911, a media arts center in South Lake Union, provides the community - and teens - with access to media tools and space to finish and display projects. Members can rent field equipment and use the center's editing suites, shooting space, and screening room. An animation lab is available to members of all ages.

Youth programs include the Young Producers Project, a program for middle- and high school students that introduces them to media literacy through alternative forms of media production. Media Underground is a weeklong intensive workshop for teens. Professional videomakers teach kids how to deconstruct media, design and storyboard a short video, and operate professional digital video cameras. Other youth programs are listed on the website - click on the "Youth" tab.

The independent, non-profit school was established in 1995 by a group of Asian American professionals as a way of providing cultural and language instruction for children. APLS offers several language programs for kids of all ages.

Preschool for children ages two and one-half to six takes place in a multi-cultural setting and includes age-appropriate Asian language instruction. Classes are held Mon-Fri, 9am-12n, at the Overlake Presbyterian Church in Bellevue.

Before- and afterschool language programs and Saturday school include Chinese, Japanese, and Thai language classes, English enhancement, art, Math for WASL, and cultural activities, at the APLS' headquarters as well as at private and public schools in the area.

Summer language camp for children includes Chinese or Japanese language instruction and a fun, unifying theme.

Blue Ribbon Cooking School offers after school cooking classes and summer cooking camps for kids.

In the cooking classes, kids cook a simple but sophisticated entree that can be taken home for their family's dinner. Tuesday and Thursday classes start after school and go until 5:30pm; Saturday classes are once a month at 2pm-4pm.

Summer camp kids attend the school from 10:30am-3:30pm for week-long sessions that start in mid-June and run through the end of August/early September. Kids learn new culinary skills and cook dinner for their families at the school graduation dinner party on Thursday evening.

A schedule of classes and current prices are available online. Call or email to register.

This 68-acre park, hidden in the heart of West Seattle, is the only place in town where you can (legally) camp. Some of the camping and picnic areas are obviously well-traveled - it's not an extremely wild park by any means, and trails are fitted with metal handrails for access - but it does feature thick stands of native plants and trees, a large central meadow for activities or picnicking, a pond, and lots of birds (wood ducks, migrating warblers in May, owls) and wildlife (Pacific Chorus Frogs, salamanders, foxes, coyotes, great blue herons, barred owls, flying squirrels). It fits the bill as close-in retreat from city bustle.

Make sure you stop by the rustic lodge on your way into the park. The old building, with its hardwood floors, high ceiling, and large brick fireplace is available to rent for events, but it also houses the Environmental Learning Center. Kids can look at displays put out by the helpful and informative staff. This is the place to find out what's in bloom, and what's been seen around the park lately.

The recently-restored Schurman Rock is available for rock-climbing. It's open for free to public use; sign in at the rock kiosk to the west before climbing. If you're with a group, call ahead to make reservations.

Camp Long offers a full calendar of interesting science and nature programs, arts and crafts classes, camps, and special events; see our calendar for details, or check the online brochure. There's something for every age group and natural history interest. Pre-registration is required at all programs. Day cares, preschools, school groups, after school and Scout groups can schedule programs throughout the year, featuring seasonal topics.

Rustic cabins are available for rent. Call to reserve, and ask about special programs offered by Camp Long Naturalists that include overnight cabin use.

This park's 216 acres has it all: hiking trails, expansive views of mountains and water, beach access, remnants of an historic orchard, picnic areas, a salmon creek, a wetlands walk, an innovative playspace for children, and broad grass fields. Visitors with binoculars can catch glimpses of the park's resident bald eagles, as well as of great blue herons, wintering ducks, and dozens of other species (especially during spring migration in May.)

The children's play area, designed by local artists, features a giant salmon slide. Kids enter at the salmon's mouth, and - as in nature - come out the other end, and most children seem to love this idea. Kids can choose the seesaw or swings, but can also crawl through a hollow log, hide in kid-sized shelters, or climb over concrete "tide pools" imbedded with tile "sea creatures".

During the salmon run in late fall, Piper's Creek is alive with salmon returning to their spawning grounds. Naturalists stay on hand to give out information, and the park celebrates the return of the salmon with nature programs and events. Birders can look in the creek for American Dippers, feasting on salmon eggs.

The wetlands walk, located just south of the train track overpass to the beach, offers a short boardwalk through still, dark water full of ducks and other birds, and places to pause and observe the area. A trail passes through native plantings to the creek. Dogs aren't allowed through the wetland, and kids should avoid climbing in the creek, since it destroys habitat and can also contain pathogens. The wetland walk is a good place to spot birds.

Carkeek Park has a vibrant environmental education program. Its Environmental Learning Center, open since July 2003, offers free and low-cost environmental education classes for adults and kids, including bird walks, nature stories, seasonal events, environmental workshops, and tours of the park for preschoolers.

