Blues Musician Tas Cru (for preschoolers) at the Fayetteville Public Library
May 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment
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Legendary New York blues musician Tas Cru will visit the Fayetteville Public Library for three performances as part of the library’s Summer Reading Club activities.
Cru will perform the blues to Eric Carle books for preschoolers on Tuesday, June 10 at 10:30 & 11 a.m. in the Walker Community Room.
On Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m., Cru will teach teens to sing and play the blues. The event will be in the Walker Community Room.
Cru’s final performance at the library will be for elementary age students on Wednesday, June 11 at 1 & 2 p.m. in the Walker Community Room.
Pick-Your-Own Farms
May 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Spending time on a farm picking fruits or vegetables is a great outdoor family activity. But sometimes it can be difficult to find out about farms that allow you to pick your own produce. Not anymore. PickYourOwn.org lists pick-your-own farms and orchards by state and county. Here is the page listing pick-your-own farms in Arkansas. Scroll down to find a farm near you. Be sure to read the picking tips page and call ahead before you go.
If any of you have been to any of the listed farms, or know of others in the area, please let me know in the comments or email me directly at terri@lifepluskids.com.
The Slacker Parent’s Guide to Northwest Arkansas Summer Camps
May 29, 2008 | 1 Comment
Are you a procrastinator like I am? If so, here’s a cheat sheet for summer camps offered in Northwest Arkansas. Please add others in the comments or by email to me at terri@lifepluskids.com.
For more information about a particular camp, click on the name of the camp. For those of you who receive these posts by email — if you do not see any links, click on the title of this post and you will go to the Life+Kids website where the links should work.
Drama Camps
- Walton Arts Center Drama Camps (ages 4-6th grade)
- TheatreSquared Drama Academy (3rd-6th grade (Bella Vista) 7th-12th (Fayetteville))
- Arts Live Drama Camps (ages 5 and up) (pdf drama camp info)
- Zing! (Acting) at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (grades 2nd-7th)
- City of Fayetteville Be Active! Camp (drama) (ages 5-12)
History Camps
- History Camp at the Shiloh Museum (ages 6-12)
Art Camps
- Art and Clay at the NWACCC (ages 5 and up)
- Art Explosions at the Community Imagination Studio (ages 10 and up)
- Little Mountain Book Bindery (ages 5 and up)
- Zing! (Arts and Crafts)at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
Outdoor Camps
- Devils Den Discovery Camp (ages 8-11)
- City of Fayetteville Outdoor Adventure Camps
- Ozark Natural Science Center (overnight)
Science Camps
- Camp Invention (1st-6th graders)
Writing Camps
- Kidswrite at the University of Arkansas (4th-12th grades)
- Zing! (Creative Reading and Writing)at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
Dance Camps
- Walton Arts Center Dance Camps (ages 7 and up)
Soccer Camps
- Dave O’Brien Soccer Camp (ages 4-11)
- Lady Razorback Soccer Camp (ages 4 and up)
- Zing! (Soccer)at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
- City of Fayetteville Be Active! Camp (soccer) (ages 5-12)
Basketball Camps
- Razorback Basketball Camp (k and up)
- Ramay Girls Basketball Camp (3rd-8th grades)
- Lady Bulldog Basketball Camp (1st-9th grades)
- Zing! (Basketball) at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
Tennis Camps
- Adidas Tennis Camp (ages 9 and up)
- Fayetteville Bulldog Tennis Camp (ages 7-16)
- City of Fayetteville Be Active! camp (tennis) (ages 5-12)
Baseball/Softball Camps
- Razorback Baseball Camp (ages 7 and up)
- Zing! (Baseball/Softball) at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
Golf Camps
- Stonebridge Junior Golf Clinic
- Zing! (Hook a Kid on Golf)at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (ages 8-13)
Gymnastics Camps
- Razorback Gymnastics Camps
- Zing! (gymnastics)at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (1st-7th grades)
General Activity Camps
- Zing! at the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club (grades 1st and up)
- Rogers Activity Center Camps (k-7th grades)
- AAO Camp of Champs (ages 7-13)
- City of Fayetteville Be Active! Camps (k-12 year olds)
And, don’t forget the information on summer camp options for the two income family.
