Camps

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center (LENSC) provides provides wildlife exhibits and rehabilitations, planetarium, and education programs.

Visitors can study a variety of (live) small mammals, fish, and amphibians; take a nature hike; enjoy a planetarium show; or take a class just about any day of the week. (Nimble visitors can also crawl through a very long, cool, hollowed-out log.)

We recommend planning a visit to catch a program at the Walter R. Schuele Planetarium inside LENSC. The schedule varies but what's constant is this: there's something for all ages, including family-flavored shows every Saturday at 12n, 1pm, 2pm, or 7pm, and Twinkle Tots (for toddlers) on Thursdays at 11:45am and Saturdays at 11am. (NOTE: arrive early - these get CROWDED!)

Star Parties are planned every 1st and 3rd Saturday, when, weather permitting, families can join naturalists and experienced star-gazers in the field with telescopes to examine the seasonal activities of the sky.

After school classes and activities are generally held in six-to-eight-week sessions in the early fall and spring, with programs geared for children in preschool through elementary school, the same age group can enjoy Summer Day Camps, slated each year.For more information about after school programming or camps, call 440.871.2900.

Birthday parties run $120 for members, $160 for non-members, and include a 30-minute program (for Astronomy parties, in the planetarium; for Wildlife parties, with live animals in the nature center) for up to 30 guests, a two-hour rental of one of two rooms, with tables and chairs, use of kitchen's refrigerator/sink/microwave, tablecloths, napkins, spoons, cake plates, and paper cups, plus a decorated "wildlife" or "astronomy" cake, and a t-shirt for the birthday boy/girl.

Children must be supervised at all times and guests are responsible for food and favors (other than those listed above), and all clean up efforts.

Volunteer Opportunities at LENSC come in many varieties - for children and adults. A list of current volunteer opportunities can be found at the website.

Offices for the National Inventors Hall of Fame are located in the former museum building, however, the museum is closed while construction is underway to create a new magnet school, part of the Akron City Schools system.

The hall of fame and museum's education staff administers the popular Camp Invention program, a week-long, summer enrichment day program offered by Invent Now (the museum organization). Held in local communities for children in grades 1-6, campers participate daily in five themed programs, (literally) touching subjects of science, math, history, and the arts (and following educational standards). The campers' imaginations, creativity, and teamwork ability also get a workout. Camp Invention is pricier and more popular than the average day camp - and registrations fill up early.

Visit the website to review Camp programs or contact campinvention@invent.org with questions.

The Nature Center at Rocky River Reservation is one of our favorite places! Inside, children can get up close to Dunkleosteous, the "terrible fish" (a prehistoric, nightmarish version of a shark) that was found embedded in the 350-million year old shale cliffs rising from the Rocky River.

Terrible fish aside, inside the Nature Center there's something for kids of all ages, from live fish, reptiles, and amphibians to "Hideaway Hollow," an exhibit that highlights the critters, fungus, and other such things that live inside trees and decaying wood.

Young visitors also explore what life was like when pioneers crossed Ohio's untamed frontier, including dressing up in pioneer clothes and playing "house" with various pioneer implements.

Outside (if you can pull the kids away from the nature center) you'll find more than five miles of hiking trails that lead you to an ancient Indian mound, spectacular river views, bird watching areas, wildflowers, and of course, plenty of picnic tables.

Save some energy to climb the more than 100 steps that lead from the back door of the Nature Center up to a balcony that affords grand views of the Rocky River and the shale cliffs rising up from it. The "terrible fish" may be gone, but the river remains a breathtaking sight.

Visitors should also take time to visit Frostville Museum, off of Cedar Point Road, which illustrates how the 1800s settlers lived and worked in the Rocky River Valley.

The J, as The Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland is known for short, is the 21st Century Jewish neighborhood, which welcomes the entire Jewish Community.

Core services provided by The Mandel JCC include Fitness, Wellness & Recreation, Preschool/Early Childhood Education (at three centers), Camping, and Arts & Culture.

"Subway at the J" is the only kosher Subway in the US.

Membership fees vary, as do membership options available. Information is available at The Mandel JCC's website.

The Nature Center at Rocky River Reservation is one of our favorite places! Inside, children can get up close to Dunkleosteous, the "terrible fish" (a prehistoric, nightmarish version of a shark) that was found embedded in the 350-million year old shale cliffs rising from the Rocky River.