Birthday parties - Does your child love bugs, birds, fish? Develop a theme with the Environmental Education Center. They'll provide a naturalist and theme activities. You provide refreshments, utensils, and up to 20 kids. For ages six to 15. Make arrangements three weeks in advance.

Summer Camp - The EarthKeepers Nature Camp, for ages six-12, offers weeklong programs during the summer, led by trained naturalists in an outdoor classroom setting. The camp programs strive to impart respect for and interconectedness with the natural world. Camp themes include: Survivor Island; Furs, Tails, Tracks, and Tails; Tidepool - Window to Puget Sound; Buggin' Out; Carkeek's Incredible Time Machine; and Wet and Squiggly Tidepools. Registration begins in early spring, and sessions fill up quickly. Camps cost $195 per week per child and $160 for a second week. Before and after camp programs are also available. Call or email for more information. [206.684.0877; earthkeepers_day_camp@yahoo.com]

Kids get a lesson in culinary basics at CC's Young Chef Series, weeklong summer cooking day camps for children ages seven to 17. In addition to cooking from recipes, kids learn techniques that give them confidence to whip up a wide range of dishes. Four age-specific sessions are offered (for ages seven to 11 and 12 to 17) from June to August; sessions feature different curricula but all kids learn knife skills, product ID, cooking techniques, and fun projects like making ice cream or doing kitchen science experiments. Classes culminate in a Parents' Dinner on Friday evening in which kids cook and serve.

Kids cooking classes and After School Special Classes are offered throughout the year for ages five and up.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Cybercamps Academy offers day camps and residential summer camps with intensive study in high-tech subjects including graphic design, web design, Flash animation, computer programming and robotics, and game design and modding. Courses are delivered through a self-paced, interactive tutorial program with instructors on hand to provided one-on-one assistance.

Seattle's largest park offers an interesting mix of domesticated and wild landscape. Smooth asphalt trails for walking and biking co-exist with unmowed grass, open meadows, and lots of birds, especially during spring migration. There's a little bit of everything in this 534-acre park, including two miles of beach. Hiking trails wind throughout - try the 2.8-mile Discovery Loop for a walk through forests of oak and douglas fir, a meadow alive with the song of savannah sparrows, and breathtaking vistas of the sloping land and Puget Sound.

The Environmental Learning Center (open Tue-Sun, 8:30am-5pm) is well worth a stop on your way through the park. It offers interactive nature displays for kids (including a stuffed coyote and fox); a charmingly decorated Discovery Room where kids can color, play, and put on a sea-themed puppet shows; and a good collection of hiking, botanizing, and birding guide books for kids and adults.

Park maps are available here for $1. New visitors would do well to buy one; this park doesn't reveal itself easily to the casual observer and signs are limited. Do walk out the back doors into the small amphitheater-like garden out back. This charming spot, planted with native plants, is a sheltered place to sit, picnic, or bird. Walk along the path on the right and into the woods.

Tennis courts, basketball hoops, and a children's playground are located beyond the Environmental Learning Center. Follow the left-hand path past the center a short distance; all three are on the left. The playground features lots of trees and good shade, a nice climbing structure, a tire swing, and a rope swing. Contact the City of Seattle Parks Department about reserving the tennis courts.

Classes: Discovery Park offers a monthly calendar full of classes for young naturalists of all ages and their families, as well as birding and botanizing walks, and conservation classes. Check our calendar for listings, or contact the park to get on their mailing list for a quarterly catalog. A catalog is available on the website.

Nature Day Camp: Each weeklong session in this tremendously popular daycamp gives your child the chance to explore the park and learn about its plants and animals. Sessions usually begin the second week of June, and run through the end of August. Each week is tailored toward different ages; check the park's website for details. Fees are $200 to $235 per week.

School vacation day camps are also scheduled to coincide with the Seattle School District's breaks, including mid-winter break at the end of February and spring break in April. Contact the park for registration information.

Bring your budding naturalist to IslandWood, 255 acres on Bainbridge Island that serve as an outdoor lab where all ages can study the natural world and its conservation; explore the preserve's varied habitats (bog, mature second-growth forest, and more); and take a variety of cool arts and seasonal workshops.

The campus' amenities include comfy, family-friendly sleeping lodges for overnight stays; classrooms and learning labs; an Arts Studio; miles of trails and a pond, bog, marsh, and streams; and a 190-foot suspension bridge over a ravine.

IslandWood offers Family Adventure Camps and kids' spring break and summer camps. Day camp and overnight programs are available. A schedule of camps and camp descriptions are available on the website.

The hatchery, opened in 1936 as a WPA project, raises 2.5 million chinook and 1 million coho salmon each year from eggs taken during the Issaquah Creek fall salmon run.

