The holiday season is fast approaching. School-aged children will soon be on vacation. To help families with working parents, some local organizations are offering Winter Break camps. The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is inviting children ages 5 to 12 to “explore their dramatic side” in weeklong drama workshops held at the museum Dec. 27 through 31, Jan. 3 through 7, and Jan. 10 through 14.
Children ages 5 to 7 will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, and children 8 to 12 will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. Each workshop will culminate with a short production of an adapted classic fairytale performed at the end of each week. Parents are welcome to register their little ones for one week or all three weeks.
Theater educator Cynthia Martin and choreographer Jonathan Calderwood will lead the thespians in training through theater exercises, mask- and prop-making sessions, and the final production.
“From the lovable Ugly Duckling to the popular Rapunzel, a variety of fairy tales will be explored, providing a wealth of opportunity for children to be dramatic and imaginative,” camp organizers said in a press release.
To register for the workshops, stop by the Discovery Museum or download the registration form online at smvdiscoverymuseum.org. Each one-week workshop costs $90 for
museum members ($70 for additional siblings) and $100 for non-members ($80 for additional siblings). Fees include all materials and a daily snack. Space is limited, and classes will fill quickly. The deadline to register is Dec. 17.
For more information, contact Jonathan Calderwood, program coordinator for the Discovery Museum, at 928-8414 or programs@smdiscoverymuseum.org.
Also over holiday break, the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department will offer four weeks of winter-themed activities, including group games, cooking delicious holiday treats, and making festive craft projects.
The Winter Break Day Camp will be held Dec. 20 through Jan. 14 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Minami Community Center, 600 W. Enos St., in Santa Maria. The cost is $100 per week for full-time (six hours or more per day) and $70 per week for part-time (less than six hours per day). Children must have completed Kindergarten. Camp will not be held on Dec. 24 or 31 due to the holidays.
For registration information, contact the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260, or visit the department office at 615 S. McClelland St.
School Scene is compiled by Managing Editor Amy Asman. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Dec 2-9, 2010.