TIME FOR SUMMER A guide to summer youth programs programs A guide to summer youth and activities in Southern New Mexico and activities in Southern New FUN SCHOOL’S OUT dŚŝƐƐƵŵŵĞƌ͕ĮŶĚƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐĨƵŶƚŽĚŽĂƚ City of Las Cruces Museums Explore science, art, history, and culture at the Las Cruces Museums, your place for summer fun and enrichment! Check out all of the ĞdžĐŝƟŶŐƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐĐĂŵƉƐ͕ workshops, and classes. For more information: Call 575-541-2154 Visit las-cruces.org/ museums Check us out on Facebook Dear Las Cruces Families: We had such a great school year and I already look forward to the next one. I want to thank you for your ŽŶŐŽŝŶŐƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŽƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂŶĚƐƚĂīŽĨƚŚĞ>ĂƐƌƵĐĞƐ Public Schools. Parents, volunteers and local community ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐĂƌĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƚŽƚŚĞĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶǁĞƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƚŽ Going above and beyond for every student, every day. our children, which includes their summer experiences. ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ͕ ŵĂŶLJ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ their learning in programs such as K-3+, where they strengthen their reading, math and language arts during ϮϱĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůĚĂLJƐŽĨŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ͘ŶĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚƐĐŚŽŽů LJĞĂƌ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ŶĞĞĚƐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ :ƵůLJ͘ Middle and high school students will be taking summer ĐůĂƐƐĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŽƵƚĚŽŽƌĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐĂƌĞĂůƐŽ ĂŶŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞƐƵŵŵĞƌĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂůƐĞĂƐŽŶ͘ Our children are our most valuable assets. Even though regular classes are not in session, during the summer we need to encourage our children to read, ǀŝƐŝƚůŝďƌĂƌŝĞƐ͕ŵƵƐĞƵŵƐ ĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ͕ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉůŽƌĞ ŽƵƌ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ĐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂƚĞ͘ ŶĚ͕ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ I hope our 25,000 students have some fun, too! >ĂƐƌƵĐĞƐŽĂƌĚŽĨĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͗ Sincerely, (left to right) Barbara Hall, Secretary; Chuck Davis, Vice President; Stan Rounds, Superintendent of Schools Maury Castro, Member; Ed Frank, Member; Maria A. Flores, President Inexpensive activities the whole family can enjoy Family-friendly activities and packing your own lunches will festival for kids. provide great opportunities for save on meals. The only cost you These festivals tend to cater parents to strengthen the bonds might be on the hook for is the to families, offering games and they have with their children. fuel it takes to get from home to possibly even rides kids will love. But finding affordable, fun events the great outdoors. Adults, too, can enjoy such gather- the whole family can enjoy can ings, as festivals often invite local sometimes prove challenging for restaurants and food and bever- budget-conscious parents. Bowling age merchants to set up booths Few families can make it and peddle their wares to hungry through a month without develop- While bowling is not free, festival goers. ing and adhering to a household bowling remains a relatively budget. But even if money is tight, inexpensive and family-friendly there are a host of affordable ac- activity. Bowling alleys may offer Volunteering tivities families can enjoy together. discounted rates for children and lower rates during off-peak hours. Volunteering provides a unique Seniors may also be eligible for way for parents to bond with their discounts, so bring grandma and children while instilling a sense of Hiking grandpa along as well. Bumper community responsibility in their One of the best things about bowling makes it possible for youngsters. the great outdoors is that it’s toddlers to join in the fun, too, so Volunteering does not cost often free to enjoy. Research local don’t be discouraged from bowling a dime, and parents can choose parks to find ones that offer age- if your children are closer to pre- activities they feel will teach kids appropriate hiking trails. Parents school age than high school age. while simultaneously providing an with young children should look activity they can enjoy. for parks that offer more relaxing For example, local beach or hikes with well-established trails park cleanup programs can teach that do not require any difficult Festivals kids about the importance of pro- climbing. Many communities host tecting the environment while also If the kids are a little older, weekend festivals that offer allowing them to enjoy the great parks with more challenging, various family-friendly activities. outdoors. less-developed trails may suffice. These festivals may focus on a Many communities offer a Prepare lunches at home and enjoy particular town or city’s cultural wealth of affordable family-friend- a family picnic in the park. Many history or offer wider appeal, ly activities the whole family can parks do not charge entrance fees, such as an apple festival or a film enjoy. 