Classes

Tracy Aviary is located on eight acres of land in Liberty Park, a park that many consider the heart of Salt Lake City. It maintains a collection of approximately 400 birds.

Bring some quarters to buy food from dispensers around the pond to feed the ducks, almost certainly the first birds you'll see as you pass the front ponds, then stroll along paved pathways under a canopy of shade trees. Some birds visitors can expect to see are tragopans, thrushes, condors, cranes, vultures, hornbills, plovers, owls, and eagles.

The Amazon Adventure is a spot where visitors enter an enclosure and hand-feed sun conures (South American parrots). Braver children get a kick out of the experience, as the birds land on people's hands, shoulders, and sometimes even heads, looking for handouts. Shy kids might find the experience somewhat alarming. Bear in mind that bird droppings can happen - bring wipes! This area requires an additional fee. Tickets can be purchased at the front entrance. Feeding times occur at 10:30am, 11:30am, and 12:30am daily. The sun conure exhibit is open in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting.

The Pelican Encounter is a year round bird feeding encounter. Visitors can talk to a bird trainer while feeding fish to a flock of American white pelicans. Visitors must pay an additional fee for this experience; purchase tickets at the front gate.

Bird shows are presented in the outdoor amphitheater during the warmer months of the year, weather permitting. Two different shows run daily. Each show features free-flighted birds and runs about 20 to 25 minutes. Once the the chilly weather arrives, visitors can head to the Chase Mill for indoor bird programs. The informal educational programs are held on Saturdays and Sundays and are free with aviary admission. In between the summer and winter shows, visitors can sit in on Trainer Talks, opportunities to meet some of the aviary's bird stars and learn what it takes to train them. Watch the calendar or check the aviary's website for specific dates, times, and details on bird shows and programs. Shows are free with aviary admission.

Informal bird chats are held at the Wildlife Encounter Zone year round, affording families opportunities to see birds up close and learn all about them. Current Wildlife Encounter Zone schedules can be found on the aviary's website.

Camps are offered during the summer months. The week-long camps are for kids ages four to nine. Half-day, full-day, and aftercare are available. Check the website for more information and to register.

Other activities at the aviary include guided tours, educational field trips, classes, and special events that run throughout the year. Kids can stop by the Aviary Alcove inside the gift store at anytime during aviary hours for do-it-yourself activities. Staff-led crafts, games, and storytimes are occasionally offered in the alcove; call the aviary or check its website for the current schedule.

Birthday Party Packages are available. The basic package is for ten guests, and includes one hour in a reserved party room, a party host, a visit from a bird, an activity, and a small gift for the birthday child. Check the aviary's website for details and pricing.

The aviary rents kid wagons and wheelchairs for nominal fees. Check at the front gate for rentals.

Bathrooms are located in the Chase Mill and at the south end of the aviary, and three water fountains are distributed at intervals throughout the aviary.

Since Liberty Park surrounds Tracy Aviary, plan on spending a half to a whole day in order to give yourself enough time to enjoy all the other activities available.

Membership: A family pass to the Tracy Aviary offers free entry for a family of four into the aviary for a year. Visit the aviary's website for a complete list of memberships available, and for information about member benefits.

Huntington is one of the oldest providers of supplemental education services in America - a good resource for children who need a little extra help with their studies. Their philosophy is to "break the failure chain" and teach kids to expect the best in themselves.

The center offers programs in reading, writing, math, and study skills, as well as SAT/ACT preparation.

Children in second grade and under receive one on one tutoring, and kids in the SAT/ACT prep program get one on one instruction as well.

Huntington Learning Center works closely with each child's teacher to ensure success.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Day Camp for Teens in Salt Lake City, The Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center is a unique program combining space exploration with a simulated, futuristic adventure experience. Two inflatable StarLab Domes/Planetariums allow kids to study the night sky and it's constellations, while five starship simulators give kids the opportunity to serve as crew members on a 24th century starship as it goes on a mission into deep space - think Star Trek.

Space missions begin with a classroom mission briefing. Children then enter the starship simulator where they receive training for their individual posts on the bridge of the ship. After training, the mission begins. Missions differ by starship - sometimes kids are engaging aliens (good or bad), and sometimes they are exploring black holes, nebulas, and other planets.

The experience at The Space Center covers a large variety of disciplines. Kids learn about science, technology, humanities, leadership, team building, music, drama, and social studies.

