36 ways to keep your kids busy this summer on the Big Island

The long summer days are approaching, and once again, parents will take on the challenge of keeping their kiddos physically busy and mentally active.

If you’re already dreading the endless “I’m bored” announcements or stressing over how to fill some of those empty days on the calendar, relax. This guide is for you.

Presented is a myriad of programs and summer doings offered for Big Island keiki, particularly those in West Hawaii.

Arts

c West Hawaii Dance Theatre and Academy will offer dance classes for all ages and abilities all summer long. Classes in creative movement, pre-ballet, classical ballet, pointe, performance, African dance, dancer conditioning classes, yoga, Pilates, and Gyrokinesis are offered daily at the studio on Alapa Street in Kona’s Old Industrial Area. For a full schedule, go to whdt.org or call 329-8876.

c Keiki, ages 6 to 12, wanting to explore the arts and the roots of hip-hop can enroll in the 2014 Summer Arts program, slated June 2 to July 3 at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. Presented by Lavaroots Performing Arts, participants experience hip-hop culture through drumming, African dance, capoeira, break dance, soccer, origami, mural art, streetwear and other art forms. Fields trips include the Imiloa Astronomy Center, sailing, and visits to Malaai Garden. Sign-up forms are available at kahilutheatre.org/education/youth.

c The Society For Kona’s Education and Art offers a summer art camp for children, ages 6 to 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9 to 20. With a theme of “Summer Safari,” the camp lets participants do various projects and activities with local artists of mixed media. There will also be outdoor fun. SKEA is located at 84-5191 Mamalahoa Highway in Honaunau. Call 328-9392 to register.

c The Donkey Mill Art Center’s Summer Art Experience this year is “The Rain Follows the Forest.” Occurring June 16 to July 18, beginning students will explore the beauty of art making and how it can be used as a tool to promote ripples of positive change and awareness. The mediums to be explored include drawing, painting, printing, design, ceramics, papermaking, music, poetry and dance. Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tuition is $800 for members and $960 for nonmembers. Call 322-3362, email donkeymill@gmail.com or visit donkeymillartcenter.org.

c Kona Baptist Church will hold its second annual Summer Music Camp for children in first through eighth grade. This camp will offer different elements of worship training — instruments, voice and dance — to inspire and engage participants. It will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 23, 25, 27 and 30, as well as July 2 and 3. This camp costs $15 per child. Advance registration is required; forms are available for download at konabaptist.org or at the church office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The church is located at 78-7156 Puuloa Road, 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona across from the Puuloa Road fire station. Call 322-3355 or email konabaptist@hawaii.rr.com.

c The Junior Music Academy is offering a variety of music classes this summer. During “Musical Adventures Around the World,” students entering first through fourth grades experience action-packed musical games with instrument playing, singing, circle games and improvisation. This program is held from 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Session one is June 2 to 13; session two is June 16 to 27. The cost is $120 per session and $215 for two sessions; a sibling discount is available. “Pre-Piano,” for 3- to 5-year-olds, includes creative theme-based lessons that incorporate singing, creative movement and piano playing. It takes place from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Thursdays through July 3. “Clapping, Wiggles, Bounces and Tickles” for infants and toddlers features instrument playing, singing, dancing and creative movement. This program is held from 9 to 9:45 Tuesdays and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursdays through July 3. The cost for “Pre-Piano” or “Clapping, Wiggles, Bounces and Tickles” is $80 for the eight-week session or $12 per class. All classes are held at the academy in Kona’s Old Industrial Area. Call Miss Mary at 331-2000 or visit juniormusicacademy.com.

c Guest director Sue Boyum is directing “Annie Jr.,” the final show of Aloha Performing Arts Co.’s season, and seeking a cast of young volunteer actors, ages 18 or younger. This scaled-down Broadway musical is based on the comic strip “Annie” and is set during the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Auditions are planned for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 14 at the Kainaliu theater. No experience is required. Newcomers are encouraged to audition. Rehearsals are generally held in the early evening Monday through Thursday and some Sunday afternoons. The show will be performed July 18 to 27. Call 322-9924.

c Quilt Passions and Yarn Boutique is offering two knitting camps and two crochet camps for children, ages 8 to 14, at the King Kamehameha Mall on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona. Camp one introduces participants to basic history and skills, as well as offers a simple project. Camp two builds on the knowledge and techniques from the previous week. For knitters, camp one is June 9, 11 and 13, while camp two is June 16, 18 and 20. For crocheters, camp one is July 7, 9 and 11, while camp two is July 14, 16 and 18. The sessions take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited; call 329-7475 to register.