Skiafest in Bentonville
May 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Life+Kids reader Ina left the following tip about Skiafest in Bentonville:
One event I know about for the whole family is Skiafest on Sat., June 7 from 3-9pm. There will be a skateboarding, BMX bike demo show first, followed by 6 live bands. Skia is a Christian store and the performers are Christians, but I’ve been to a few Skia events and the faith part is pretty laid back and, I think, comfortable for all there. The bike, skating show in past was very exciting! And I hear the bands are very lively.
TheatreSquared’s Summer Drama Academy
May 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you are not familiar with TheatreSquared, you should be. It is the only resident professional theater company in Northwest Arkansas.
TheatreSquared’s 2008 summer Drama Academy is an excellent program for children who are in the 3rd through the 12th grade. Students will explore every aspect of the company’s upcoming summer production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Academy will be held at Riordan Hall in Bella Vista for 3rd-12th graders and at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville for 7th-12th graders. You can find more information and register online by following this link.
For more information, call 479.445.6663.
Catch the Reading Bug This Summer at Northwest Arkansas Libraries
May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Our major local libraries are focusing on all things creepy crawly this summer during their Catch The Reading Bug summer programs. These programs are the ultimate summer boredom busters for children of all ages.
Here’s how it works. Children who have completed kindergarten and older register for the program and receive a logbook to track their reading progress. Those who complete at least one logbook are eligible for prizes.
But, the best part is that the libraries have tons of FREE fun activities scheduled for preschoolers through teens throughout the summer. Your child can participate in as few or as many as fits your schedule (even if they are not keeping a logbook).
Here are the links to the various libraries’ websites so you can get an overview of the planned activities. I will remind you of specific events closer to the time they are scheduled.
- Fayetteville Public Library — www.faylib.org
- Springdale Public Library — www.springdalelibrary.org
- Rogers Public Library — http://library.rpl.lib.ar.us/
- Bentonville Public Library — www.youseemore.com
Bug Bonanza at the Fayetteville Public Library
May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Listen to creepy, crawly bug stories followed by face painting and a bug hunt, and see real bees in a beehive!
The Summer Reading Club at the Fayetteville Public Library will kick off Saturday, June 7, 2008 with events for preschool age through 12th grade.
- At 10:30 a.m., beekeeper David Cheek will bring an observation bee hive to show students in preschool through 5th grade. The event will also include face painting, bug balloons and bug stories.
- Magician Jody Birchfield will perform and teach magic tricks to students in 6th through 12th grade beginning at 2 p.m.
Children can sign up for Summer Reading Club at the Children’s Desk or at ww.faylib.org. There is no sign up required for preschoolers and listeners.
For a full schedule of events, pick up a 2008 Summer Reading Club calendar at the library or online at www.faylib.org. For more information, call 479-571-2222.
Rails and Tails at the Shiloh Museum
May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Shiloh Museum is hosting a “Rails and Tails” Summer Saturday program June 7, featuring a farm animal petting zoo, model train displays, music, kids crafts, and refreshments. Your kids will really enjoy the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. The current exhibits are Tech-Knowledge-Gee! (a hands on exhibit about communication through June 8), Play Ball! (an exhibit about the history of baseball in Northwest Arkansas through July 26) and Following the Crop (a photo exhibit of life in Springdale’s migrant labor camps in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s through August 23).
- What: Rails and Tails Summer Saturday Program
- When: Saturday, June 7, 2008 from 10am-4pm
- Where: Shiloh Museum, Springdale, Arkansas
YMCA of Northwest Arkansas Swim Club
May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Registration for the YMCA of NWA Swim Club for ages 7 and up will be held on May 31, 2008 at 9am in the Arvest Community Room, downtown Bentonville. Children joining the club must be able to swim the length of the pool.
You can Click here to register, or Click here to download a registration form, or Click here to download a flyer about the club.
Cost: $60 for YMCA Members, $75 for Non-Members
For more info email lrichards@ymcanwa.org
Little Sprouts Garden Time at the Botanical Gardens
May 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Bring your preschooler to the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks for a short nature-based activity each Wednesday morning at 10am, weather permitting.
Activities include a story, a game, or a take-home craft.
Little Sprouts is free with garden admission/free to Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks members. For more information, click on this link to go to the Botanical Gardens webpage.



