Program, which is open to every youth ages 5-15 in the Lincoln area. Each child that is registered receives TWO FREE games of bowling, every day from May 1st through September 1st. Both bowling centers also offer youth leagues for children ages 8-18 that begin in June. Jennifer Davis-Korn of 48 Bowl says that youth leagues are a great way to introduce your child to a lifetime sport and be involved with their peers. She also stresses that preparation for any youth activity is key. Parents are encouraged to register their kids early, before the first day of any program, so that they are guaranteed a spot. This also helps the program coordinators prepare correct ratios of staffing, assign youth to teams or groups, and plan appropriate curriculum among other factors. You can find more information on both programs offered through 48 Bowl at Parkway Lanes and Hollywood Bowl by visiting their website at 48bowl.com.
Learning a new skill or hobby takes time, and summer break is the perfect amount of time for laying the foundation of a new skill or hobby your child has been interested in, or improving on an existing talent, while it won’t take the focus away from schoolwork and other school-related functions. Tim Woosley, Music Director for the Lincoln School of Music, points out that there are wealth of different instrument lessons and music classes that accommodate many different age groups, interests and skill levels. The Lincoln School of Music offers guitar lessons covering the introduction to basic guitar, which is always very popular. There are genre specific classes, such as “Learning the Blues,” “Intro to Lead Guitar,” “Learn Guitar for Worship,” and even “Songwriting Basics.” They also offer a “Demo Workshop,” where you write, record and release you own song on a CD or even iTunes if you like. This year they have also included “Building Your Own Electric Guitar” classes and “Learn to Play the Ukulele.” Woosley notes that despite the unique nature of the new classes, they have already sparked a lot of interest from kids, parents and grandparents of all ages in the Lincoln community. Kids can try out any class that they are interested in, or you could consider taking a class with them and learn a new musical talent together or incorporate it as a family activity! However, summer is great when you are a kid to just relax and enjoy. As adults we sometimes forget that. Woosley advises parents against scheduling too many activities for their kids, and recommends sitting down as a family to present them with choices and discuss which activities are the most important to them. It is always important to make sure they have time to just hang out and be a kid. You can visit the website at www.lincolnschoolofmusic.com to register for classes and/or receive more details. Everybody always says that there are limited spots, but in this case, it is true. If you think you are interested in one of the summer camps or classes, Woosley’s best advice is to contact them soon to ensure your spot for the summer.
There are going to be plenty of opportunities and activities to involve you kids in this summer, and Angie Lewis of Corky Canvas adds that since there are so many options and each class or camp is different you should make sure to choose wisely. Try to pick a few with activities that your kids love, instead of overloading them with many activities that they may not necessarily be interested in. While being exposed to new things is always beneficial, your child will most likely already have a good idea of what appeals to them and what does not. Corky Canvas is offering Camp Color Splash from June 17-19, which offers a different art project every day! Lewis says that if your kids love arts and crafts, they will LOVE this camp. The cost is $85 per painter for all three days, and the camp is a collective experience so there are no partial date sign-ups offered. There will be two age groups, the Red Group which is K-3rd graders and the Blue Group which is 4th-8th graders. The fee includes materials such as canvas, paint, smocks and also includes a light snack. Once they receive your reservation, Corky Canvas will also send a confirmation email with a questionnaire to gather more information about your child in order to offer them an amazing experience that highlights and fosters their individual talents and interests. For more information, check out the Kids Tab on their website at www.corkycanvas.com.
If you are in the mood to take a mini road trip with the whole family or want to get your child involved in a great and highly educational summer program, you should plan to visit the Strategic Air & Space Museum, located off of I-80 near Ashland and Mahoney State Park. The Strategic Air & Space Museum (SAC) is committed to providing guests with engaging experiences that will inspire the young – and the young at heart – as they explore the worlds of aviation, history, science, and technological innovation. The Strategic Air & Space Museum takes great pride in their unique aircraft restoration program, and are one of the few museums nationwide to have an on-site restoration facility which provides museum guests the opportunity to watch first-hand as SAC’s collection of historically significant aircrafts are brought back to their original glory.