Terrible fish aside, inside the Nature Center there's something for kids of all ages, from live fish, reptiles, and amphibians to "Hideaway Hollow," an exhibit that highlights the critters, fungus, and other such things that live inside trees and decaying wood.

Young visitors also explore what life was like when pioneers crossed Ohio's untamed frontier, including dressing up in pioneer clothes and playing "house" with various pioneer implements.

Outside (if you can pull the kids away from the nature center) you'll find more than five miles of hiking trails that lead you to an ancient Indian mound, spectacular river views, bird watching areas, wildflowers, and of course, plenty of picnic tables.

Save some energy to climb the more than 100 steps that lead from the back door of the Nature Center up to a balcony that affords grand views of the Rocky River and the shale cliffs rising up from it. The "terrible fish" may be gone, but the river remains a breathtaking sight.

Visitors should also take time to visit Frostville Museum, off of Cedar Point Road, which illustrates how the 1800s settlers lived and worked in the Rocky River Valley.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center (LENSC) provides provides wildlife exhibits and rehabilitations, planetarium, and education programs.

Visitors can study a variety of (live) small mammals, fish, and amphibians; take a nature hike; enjoy a planetarium show; or take a class just about any day of the week. (Nimble visitors can also crawl through a very long, cool, hollowed-out log.)

We recommend planning a visit to catch a program at the Walter R. Schuele Planetarium inside LENSC. The schedule varies but what's constant is this: there's something for all ages, including family-flavored shows every Saturday at 12n, 1pm, 2pm, or 7pm, and Twinkle Tots (for toddlers) on Thursdays at 11:45am and Saturdays at 11am. (NOTE: arrive early - these get CROWDED!)

Star Parties are planned every 1st and 3rd Saturday, when, weather permitting, families can join naturalists and experienced star-gazers in the field with telescopes to examine the seasonal activities of the sky.

After school classes and activities are generally held in six-to-eight-week sessions in the early fall and spring, with programs geared for children in preschool through elementary school, the same age group can enjoy Summer Day Camps, slated each year.For more information about after school programming or camps, call 440.871.2900.

Birthday parties run $120 for members, $160 for non-members, and include a 30-minute program (for Astronomy parties, in the planetarium; for Wildlife parties, with live animals in the nature center) for up to 30 guests, a two-hour rental of one of two rooms, with tables and chairs, use of kitchen's refrigerator/sink/microwave, tablecloths, napkins, spoons, cake plates, and paper cups, plus a decorated "wildlife" or "astronomy" cake, and a t-shirt for the birthday boy/girl.

Children must be supervised at all times and guests are responsible for food and favors (other than those listed above), and all clean up efforts.

Volunteer Opportunities at LENSC come in many varieties - for children and adults. A list of current volunteer opportunities can be found at the website.

Search for day camps, sleep-aways, family camps, teen tours, camp jobs, special needs, national and international adventures... even weight loss and military camps!

Write to kidscamps.com at 500 NE Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, or email the address above.

CampDepot.com is a search engine for summer camps, offering more than 14,000 camp listings that parents can search by zip code, specialty, location, activity, etc.

How do you tell the story of Jewish Heritage in a museum visit? The answer is by highlighting the achievements, history, and traditions of Northeast Ohio's Jews in the context of U.S. and world events, using interactive exhibits and multi-sensory displays.

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage offers educational and cultural classes for children and adults; see the website for a current program of events.

Camp Asbury was founded in 1957 as a summer camping site; since then it has evolved into a year-round retreat and conference.

The Akron Zoo is a success story on 50 acres. Once known as the "Children's Zoo," the Akron Zoo has grown in wonderful ways over the past five years, and it's still small enough to visit every exhibit, even with little ones in tow.

Today the zoo boasts 700 animals, including endangered Humboldt penguins, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, jaguars and Komodo dragons.

The exhibits are well structured and most are interactive. Legends of the Wild is probably our favorite: Each exhibit includes a legend about the animal, adding an extra dimension to the experience, particularly for older kids (and their parents).

Several climb-on play sets invite young children to act like monkeys or drive a safari jeep, and for toddlers, the tiny train ride is still a favorite.

For great fun on a hot day, traipse through the Lehner's Family Gardens, where you'll can enjoy a misting from several beautiful fountains.