Educational

c Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa is offering the “Young Architect Sessions: Light and Geometry” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8. Students in sixth through 12th grade will work side-by-side with professional architects and learn how light and geometry support ideas about building. They will explore modular origami and work with cardboard and newspaper. The suggested donation is $5. Parents should provide their child with a healthy snack. Call 322-3362, email donkeymill@gmail.com, or visit donkeymillartcenter.org.

c Big Island Education is offering three summer math programs from June 16 to July 3 at The Regency at Hualalai in Kailua-Kona. Math Discovery is for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. It provides instructional support for elementary math concepts, including multiplication, division, decimals, arrays and pre-algebra. Middle School Math covers math standards in a fun and creative way. Students will create and execute fun scenarios while covering these important topics that will improve their math abilities for the next year. Math Enrichment and Improvement SAT Prep provides instruction and support for students wanting to improve their confidence in high school math topics, such as geometry, algebra and real-world scenarios. Programs cost $295, plus a $15 registration fee. Call 937-3787 for an application.

c Hawaii Learning Resource is offering two summer Academic Enrichment Camps for keiki entering grades two to five. The two-week day camps, known as Spy Camp, focus on building student’s learning skills in a fun, hands-on environment with an emphasis on observation, focus and listening. Parents and students will have a better understanding of the student’s learning strengths and challenges and receive strategies and resources to help in school and at home. Spy Camp session one is June 9 to 20 while Spy Camp session two is June 23 to July 3. Both camps are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School in Waimea. The cost is $400 per session; lunch is not included. Financial assistance is available; the minimum tuition is $200 per session. Enrollment is limited to 20 students per session. Application packets are available at hawaiilearningresource.org or by calling 885-9318.

c Kealakehe High School’s Robotics Team is holding its Kona STEM Camp for third- through eighth-graders. Slated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2 to 6, the camp features robotics, computer-aided design, video game design, computer programming, engineering and other activities relating to science, technology and mathematics. Days are dedicated to astronomy, marine science, geology and architecture. There will also be a mini science fair. The camp is led by high school students, as well as more than 20 partner organizations and companies. Tuition is $200 for free and reduced lunch students and $250 for all others. Scholarships are available. In addition to lunch and snacks, campers will receive a T-shirt, water bottle, and a bag filled with activities and swag. Call 854-4066, email KonaSTEM@gmail.com or visit kealakeherobotics.org/camp.

c Readers of all ages can participate in the Hawaii State Public Library System Summer Reading Programs, happening June 1 to July 12. Registration for the free six-week programs begins May 27. Participants who visit their local library and read at least one book per week are eligible to receive a free weekly reading incentive, while supplies last. In addition to reading, the programs feature performances by storytellers and artists. This year’s programs will explore science. The Children’s Summer Reading Program’s theme “Fizz, Boom, Read” allows preschool and elementary school children to experiment with building lava lamps, launching rockets and creating a solar system mobile, and have fun learning about science, technology, engineering, arts and math concepts along the way. The Teen Summer Reading Program’s theme is “Spark a Reaction.” Visit librarieshawaii.org or call a public library.

c Kamehameha Schools Hoolauna, scheduled June 8 to July 19, builds upon Hoomakaikai experience by immersing students in learning experiences designed to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between honua and kanaka. This one-week boarding program is for students entering seventh and eighth grades. In West Hawaii, students will be introduced to the Kona district’s rich history and natural resources, including endangered dryland forests and anchialine ponds, through letters from the Alii Nui, field trips, and collaborations with people and groups who live and work in the featured areas. In East Hawaii, participants will live off the environment in the style of kupuna and do various activities, including fishing, gathering, throwing net, pounding ulu and kalo poi, laau lapaau, and invasive plant eradication. Visit ksbe.edu.

