Summer activities in the north range from educational to gardening to water fun

Summer break is a few weeks away. In order to accommodate families, several organizations plan to offer summer camps and activities for youths.

SUMMER CAMPS

Horses4Heroes, a national nonprofit equestrian military service group at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road, is scheduled to host Summer Adventure Camp for children 4 to 14 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays June 9 through Aug. 22, with the exception of July 4.

“There’s a great need in the community for parents who work and need to drop off their kids,” said Sydney Knott, founder of the organization. “Kids will be able to ride horses and visit the barnyard. We’ll also have lots of games and team-building activities.”

Youths ages 15 to 18 and college students are encouraged to apply for summer camp counselor internships.

The cost is $200 per week with a $25 sibling discount per additional child. After June 1, the cost per week will be $300 per child. Half days are available at $100 per week or $25 per half day and $30 on Friday. Drop-ins are available for $50 per day or $60 on Fridays.

Children should bring a water bottle and sack lunch Mondays through Thursdays, as lunch will be provided on Fridays.

Activities include Junior Rancher programs involving horses and farm animals in addition to gardening, fishing, ranch chores, sports, games and hiking. Indoor activities will include arts and crafts, cooking classes, role-playing, board games, movies and snack time.

For more information, call 702-885-1943 or visit theranchlasvegas.com.

The Centennial Hills YMCA, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, is scheduled to host a variety of summer camps for children starting June 10.

“We offer an assortment of traditional camps, specialty camps and field trips,” said Cheryl Bella, director of marketing and communications at the YMCA of Southern Nevada. “We also provide a literacy program for every age of camp. We want children to go back to school retaining the skills they learned before summer.”

Camps include preschool summer camp for ages 3 to 4, traditional day camps for ages 5 to 14, off-site and on-site specialty camps for ages 5 to 11 and field trips.

Field trips are held on Wednesdays, and children must be registered in camp to participate in field trips. Registration is limited.

Activities include physical activities, exercise, games and arts and crafts. Prices for the camps range between $47 a day and $230 a week. For more information, call 702-478-9622.

NATURE AND OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES

The Gilcrease Orchard, 7800 N. Tenaya Way, is open from 7 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through October.

Families are invited to select and pick from a variety of summer fruits and vegetables.

“We urge families to come between 7 and 9 a.m. to beat the heat and to bring plenty of water,” said Mark Ruben, director at the orchard. “Families should leave their flip flops and pets at home.”

The orchard will have tomatoes, squash, peaches and apples, among other items, available for harvesting.

For more information, visit thegilcreaseorchard.org.

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Junior Master Gardeners program, 4600 Horse Drive, is scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m. Fridays from June 13 to Aug. 8 with the exception of July 4.

Children 6 or older will learn basic wildlife gardening skills and participate in arts and crafts.

“It’s a very hands-on program,” said Karyn Johnson, Food for Thoughts School Children’s Demonstration Garden coordinator. “Kids will learn to develop gardens, and we’ll prepare them to be wildlife habitat- certified.”

Children will have a chance to create birdhouses and taste the food they harvest from the garden, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, corn, squash, grapes, peaches and apricots.

The cost is $50 for eight consecutive weeks. To register, call Johnson at 702-257-5523 or email johnsonk@unce.unr.edu.

The Centennial Hills YMCA, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, outdoor pool is set to open May 24 and remain open for public swim from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through Saturday until Sept. 1.

The pool includes an outdoor tot pool, regular swimming pool and water slides.

Admission is free for members, including those with a Sizzlin’ Summer Pass, or $5 daily per person.

EDUCATIONAL

A Back-to-School Fair is set from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at Centennial Hills Park, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive.

The free event will feature balloon artists, face painters and a jump house. Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross plans to provide free school supplies and binders to children while supplies last. Light refreshments and beverages will be served.

The Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, is scheduled to kick off its summer reading program from 3 to 4 p.m. June 7 for children and teens from birth to 18.

“This is the biggest thing we do in the children’s department,” said Mary Nelson, youth services coordinator at the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. “We want to encourage kids to keep their reading skills over the summer while they’re not in school.”