And when it's cold (that is, when the temperature is below 40 degrees), visitors can feed the penguins.

In the summer, several camps for preschool through elementary-age children are available; educational programs are also available for older children who are interested in veterinary medicine or zookeepers training. (Contact the education office at 330.375.2550)

Educational day camps are also offered throughout the school year for children of preschool through Kindergarten age. Most of the day camps are held weekly for a half-hour to one hour, imparting as much education as young chidren can absorb at one time. Caregivers are required to be present for the early childhood day camps. For current program information, we suggest visiting the website, www.akronzoo.org.

"Zoorific" Birthday Party packages are available, starting at $198 ($114 for members) for ten children and two adults. Parties include a birthday gift for the child, activities with the animals, Zookey for self-guided tour, half-price pony or train rides, and a reserved picnic shelter.

The zoo can also be rented for community events and fund raisers. (Call Community Relations Coordinator at 330-375-2550, ext. 7230 for details.)

KinderCare provides comprehensive care for 6-week-old infants through school-aged children. Most centers are accredited by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).

Secured locations, with abundant resources, promise a safe and healthy environment for children, as well as developmentally appropriate learning opportunities and strong communication with parents.

Many locations offer optional Hooked On Phonics classes, and most facilities offer day camps during spring and summer school vacations.

Weekly charges vary based on child's age and the number of days per week a child attends KinderCare.

CHABAM (an acronym for Children Have Active Bodies And Minds) is an educational play center offering an extensive curriculum of fun, educational programs for children from birth to twelve years old.

CHABAM programs combine music, art, and movement. All programs are facilitated by degreed educators.

The Creative Curriculum consists of 12-week, progressive weekly classes that bundle music, art and movement.

Ready...Set...Grow...! is a drop in child development program offering an age appropriate curriculum on an hourly basis.

CHABAM's equipment includes three child-sized pottery wheels, an interactive tree house, puppet theater, and an eight-foot-long aquarium filled with South African fish.

CHABAM birthday party options are tailored for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children. Three different party packages are available ($250-$395) for 15 children and include music and activities, led by two educators. Parents are responsible for providing the food, beverage, table settings and utensils.

CHABAM also offers date night out opportunities on select Saturday evenings throughout the year.

Summer camp programs are offered for kids from eighteen months through seven years. Programs range from "mess makers" to sports skills development.

Camp Asbury was founded in 1957 as a summer camping site; since then it has evolved into a year-round retreat and conference.

Achievement Centers for Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and young adults with a wide range of disabilites lead productive lives through comprehensive, family-centered programs. Achievement Centers for Children provides education programs and services, family support, therapy services, recreational programs, as well as specialized services for children with autism.

The center is committed to reaching children with special needs as early as possible in their development, and has developed a reputation as being the experts in early intervention. The center strives to work with the entire family, not just the child with a disability, to assist each child in reaching his or her optimal levels of achievement.

Services include day camps and preschool and K-4 Autism classes, afterschool activities, and resources for families. For more information about the Achievement Centers' recreational activities, including day camps and therapeutic riding, we suggest visiting the website, www.achievementcenters.org.

Interested volunteers, ages 14 and up, are welcome to help in a variety of camp settings and activities. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit the website at www.achievementcenter.org.

Achievement Centers for Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and young adults with a wide range of disabilites lead productive lives through comprehensive, family-centered programs. Achievement Centers for Children provides education programs and services, family support, therapy services, recreational programs, as well as specialized services for children with autism.

The center is committed to reaching children with special needs as early as possible in their development, and has developed a reputation as being the experts in early intervention. The center strives to work with the entire family, not just the child with a disability, to assist each child in reaching his or her optimal levels of achievement.

Services include day camps and preschool and K-4 Autism classes, afterschool activities, and resources for families. For more information about the Achievement Centers' recreational activities, including day camps and therapeutic riding, we suggest visiting the website, www.achievementcenters.org.

Interested volunteers, ages 14 and up, are welcome to help in a variety of camp settings and activities. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit the website at www.achievementcenter.org.

Hattie Larlham has provided care to children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD) for more than 45 years.

The center relies largely on support from donations, fundraising events (most of which are open to the public, family-oriented, and a great deal of fun) and volunteers. What we've heard from young volunteers - many of whom were first introduced to Hattie through scouting service projects - is that their experience is positive and tremendously rewarding.