The Space Center offers day camps ($11/person), overnighters ($40-$150), classes, and fieldtrips ($100/class) to schools and private parties. The focus group for the programs is ages eight to 14, but adults enjoy the experience as well. Overnight activities are for ages 10 to 14. The 2-1/2 hour private programs are suitable for birthday parties, scout groups, church groups, and family outings; call to reserve a spot. Camp enrollment happens in March and September.

Sugar Space is a multi-disciplinary art space offering classes for adults and kids. Professional performances, community events, and free events are also held at the space, and the building is available for rental purposes as well.

The 1500 square foot space has a professional sprung dance floor, theater lights, and a professional sound system. Yoga, pilates, hip-hop classes, and junior film critics club are some of the offerings at the center. First Work is a unique program in which professional artists mentor young artists ages seven through 17 who want to create their own performance piece. The First Work participants present their work at Sugar Space during the season.

The center offers a large variety of birthday party packages. Some topics include High School Musical, super heroes, sock hop, princess party, Harry Potter party, bounce and play, movie mania, and fantasy tea party. Prices start at $149 for up to 16 kids. Additional children can be added for $6 each. See the website for details and for information about reservations.

Treehouse Museum is an interactive children's museum themed around family literacy and the arts. Every corner of Treehouse is filled with things to do and explore, stories to read and create, art to create, and theater to invent and perform. The highlight of the 28,700 square foot building is a two-story tree in which children can climb, play, and explore. Activities within the tree include a parachute drop, dress up stations, whisper tubes, and a spiral slide (coming soon). Other features of the museum include a Baby Place where even the youngest children can learn and explore, a 150-seat theater, and party rooms which can be rented.

All restrooms in the building have baby changing tables and the main floor bathrooms have kid-height sinks and potties.

Some favorites at the museum include an oversize couch where children can climb up and listen to "Grandma Sofie" read them a book, a market garden where youngsters can harvest food from a garden and sell it at the market, a Music Room where kids can try out a variety of percussion instruments, an Art Garden where children's creativity is allowed to flourish, the Fire Engine where kids can don a uniform and climb aboard an old Model T-style truck, and a "One World Village" exhibit that allows kids to travel the world without leaving the building. The popular "Days of the Knights" exhibit features a Royal Theater where children can stage their own productions using costumes and puppets, and a Chess Garden where kids can use giant chess pieces as they learn the classic game of strategy.

On Track to Reading Trunks can be checked out at the front desk. Each trunk is filled with reading readiness activities that families can complete in less than 30 minutes. The Treehouse's "Conductor" punches a special ticket once for each trunk a family completes, and once all six trunks are completed, families receive a prize which encourages further reading together.

Several classes and programs are offered throughout the year. Birthday parties and after-hours private parties are available for members. Storybook Birthday Parties start at $75 and include two hours in the private party room and museum admission for up to 15 children. Book at least two weeks in advance; further notice is required for Saturday parties. The Treehouse's website has a complete list of the special offerings.

No strollers are allowed in the museum proper, but there is a nice place to store strollers, coats, bags, etc. near the museum entry. Colorful little lockers are available for patrons to rent. Locker rental is free for members; nonmembers pay a small fee.

Although food and beverages are not allowed in the museum, there are tables and chairs near the front desk where people are welcome to have a snack. Vending machines are located there as well.

A visit to the Treehouse reveals that this museum is obviously cared for and well run. It is bright, exhibits are well maintained and safe, and the staff is pleasant, knowledgeable, and proud of the museum. It is truly a unique hands-on learning place for children ages two to 12 and their grown-ups. Memberships are available; see the museum's website for pricing and details.

The Life Arts Center has programs for people ages 15 months and up. The Creative Learning program is a preschool & kindergarten program for children ages 2 1/2 to six years old. The children in the program experience music, art, drama, socialization, and free choosing. Through all of the "playing" children are actively learning math, reading, numbers, science, and emotional literacy.

Modern/Creative Dance classes are taught at the center for children ages 2 1/2 to 18. Art classes are offered for anyone ages five and up, including adults. Adult dance classes are available as well.

Summer camps at the center are very popular. The camps combine art education with science, math, reading, dance, music, drama, and art. Children ages 15 months to 11 years old may participate.

Daycare is offered Mon-Fri from 9am to 4pm. Children can be brought early or picked up late, but extra fees apply. Parents are required to provide diapers, wipes, and food for their children.