The event is set to include arts and crafts, games and information about the reading program. Participants can sign up anytime from June 1 to Aug. 2. They will receive a book buck for every five books they read, which they can use to purchase a book from the library.

Participants can pick up a reading log at the library or register online at lvccld.org.

For more information, call 702-507-6300.

TechArt Studio: Digital Filmmaking is set at 1 p.m. July 26 and July 27 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. Children 6 to 11 are invited to use cameras and computers to shoot, edit and score their own short films.

Space is limited. Call 702-507-6114 to preregister after July 1.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 7501 Tule Springs Road, plans to host Vacation Bible School for children ages 4 to 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. June 15-19.

This year’s theme is Gangway to Galilee. This is a free event, but participants must register online at shepherdofthehillslv.org or call 645-0352.

OTHER AREA CAMPS

Children’s Learning Adventure Summerlin, 10405 Griffith Peak Drive, plans to offer summer camps for children 6 to 12.

The Our Learning Adventure Passport-themed summer camp will take children on adventures as they “explore the globe,” experiencing traditions, cultural games and foods. Theatrical interests can be explored through Picture Paradise, while would-be scientists can enjoy Laboratory Lagoon. Art Studio will offer artist techniques and artwork creation. A weekly thematic-based celebration is planned incorporating the learning, adventures and fun of each travel destination.

The schedule includes full and part-time programs.

For more information, visit childrenslearningadventure.com or call 702-228-2163.

The Lone Mountain Creative Learning Center, 6863 W. Lone Mountain Road, offers child care year-round, so its summer camp is normally utilized by families already using the facility. Located across from Santa Fe Station, it offers a secured facility with programs such as Grow Your Own Garden and a nutritional food program.

For more information, call 702-395-7333.

OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Camp Erin

Nathan Adelson Hospice is partnering with The Moyer Foundation to launch Camp Erin Las Vegas, a free, overnight weekend camp for children 6 to 17 who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The environment of camp is combined with planned activities that give children a chance to honor their loved ones, express feelings and make friends. The camp is led by grief professionals and trained volunteers.

Registration is open for the inaugural Las Vegas camp, set for June 4-6. Space is limited, and campers are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit tinyurl.com/krzwf8a.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Jennifer Mauceri at jmauceri@nah.org or 702-733-0320.

4-H STEM Camp

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Southern Area’s 4-H camp is planned at the Nevada State 4-H Camp at Stateline from July 27 through Aug. 1.

The camp will utilize the 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program. For six days, campers will participate in activities focused on nature, healthy lifestyles, alternative energy, Global Positioning Systems, rocketry, dramatic arts, leadership and creative arts.

Registration is open to children 9 to 15 until the camp is full, and 4-H membership is not required.

The cost is $385, which includes transportation, meals and activities. There is a discount for those registering before May 30. To sign up, contact Karen Best at 702-257-5538 or email bestk@unce.unr.edu.

Camp Lee Canyon

Clark County Parks & Recreation plans to host two Summer Sleep-Over camps at Camp Lee Canyon on Mount Charleston from June 15-27. Each weeklong camp begins on a Sunday afternoon and ends on a Friday night.

Omni Discovery Camp is for children 8 to 12, and On the Edge Adventure Camp is for youths 13 to 15. Activities planned include hiking, cabin skits, campfires, and specialty classes and activities.

The cost is $400, which includes all meals, snacks, activities, supplies and a T-shirt. Parents or guardians must transport campers to and from camp.

To register online, visit tinyurl.com/kshd398 for Omni and tinyurl.com/o8h9seu for One the Edge. Camp forms are due by June 1.

For more information, call 702-455-1905 or email ccparks@clarkcountynv.gov.

Camp Foxtail

The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada offers Camp Foxtail in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for registered Girl Scouts 8 to 17. Sessions run from June through August and offer an educational experience including singing, hiking, arts and crafts and campfires.

For more information, including prices organized by age ranges, visit tinyurl.com/kkt2cfw.

Contact North View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.