For more information about volunteer opportunities - short or long-term, available for folks as young as eight years old - visit the website or contact Youth Volunteer Specialist
LeAnne Embick at extension 3019.

In 2006, Hattie Larlham opened Hattie's Cafe, a fair trade coffee and gift shop located in Hudson. The cafe is staffed in part by Hattie patients and volunteers.

Like nearby Little Met

CHABAM (an acronym for Children Have Active Bodies And Minds) is an educational play center offering an extensive curriculum of fun, educational programs for children from birth to twelve years old.

CHABAM programs combine music, art, and movement. All programs are facilitated by degreed educators.

The Creative Curriculum consists of 12-week, progressive weekly classes that bundle music, art and movement.

Ready...Set...Grow...! is a drop in child development program offering an age appropriate curriculum on an hourly basis.

CHABAM's equipment includes three child-sized pottery wheels, an interactive tree house, puppet theater, and an eight-foot-long aquarium filled with South African fish.

CHABAM birthday party options are tailored for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children. Three different party packages are available ($250-$395) for 15 children and include music and activities, led by two educators. Parents are responsible for providing the food, beverage, table settings and utensils.

CHABAM also offers date night out opportunities on select Saturday evenings throughout the year.

Summer camp programs are offered for kids from eighteen months through seven years. Programs range from "mess makers" to sports skills development.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark is a brilliant hybrid of a park, farm, and natural education center.

At the family-oriented science and cultural center devoted to agriculture, farming, and country life, kids can discover where their food comes from, and a whole lot more.

Kids can milk a cow, watch bees at work, and have close-up encounters with more than 50 breeds of farm animals. Visitors can also experience the park by traveling on wagon rides driven by horses or tractors. Engaging exhibits featuring hydroponics (The Great Tomato Works features 24-times-life-sized tomatoes!) and renewable energies (solar and wind) make trips to the award-winning park fun and educational.

Seasonal activities include oogling baby lambs (January through March), marveling at maple syrup production (Mid-February through March), watching a cider press in action and wandering the corn maze (Autumn).

Horse and dog shows, plus reenactments and even the occasional static display make this park a hit, year 'round, with all ages.

Lake Metropark Farmpark offers an abundance of educational programs, for various ages and interests, year 'round, as well as summer day camps.

A Down on the Farm birthday party includes a party area for two hours where you may serve refreshments and open presents; you may bring your own food, have pizza delivered, or use the farm's caterer. Party-goers can take part in all Farmpark daily activities, including a horse-drawn wagon ride, cow milking, and a sheep show. Reservations should be made six weeks in advance. Call 440.256.2122 or 800.366.3276 for information.

The party fee of $120 includes admission for up to 20 people; additional guests $4 each
Member discount -10%.

Family Membership starts at $45/year.

The Children's Museum of Cleveland focuses on family learning and early childhood development, and is an absolute delight for children from birth through about eight years of age. (Got out-of-town guests with family? Take them!)

A family craft and activity area offers several programs a day most days the museum is open. Programs focus on art, science, music, or movement. (Check the calendar or the museum's website to find out what programs are offered on the day you're going, and at what time.)

The Children's Museum offers birthday parties, special events, and schools-out camps year-round for young children.

The museum itself is small but packed with interactive fun.

The Big Red Barn is a safe room for infants and toddlers filled with animal puppets, fruits and vegetables, mini-wheel barrows and other farm implements, and a slide coming out of the "barn."

Toddlers and pre-schoolers love the scale-model bus in the permanent Bridges to our Community exhibit. It's also hard to tear them away from Splish! Splash!, featuring an expansive water play table and a multi-tiered raindrop maze they can climb, essentially "acting out" the water cycle.

Older kids enjoy appearing on a TV screen while they predict the weather.

We think that for little ones, The Children's Museum is more fun (and more economical) than a trip to the Great Lakes Science Center. We also recommend families take the kids while they are little, because soon after they complete first grade, kids really outgrow this place. (And science-savvy students will want the extra information GLSC provides.)

Membership levels start at $50 per year (one adult/one child) and include unlimited visits for an entire year; two complimentary guest passes; discounts on Museum rentals, including birthday parties; a 10% discount from Elf Corner, the official museum store; discounts for educational classes & programs, and more.