Igniting the thrill of innovation and discovery begins with exciting educational and outreach programs. Each year, the Strategic Air & Space Museum serves thousands of school children through variety of field trips, overnight programs, and school and community presentations given throughout the region and the state. SAC also strives to present interactive exhibits throughout the summer, and over the course of the year, that enhance focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These temporary exhibits keep the museum experience fresh every time you return. Examples of these special exhibits in the past have included “Robots: The Interactive Exhibition” and “Suited for Space”. If your summer is already full of activities, you can still plan to attend the upcoming MathAlive! exhibit opening September 21st. Along with the exhibits, when you visit SAC be sure to stop by their Simulator and MAT (Multi-Axis Trainer) rides and all ages will enjoy the variety of space-themed programs offered in their Planetarium. SAC also has a different activity every month in their Science Zone and feature one aircraft per month that the public can climb inside and experience history come to life. Both of these experiences are included in the price of admission – at no additional cost. The museum hosts annual events as well, such as Helicopter Day & Wings Under the Wings on May 18th and the Family Fun Carnival on August 3rd. Wings Under the Wings is a high-octane BBQ wing-tasting event under the wings of historical aircraft. You can start the day with the One-Day ONLY Helicopter Day exhibit, and then fill your afternoon and your stomach with wings from some of the tastiest places in the area.
The Strategic Air & Space Museum’s Education Department is committed to fueling the curiosity of children across the Midwest and educating them with special emphasis in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). SAC believes that STEM is a direction of great significance for our youth and the future of our country and world, so they strive for excellence in all of their STEM-centered educational programs. You can find more information or sign your kids up for one of the many super science summer camps by visiting their website at www.sasmuseum.com.
Research from Johns Hopkins National Center for Summer Learning has shown that children can lose 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in math and two months in reading on the “summer slide.” Educators in the fall typically spend four to six weeks getting students back to where they were at the end of the previous academic year according to the National Summer Learning Association. Kathy Hanrath, Executive Director of Bright Lights, says that this problem can be addressed by encouraging your child to participate in summer learning programs. This gives your child an opportunity to take learning beyond the nine-month classroom, engage in other learning styles and activities, avoid summer learning loss, all while developing good habits and life-long learning skills. Bright Lights has over 25 years of experience providing summer enrichment programs from K-9th grade students in a safe, nurturing environment. Bright Lights is an ideal way for students to maximize the fun of summer vacation while increasing their confidence and potential success for when they return to school in the fall. They offer small classes with hands-on opportunities in focused areas of interest or to explore a new interest. In addition to their summer classes and camps, at the end of each program week Bright Lights provides a list of extended learning activities as a resource to keep students engaged if they have found something that they really love. There are also different scheduling and content options available, including half-day classes or full-day camps. Most classes are held at Randolph Elementary School, located at 1024 S. 37th street, and registration is now open with a full class listing at brightlights.org.
When looking for a summer activity for your child, it is very important to make sure it is a good fit for your child’s developmental level and individual needs and interests. Nebraska Cheer Center offers multiple activities for children ages 2 to 18 years old. Regardless of experience, anyone is welcome to join their programs! NCC has classes for beginner through advanced level athletes, and their certified coaches teach tumbling through a safe progression of skills and maximize the amount of time spent in the gym by getting to know each child personally. In doing so, each child’s needs and goals are assessed early on. NCC offers Recreational (non-competitive) Cheerleading, Tumbling Levels 1 (Beginner) through Level 5 (Elite/Advanced), Stunting & Flexibility Classes, Jumps & Conditioning Classes, as well as Birthday Parties and Open Gym sessions. Nicki Baker, owner of the Nebraska Cheer Center, stresses the importance of meeting the staff and paying close attention to their teaching or coaching techniques. Are they speaking to the children on their level? Are they interacting with the athletes while they work? Does it appear that the children in the class are enjoying themselves? If you can’t be present for all of the sessions, try to be present for the introductory session or observe when you can to get a good understanding of the interaction that is taking place. The MOST important aspect to facilitate your child’s learning process is to make sure that you choose a program that pays attention not only to the needs of each specific child, but also a place where your child will be respected, feel important, and where they are cared for as a person, rather than a name filling the class roster. Nebraska Cheer Center is Lincoln’s only ALL CHEER program, where they specifically focus on Cheerleading, Tumbling Safety & Technique, Stunting, Flexibility, and so on, without having to ‘share time’ with other programs such as dance or gymnastics. NCC is dedicated to giving each athlete the ultimate cheerleading experience, and also offers the most affordable prices in the area. As their staff gets to know each athlete they will help them set and reach goals, learn the value of commitment and teamwork, and lead by example in teaching children the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle!