c During Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Summer Session, happening June 24 to July 18, the sustainable living class, “Energy,” is offered for students entering grades six through eight. Students will explore energy in food, food as energy, energy for food, renewable energy, and creative and artistic energy. Other activities include learning about renewable energy at HPA’s Energy Lab, culinary skills, field trips, and cooking. Two-hour enrichment courses include SAT prep by College Prep Genius, algebra II, ceramics, videography, driver’s education, geometry, photojournalism/yearbook, and creative writing. Financial aid is available. Tuition is $4,800 with boarding. The fee for individual day courses is $550 per class. Online registration is available at hpa.edu.

c Parker Summer Camp for children ages 5 to 12, runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, June 2 to July 18. Science, art, drama and athletic activities support a fun daily structure which includes snacks, games and excursions. The cost is $195 per week or $1,200 for the full session. Also offered at this time are half-day, weeklong enrichment courses for keiki, ages 11 to 17. These courses provide meaningful, dynamic learning opportunities in a relaxed summertime atmosphere. Each course offers fundamental educational elements put to direct practice, culminating in final events and projects. Courses include dramatic arts, choral arts, dance/media intensive, acting/improv intensive, outdoor survival skills camp, jewelry design and creation, Chinese Kempo and self-defense, as well as a land and cultural sustainability program. Most are multiple-week camps, however, students can sign up week by week. Students who do not participate in the entire camp will require instructor approval to participate in any culminating event or finale. The cost is $125 per week. Visit parkerschoolhawaii.org.

c The Invention Team — Hawaii offers fun, educational invention workshops at various sites in West Hawaii this summer. Keiki bring an old, used appliance or device, work with real tools, have an inventor-mentor help them, write in invention journals, get awards and prizes, and display their invention for friends and family. For dates, times and locations, call Invention Team’s office at 714-423-4755 or 331-0806. Inquiries may also be emailed to inventionteam@aol.com.

c Youth can acquire or sharpen their foreign language skills during West Hawaii Explorations Academy’s summer online foreign language course June 2 to July 14. They can earn 0.5 or 1.0 credit. Orientation will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. June 2. Applications are available at whea.net. Call 327-4751.

c Hawaii Community College’s Office of Continuing Education &Training is offering high school juniors and seniors the chance to explore the possible career opportunities available in the marine and aquaculture industries on Hawaii Island. Students will experience plankton and marine science data collection, see the working of an aquaculture farm, what it’s like to be part of the Coast Guard, and observe how ocean resources are being harnessed and used for sustainable living. This Summer Career Explorations program takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 16 to 27 and costs $109. Participants earn 0.5 elective credit. The registration deadline is June 2. Call 934-2700, email tmkoga@hawaii.edu or visit hawaii.hawaii.edu/ocet.

c May 29 is the deadline for Waimea Middle School’s summer school for incoming fifth- to eighth-graders. Happening from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. June 9 to 27, the program includes academic and organizational skill building, weekly place-based excursions, breakfast and lunch, and busing. The fee is $50 and scholarships are available. Applications are available at the school office and online at waimeamiddleschool.org.

c Kanu o ka Aina’s summer enrichment program is slated June 2 to July 10, occurring from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The program is open to all Waimea students in preschool to sixth grade and costs $150. Workshops include computer technology, math, reading, Native Hawaiian culture, native environment, health and well-being, sports fundamentals, and music. Participants must bring lunch and water daily. To get an application, go to kalo.org, call Te at 890-2508 or email te@kalo.org.