2 | School’s Out 2016 May 2016 | Las Cruces Bulletin KICKOFF SUMMER WITH US! 1203 N Main Street Las Cruces, NM 88005 Master Sensei Guzman 575-644-9083 Martial Arts SUMMER 2 months CAMP $99 Two Dates to Choose From June 20th - 24th July 18th - 22nd Visit with our friendly 8:00am - 12:00 pm staff for more details $125 first camper Family Discount for Focus Discipline Multiple Cmapers Save $25 Confidence Fitness 5 years old & up Respect Self-Defense This Summer Join us as we Build Strong Confident Leaders VOTED Karate Classes, Games, Arts & Crafts #1 Snack Provided, Basic tumbling Hands-on Science, Bounce House Fun! For more information visit www.guzmandojo.com Las Cruces Bulletin | May 2016 School’s Out 2016 | 3 EnrichTh eKids, Inc at Hillrise Summer Day Camp 2016 1400 Curnutt Dr. (at Hillrise Elementary) • Dates and Times: May 31-August 4; 7:30 AM-6:00 PM and the cost is only $125 a week. • You provide a sack lunch (avoid bringing peanut products if possible). We provide healthy snacks. • Our staff is CPR Cer fi ed and First Aid Trained and has submi ed and passed an FBI Background check. • Children from any school can a end. • We are licensed through CYFD and we do accept assistance! Sign up Today! Summer Themes: July 5-8: Galaxy Explorers May 31-June 3: You’ve Got A Friend In Me Explore the galaxy in camp and fi nish the week with a family picnic and Social skills and friendship building games astronomers to show us the night sky! June 6-10: Animal Safari July 18-22: Star Wars Animals are important! Come fi nd how animals help with Come learn the way of the Jedi in this fun and interac ve camp. everyday life! July 25-29: Comic Books and Super Heroes June 13-17: All Around Town Explore the history of comic books and make your own. Defi ne your al- Learn about money and business by se ng up a microeconomy ter-ego and design your own super hero. at camp! July 27-31: Pay It Forward June 20-24: Seriously Sloppy Stuff This is an introduc on to altruism and giving back to our community. Plan to get ooey-gooey, s cky, slimy, and overly messy with Come help us with community service projects and see how our giving loads of hands on experiences. helps others. June 27-July 1: Science! August 1-4: Wild and Wacky Wind Down Fun, hands, on-minds on experiments to have you thinking All fun, all the me. Come enjoy our last week of camp before school starts! like a scien st. Contact: [email protected] or 571-7734 Begin planning kids’ summer recreation now Many families spend winter sense of what camp will be like. figuring out how to chase away • Explore all options. Camps cabin fever and endure frigid tem- come in more flavors than ever peratures until spring and summer before. Certain camps may be faith- mercifully return. Parents think- based ministries while others may ing ahead to swimming pools and focus on particular sports. Band days lounging on the beach can put camps and art camps may appeal to their daydreams to practical use by creative kids. Also, there are plenty planning ahead for their youngsters’ of general-interest camps that offer summer vacations. various activities without narrowing Youth recreational programs and in on any particular one. Parents summer camps can bridge the gap may need to choose between a in care between the end of school sleepaway camp or day camps, de- and the day when classes resume. pending on which camp experience Due in part to high demand, par- they want for their children. ents who want to place their kids in • Inquire about camp schedules. summer rec programs or summer While many camps are flexible, day camps should being vetting such camps do not have the same level of programs and camps well in ad- flexibility as after-school programs. vance of summer. The following are Arrangements will need to be made a handful of tips for moms and dads if care is required after regular camp who want their kids to have fun and hours. Speak with camp staff to see fulfilling summers. which types of after-hours pro- • Ask for recommendations. grams, if any, are available. Summer school recess will be here before you know it. Make sure you’re prepared for camp and other recreational programs. Speak with fellow parents and trust- • Determine your camp budget. ed friends about where they send As varied as program offerings may tion subsidizes a portion of camp programs at parks or schools. Such Such days can break up the monoto- their children. Personal recommen- be, camps also can vary greatly with costs. Scouting programs often have programs may not be as extensive ny of a routine and provide kids and dations can be very helpful, provid- regard to cost. Government-run a dedicated camp and may offer af- as those offered by camps, but they families time to relax together. ing firsthand insight into a par- camps may be less expensive than fordable options for scouts. Martial can quell kids’ boredom and keep Summer recreation may be far ticular camp or program. Schedule those offered by private companies. arts schools and dance centers children occupied during the day.