Although visitors can see tanks of fish and displays at any time of year, September and October are the best months to visit to see returning fish as they crowd the creek.

Check the website for information on tours of the hatchery. If you visit with the kids, look for the eight-foot "Big Salmon" bronze salmon statue at the hatchery, and visit the park across the street if you need a place to run around.

Summer camp: During the summer, Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) offers Salmon Science Camp for kids ages six to 11. Kids learn about the salmon's life cycle, habitat, and anatomy; conduct experiments about watersheds and pollution; sample and test Issaquah Creek; play educational games; use microscopes; learn to identify native plants; and more. [425.392.8025; celina@issaquahfish.org]

Birthday party packages: You bring the cake and FISH provides a guided "behind the scenes" tour, fish feeding, games or crafts, salmon legend activities, and up to an hour's use of the facility for gifts, cake, etc. Goody bags and a special gift for the birthday child are available for an additional charge. Parties generally accommodate up to 12 guests; call for more information. [425.392.8025]

Formerly a full-service restaurant, Kaspars is now a full-time special events and catering venue. Events take place throughout the year, including a Thanksgiving buffet and Christmas Eve dinner, and children are welcome at many of them.

Kaspars offers cooking camps and periodic cooking classes for kids - check the for event updates or email for notification.

Located at West Woodland Elementary School, Kids Inc. is a nationally accredited child care center offering full- and part-time preschool programs, a pre-kindergarten program, before and after school programming, and a summer camp.

The summer day camp offerings include theatre, kayaking, digital animation, web design, culinary arts, baseball, basketball, soccer with Skyhawks, biking, arts and crafts, and swim golf week.

Mad Science offers summer camps at multiple locations throughout King and Snohomish Counties.  Mad Science camps are designed to stimulate scientific learning through exciting, hands-on scientific activities. Camps run from Jun through Aug for children in grades one-six. Registration and other information are available online.

Mad Science also offers birthday parties for groups of any size. Birthday parties include an interactive presentation by a specially trained Mad Scientist, and includes a completed experiment for each guest to take home. The Basic party includes a giant Mad Science color poster and goody bag for the birthday child and a cup of "slime" for all of the children. Call or visit the website to schedule a party.

Mad Science also offers Special Event shows and After School presentations. Call or visit the website for more information.

For muddy fun, explore the forests, marshes, swamps, and bogs of the 320-acre Mercer Slough Nature Park, the largest remaining wetland in the metro area. Set close to the rush and bustle of the I-90 corridor, this wild park feels like it's a world away. The Slough is home to a great blue heron rookery, and to a wide variety of bird and animal species, including otters and beavers.

Park rangers offer free guided nature walks at 2pm on Saturdays from May to September. Walks begin at the parking lot kiosk at the Winters House Visitor Center.

Ranger-guided canoe trips leave every Saturday (May-Sep) from Enatai Beach Park. Canoeists paddle across Lake Washington to the Slough. Kids ages five and up are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Pre-registration is required and classes fill quickly. Call 425.452.6885 to register.

The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center hosts a wide variety of nature-oriented classes, camps, and opportunities for visitors to explore. Campers participate in canoeing and hiking at one of the Center's Summer Day Camps. Go to www.pacsci.org for more information.

Kids ages five and up can even celebrate their B'earthday at the Environmental Education Center - in conjunction with the Pacific Science Center - with an environmental celebration just for them. Call 206.443.2925. More information is also available online

The Overlake Blueberry Farm at Mercer Slough is open daily during the summer. You can pick your own berries or buy them already picked. The farm is located at 2380 Bellevue Way SE. [425.467.0501]

Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion is the city's community center and features an indoor pool features a "lazy river" with a moving current, a shallow-water leisure play area, and a handicapped access ramp.

Swim lessons are offered for children ages nine months and up. Aquatic camps are offered in the summer for children ages four and up.

Birthday party packages are available with an indoor playground for ages five and under, supervised swimming, and private party rooms. The facility was recently voted Best Pool Party by Seattle Metropolitan magazine. The whole pool or half of the pool can be reserved for your party. Refrigeration is available, and tables, tablecloths, and chairs are provided along with basic setup for up to 20 participants. Celebrants bring their own food, cake, and decorations and are responsible for clean up. Parties are available Fridays from 2-7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-8pm.

Other classes and programs are available for children and teens, including dance, preschool, before- and afterschool care, summer camps, and an indoor playground for crawlers, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Summer camp programs include themed dance camps, Aqua Kids water camp, Navigators, and many others.

NOAA Science Camp hosts two identical five-day summer sessions for seventh and eighth graders. Participants are introduced to earth and ocean sciences and to science careers through hands-on activities emphasizing solutions to real-world problems.