Cultural

c Kona Okinawa Kenjinkai’s annual Children’s Day Camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 and 29 at Konawaena High School. Participants, ages 8 to 12, will learn about traditional Okinawan culture, food and language, as well as play games their grandparents enjoyed. The cost is $45 per child and $35 per child for two or more. All supplies and lunch are included. Call Pat Nagy at 325-0060 or Doris Grace at 329-3449 to register.

c New this summer is Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Piko Hawaii: Ka Wahi o Kawaihae, the Hoku a Aina Upper School Summer Program, a 0.5-credit course for students entering grades nine through 12. This program offers a place-based cultural foray into Kawaihae’s rich Hawaiian history. The course will engage students in chants and hula that represent the area. The fee for individual day courses is $550 per class. To register, call the Auxiliary Programs Office at 881-4088, email summer@hpa.edu or visit hpa.edu.

c Kamehameha Schools Kulia I Ka Pono, planned June 8 to July 12, reinforces the importance of cultural identity and sense of belonging in the Hawaiian community. Students entering ninth grade, as well those in grades 10 and 11, if enrolled in Kamehameha Schools, are eligible to apply. This one-week boarding program is available in East and West Hawaii. At the Ka‘u site, students will experience a blend of science and culture through experiential aina-based learning, as well as have an opportunity to visit significant sites, become familiar with flora and fauna, geology and moolelo, take an in-depth look at cultural protocols, and participate in forest reforestation projects through service learning. In Kona, students will gain leadership through the skill and responsibility required for ocean voyaging. Students will visit the forest to experience the natural resources needed to build canoes, go to the ocean for hands-on lessons of how to sail a double-hulled canoe, and learn chants relevant to place and navigation. Visit ksbe.edu.

Outdoor pursuits

c Horseplay Equestrian Center LLC is offering weekly day camps from June 2 through July for beginning and intermediate riders, ages 5 to 14, in Honalo. The camps introduce children to proper riding skills and care of horses, as well as advance their skills in different riding disciplines. Each day includes a mounted riding lesson plus games, crafts, discussion groups, barn chores and other activities. Campers will learn safe horsemanship and develop an understanding of the nature of horses. The four- and five-day camps cost $335 to $415. The sessions occur from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants receive a T-shirt, activities about the horses and ponies they meet, as well as photos and art projects. Discounts are available for siblings, multiple sessions, continuing students and friend referrals. Call Cyndy DeMeter at 345-4696, email konahorseplay@gmail.com or visit konahorseplay.com.

c Hawaii Preparatory Academy is offering equestrian camps May 27 to 29 and June 3 to 5. The daily three-hour equestrian camp, open to students age 8 and older, offers a diverse training regimen designed to create a working knowledge of the aids and mechanics involved when riding English-style, as well as proper grooming and tacking procedures. Instruction will encourage students to enhance and challenge their equestrian knowledge, or, for beginners, learn stable management and basic riding skills. The fee is $75 per day. HPA is also offering a weekly two-hour Friday Riding Program, which gives students an opportunity to ride on the field or head into the hills with an instructor. The cost is $40 per session. In addition, trail rides, costing $35 per hour, can be arranged on an individual basis. Registration forms are available at hpa.edu/summer/sports-camps. Call the Auxiliary Programs Office at 881-4088.

c Hawaii Outdoors Institute is offering a 12-day Wind and Water course, beginning June 12, for 13- to 16-year-olds. Participants will earn their scuba certification with Kohala Divers, camp in Waipio Valley, harvest taro, hike to waterfalls, learn to sail on Hilo Bay, explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and help restore native Hawaiian forests. The institute is also offering the 24-day Ahupuaa Environmental Science course, starting July 2, for 14- to 17-year-olds. Developed and taught by a college professor, this course may be eligible for credit from the participant’s school. Students will immerse themselves in ecosystems from the mountains to the sea. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Visit hawaiioutdoors.org.

c Jack’s Diving Locker in Kailua-Kona is offering numerous scuba programs for keiki, ages 8 to 18, throughout the summer. This includes an ocean ecology camp, underwater photo camp, rescue diver camp, and a SEAL team scuba camp. Go to jacksdivinglocker.com or call 345-4807.

c Big Island Sailing Foundation is offering four one-week sailing camps. Beginning dinghy sailing and beach fun for participants, ages 8 to 11, will be held at Keauhou Bay, where the first session runs June 16 to 20 and the second session is June 23 to 27. Two dinghy and keelboat sailing camps for participants ages 10 to 16 occur at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, where day camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Novice teens and intermediate sailors are encouraged to join the July 14 to 18 session. Intermediate sailing and Intro to Race is July 28 to Aug. 1. Certified instructors and lifeguards lead the programs. No prior sailing experience is required for the June camps, though participants must be able to swim and be comfortable on the water. Booklets and life jackets are provided. The cost is $165 for new sailors and $145 for returning sailors. Scholarships are available. Call Alicia Starsong at 325-5529 or email bisf@earthlink.net.