Phil Burcher, owner of Precision Skateboards, says that skateboarding is a great way for kids to be active and learn a new skill this summer. Skateboarding is popular among kids of all ages, and Precision Skateboards provides a wealth of equipment in a range of sizes that accommodates different skill levels. They carry a large variety of boards, and it is important to make sure the board you choose is actually made for use with the bushings individually tailored to the size and weight of your child. If the board is cheaply made, your child will suffer as it makes it very difficult to learn techniques when you can’t perform fundamental skills, such as steering. Burcher also stresses the importance of having the proper safety equipment, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards that fit right in order to provide the correct protection. If a helmet is not adjusted properly, it will impede learning by being a nuisance and will not serve the function it was designed for. Also, children outgrow almost all fitted items quickly. Precision Skateboards offers a solution to this problem by custom fitting helmets with different sizes of pads that can be replaced, for free, as your child grows.
Tiger Rock Martial Arts Academy offers two summer sessions or a combined “train all summer” option for kids and adults to train over the summer break. These sessions begin June 14th and July 15th. Registration is open until June 8th for the first session and until July 10th for the second session. However, each year this program quickly fills to capacity.
Jeff Dousharm, owner of Tiger Rock, says in his experience working with families there are three critical areas that great parents use to evaluate summer program options for kids:
Is it safe?–Not just the activity, but the people facilitating it. Is it just a bunch of 16-year-olds hired to stand around? Are the staff trained, certified or qualified in whatever they are teaching or leading? Are they first aid and CPR qualified? These are all factors that go into making sure that your child will be safe. There are many stories of kids being hurt because of poor planning and unqualified program leaders, so parents should do their research and not just assume everything will be fine.
Will my child LEARN something or really improve an area of their life?–There are tons of activities out there. The question is, what gives you the best return on your investment of dollars AND time. Kids can have fun AND learn or develop at the same time. Activities that help build skill sets such as focus and confidence can really give them the edge when they go back to school.
Will my child have FUN?–Besides learning, kids need to have fun! Why? Because if it’s not fun they won’t want to go and will get burned out. You will be dragging them to the activity or worse yet, settling for them quitting. And if they quit, not only are you out the money, but you also start the trend of telling your child that quitting is ok—not a good lesson in life.
With over 18 years in Lincoln, Tiger Rock Martial Arts has become a very popular option for summer activities for kids and families. University studies prove the impact that Tiger Rock has on kids. From confidence and reduced fear of failure to focus and listening skills, Tiger Rock delivers in a very fun and safe environment. Multiple locations in Lincoln and Omaha make it easy for families to be a part of it all.
Sporting activities are very popular year-round, but summer is a great time to learn fundamentals by participating in a summer camp or can be a great chance for family time if you just want to toss the ball around. Your child may know what sport they like, but if they have not experienced more than one sport they may not be aware of their options or find out what sport they are talented in. This makes it important to allow your child to experience or participate in several different sporting activities. Diane Hesson of Play It Again Sports says this is so important because it allows them to learn skills, exercise both their minds and bodies, and gives them the opportunity to make new friends. Starting a sport when your child is young is beneficial as they will develop social skills and learn to make exercise part of their daily routine. While allowing your child to experiment with a sport they excel in, don’t forget that they most likely just want to have fun. Also, it’s okay if they’re not GREAT at one sport. There are plenty of sports out there to try, and Play It Again Sports can help make that happen without it breaking your bank. Play It Again Sports is a full line sporting equipment dealer. They attempt to stock new and used items in all sporting categories, and a highlight of their business is they work to trade in quality used equipment for other new or used items. For those children starting their sporting endeavors, their price conscious equipment allows parents to outfit their children for each sport accordingly, and for less money. You can trade in equipment when your child has outgrown items OR if they decide that soccer just isn’t for them and they’d like to try baseball instead. Play It Again Sports carries name brands and their trained staff members are always prepared to answer your questions, make recommendations and assist in properly fitting your children with the right equipment.