We're always on the lookout for interesting destination daytrips from Seattle on the days that we've been to in-city attractions one time too many. The 615-acre Northwest Trek, located within shouting distance of Mt. Rainier and an easy two-hour drive from the city, gives visitors a chance to experience native North American animals up close. There's something for every interest and physical ability here: take a 55-minute tram tour, visit animal exhibits by foot or walk the nature trails, and spent some downtime doing nature-themed activities in the Cheney Discovery Center.

We loved the park's varied terrain and habitats - this is a beautiful place to visit aside from the grizzlies, brown bears, eagles, big cats, and wetland animals that inhabit it. The eight-year-old and three-year-old in our party were enchanted by the animals; the park gives kids a chance to get almost eye-to-eye with large animals they've probably never seen before.

Pack a lunch or eat at the reasonably-priced Fir Bough Cafe. All trails and walks are paved and stroller-friendly, and strollers/wagons can be rented for $5-$7 per day.

During the summer, kids ages six-12 can attend Day Camps at the park. Kids are divided into age-appropriate groups, and delve into hands-on nature themes, crafts, and adventures.

Family Camp is offered on summer weekends, an overnight camp that includes treats around the campfire, a tram tour, crafts, a chance to stargaze, Saturday evening snack, and Sunday breakfast.

There's a lot to do at the Pacific Science Center, so plan on spending at least a day, or come back several times. All aspects of science -health, games, computers, physics, biology - are covered here. Kids can jump in at whatever level they feel comfortable.

Children love to hang out in Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, which features animatronic dinos realistic enough to be almost scary. At the Tropical Butterfly House and Insect Village, kids can explore the world of arthropods through interactive exhibits and displays of some cool live bugs, including butterflies. In the Tech Zone, sports fans play a game of virtual reality soccer or manipulate heavy machinery to perform simple tasks.

Little ones don aprons - or not - and splash in running water, or play on a nice selection of climbing toys, in the separate, walled-off toddler area. If someone older in your party loves water play (and who doesn't?) check out Water Works outside in the Fountains Courtyard. Kids blast water cannons at spinning and moving targets, while their parents admire the retro white soaring arches and reflecting pools that define the PSC's architecture.

The Willard Smith Planetarium offers free star shows at different times during the week. Two IMAX theaters, the Boeing and the Eames, show various films daily. The Laser Dome features such gems as Laser Creed and Laser Zeppelin.

Food can be found at Fountains Cafe, which offers reasonably decent cafeteria-type food in a sometimes hectic setting. Brown-baggers can search out space in the covered Brown Bag Court for lunch - it's located at the far end of the Fountains Courtyard, next to the Tech Zone entrance.

Classes: The Science Center offers a variety of workshops and classes for families. Family Science Expeditions. Check the Center's website for updated information about each quarter's offerings.

Discoveries Day Camps: Offered in conjunction with the Seattle Children's Theatre, these camps blend science and drama in weeklong sessions. Summer/School Break Day Camps: Check out the Science Center's website for a truly dizzying array of day camps (for winter and spring breaks as well as summer) for all grade school ages. These are popular and are held at the Seattle Center and Mercer Slough.

The center's Science On The Go! After School Programs bring hands-on, inquiry-based science to elementary schools in a format specifically designed for after-school science clubs. Comprised of six one-hour workshops, after-school groups meet once a week at school locations. The programs build on the Washington State Grade Level Expectations and enrich the classroom curriculum. [206.443.2681]

Birthday Parties: Choose from two packages. The first includes a party room for two hours, and invitations and admission. The second package features all of the above, and choice of a science theme; cake, decorations, and goody bags to match the theme; a liquid nitrogen ice cream demonstration (which provides ice cream to go with your cake); and a science show. B'Earthday celebrations at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue are also available for kids five and up. These include a wetland hike, party invitations, room rental, and more. Call the birthday party hotline: 206.443.3625.

The Pacific Science Center is a CityPass attraction.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.

Seattle's natural food co-op, going strong since the '50s, offers everything any other supermarket does, but with an emphasis on organic meats, dairy, produce, and other natural products (including diapers and natural health and grooming products for kids). This is the kind of store where you have to hold on to your wallet when you come in - everything looks tempting, beautiful, and delicious. Join the co-op for a one-time membership fee of $60 for access to special members' deals.

Stores with in-store bakeries offer a variety of natural baked goods, including birthday cakes. A carrot cake made with spelt is available for kids on a wheat-free diet; this is a good place to look if your child has special dietary needs. Give the bakery a two-day notice for cakes, which can be ordered in a variety of sizes.

Stores offer cooking classes for kids and families and cooking camps for kids during the year - check our calendar or the co-op's website. Look on the store's website for Kids' Club, a special page full of fun nutrition ideas, tips, recipes, and more.