Religious

c At Kona Baptist Church’s vacation bible school, keiki will learn about superheroes of the bible — the Heroes of Faith. This program, slated from 9 a.m. to noon June 2 to 6, is for children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. It offers a safe, fun and interactive time of learning and growing in the knowledge of God’s word. Participants will explore adventure trails that lead to Jesus — praise and prayer on the worship trail, Bible study and puppets on the discovery trail, crafts on the cozy cave trail, and snacks and recreation on the wildlife trail. Advance registration is required; forms are available for download at konabaptist.org or at the church office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The church is located at 78-7156 Puuloa Road, 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona and across from the Puuloa Road fire station. Call 322-3355 or email konabaptist@hawaii.rr.com

c This summer, take a walk on the weird side at Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Kailua-Kona. During the Weird Animals Vacation Bible School, participants, ages 6 to 12, will learn nothing compares to the unconditional love of Jesus from 9 a.m. to noon June 2 to 6. To register, call 329-5733 or email kklcht@me.com.

c A high energy Bible-based summer sports camp, which offers participants, ages 6 to 12, a unique way to hear the Gospel while using the valuable tool of sports, will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 23 to 27 at Grace Community Church in Kailua-Kona. This year’s theme is “Game Plan.” Keiki will chose one sport — basketball, soccer, flag football or cheerleading — to do for the week. There are three sports sessions each day. The first session focuses on the technical and individual skills a camper needs to gain proficiency in his or her sport. The second session increase the camper’s awareness of the sport’s tactical elements and much of the coaching and drills are game-like situations. During the third session, campers use all the skills learned and apply them to a game. The camp costs $50, which includes snacks and a T-shirt. A family discount of $5 off per camper for two or more children is available. Contact Tracey at 326-9580 or Tracey@gracekona.org.

Sports

c Hawaii Preparatory Academy tennis coach Jeff Lewis has planned six three-day sessions for children ages 6 to 17 of all ability levels. Classes run from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The camps, planned May 27 to Aug. 12, emphasize the development of proper technique of all strokes. Each player will be coached in various aspects of match play, including strategy, which will be customized for the player’s level. The cost is $130 per week. To register, contact Lewis at 881-4037 or jlewis@hpa.edu, or download a form at hpa.edu/summer/sports-camps.

c Keiki, ages 5 to 12, can learn to swim at Kona Community Aquatic Center on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona and the Konawaena Swimming Pool in Kealakekua. Registration at both sites is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. May 30. The fee is $15. Call Kona Community Aquatic Center at 327-3500 or Konawaena Swimming Pool at 323-3252.

c Hawaii Preparatory Academy is offering its Summer Swim Academy for those wanting to learn to swim or advance their swimming technique and endurance. All levels of classes are provided, from Parent and Tot to Pre-team. Lessons are held Monday through Thursday with a free swim from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays. Students will receive a half-hour of instruction. Session one is June 2 to 12; session two is June 16 to 26. The cost is $96 per session. Participants will have to do 10-minute assessments at the HPA Dowsett Pool between 1 and 3 p.m. May 18 or by appointment in June. To register, email Sarie Imonen at sarie.swim1@gmail.com.

c Parker Bulls Soccer Club is offering Challenger Sports’ British Soccer Camp at Parker July 14 to 18. British Soccer Camp is one of the most popular soccer camps in the country. With programs for each age group, the curriculum includes a variety of foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, freestyle soccer, small-sided games, coached scrimmages, and a mini tournament. Players also learn about the core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and leadership. The age 3 to 4 group will meet each day from 9 to 10 a.m. and costs $75; age 4 to 5 group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon and costs $90; age 6 to 14 half-day option meets 9 a.m. to noon and costs $125; and the age 8 to 14 full-day option meets 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $195. Visit parkerschoolhawaii.org.