So many kids are losing their ability to think for themselves, with the instant access that technology has offered. In fact, studies have shown that attention spans are actually getting shorter due to this instant gratification. Engaging in activities that involve art on a regular basis can loosen up the right brain and create an opportunity for non-linear thinking. Urban Legends Art Studio, operated by Anna Alcalde (former art instructor/graphic artist) and Cindy Schroeder (Lincoln business owner/crafter), is a family friendly, “enter-active” art studio that offers a variety of affordable and exciting classes and camps. Urban Legends mixes art with education, which results in FUN! One of the more popular classes offered this summer is “The Art of Becoming a Superhero,” where kids will design logos, capes, and story-comic strips in order to define what it takes to be regarded as a hero in real life–such as developing manners, dignity, self-pride and community involvement. There’s an art to bringing it all together into one awesome young person…KER-POW! Additionally, for the last class we will order at a local eatery using our new super skills and manners. Some other classes Urban Legends offers include “If I Had a Hammer,” “Stitchin’, Bobbin’, Weavin’,” and “Bling-It Jewelry.”
You should always consider safety when planning summer activities. With safety in mind, ask yourself questions and contemplate your answers. What activities are appropriate for your child’s age? What safety equipment should be on-hand? For example, if you are swimming do you need to provide a lifejacket? If your child will be biking or skateboarding, do they have a helmet or knee and elbow pads? Is there a responsible adult or staff member, or as many as the group dictates, available at all times? Another important thing to consider is your goals for the summer activities that you choose. Beyond simply keeping them busy, you will want to keep their development in mind. Developing social and emotional skills are ongoing for all age groups, and it is a good idea for your child to be involved with peers their own age, as well as kids of other ages. This enables them to understand their own age with respect to others, encourages extroverted thinking, and gives them the opportunity to have role models as well as to be a role model for other children. Finally, remember that there is only so much time in the day, so be careful to avoid overbooking yourself and your kids so that summer vacation doesn’t include some down time to rest and enjoy.
Summer activities give your child the opportunity to spend their time engaged in creative projects that offer educational undertones while emphasizing fun and making friends. This promotes physical and mental activity, and also encourages creative thinking as an approach to life. In this way, you are preparing your child to be willing to take risks as they learn new skills, and creative thinkers also have the ability to understand that problems have many solutions—so when they encounter an obstacle, they are able to find a way around it rather than giving up. Summer activities will give your child an opportunity to learn and practice these skills, as well as experiencing what the outside world has to offer firsthand. For example, even if they follow a project guide exactly, they will still have to make decisions about the shades of colors they prefer, where to place items, or how to correct technical mistakes they have made. Additionally, since repetition is one of the ways we retain information, once they have been exposed to one type of project they will learn the editing process. In becoming more comfortable with the skill they are trying, they will also become more creative with the choices they make and more comfortable with exploring their imagination. Summer activities also encourage children to find the resources to make what they want in order to solve their own problems. If a tool is already in use, they will be negotiating with their peers and scheduling their place in line for it, as well as exercising patience during the waiting period, all while allocating their time to other aspects of the project. These lessons are all being presented in a working manner, without your children being distracted from the excitement of their new experience. You can take an active role in this process by attending a summer activity with your child, or reviewing what they did during the day in order to reinforce what they have learned, thus facilitating their emotional growth and understanding as to why each activity you both have chosen is great for them instead of simply something to pass the time. Kids absorb everything, so why not position them in the best atmosphere to absorb positive ideas and influences. Summertime is a great opportunity for your child to enjoy the world outside of the classroom and try something new, so make sure to take advantage of the many wonderful options available in our community!