Winter Break Camps in Ann Arbor: 2012

Find many great mid-winter break camps for Ann Arbor families.

Many of the area schools have days off or the entire week off school in mid-February (Feb. 18-26). D0 you already have plans for your kids when there is no school? Have you found winter break camps or events to keep the kids busy? Here are some fun events for the kids during midwinter break.

Creativity Camp at the Ann Arbor Art Center allows kids ages 5-12 to spend a week exploring the world of patterns, people and places. Learn to paint, draw, sculpt and learn about the decorative arts and cultures of the world. There will be a field trip to visit Ann Arbor galleries or a museum and each day will include 30 minutes of kids yoga and stretching. At the end of the camp, the children will hold an exhibition and reception for their families.

Want to play some hoops or learn about astronomy? Camps at the Ann Arbor Community Education & Recreation are geared for kids in grades 1-6. Or play soccer during a midwinter break camp at the World Wide Sports Center or play soccer or basketball at High Velocity Sports in Canton . Kids can participate in half or full day camp programs during break.

For the nature lover, kids can head to the winter break camps at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. School break camps there are for kids in grades K-5 and allow kids to explore the forest, fields, and trails or sled down the snowy slopes.

For families that don't need all-day camps but are still looking for something to do that week, check out the blog tomorrow for many great free and low-cost activities happening during Ann Arbor winter break!

Weekend Event Round-Up: Jan 27-29

I'd love to think this weekend will be quiet, but for my family and I anyway, it will be anything but! We have our Cub Scout Pinewood Derby races, are heading to the Fox Theatre to see Sesame Street Live and my son is ramping up to be part of a Science Olympiad team for his school. Somewhere in there too will be cleaning house, doing laundry, working AND sleeping. Is a parents job ever done? Never mind, don't bother answering that one!

Have you made weekend plans? Does your planner overflow as much as mine? Someday I'd like a date with my husband, just not sure when that will happen.

Any-who, here's the weekly Ann Arbor weekend event planner...

Friday, January 27

• Why not enjoy some free bouncing at Xtreme Bounce Zone 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.?
• See Under the African Sky at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor) Fri 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The play for for the entire family is a delightful collection of African tales performed through storytelling, acting, dancing, and drumming. Colorful costumes, masks, and traditional music will delight and teach our youngest fans, with lots of opportunities for audience participation. 
• Stop by the Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti) for Teen Gaming 3:30-5:00 p.m. Drop in and play electronic games for PlayStation and Wii use what the library has or bring a game to share.
• For a date-night idea for mom and dad, I have been told the Performance Network has a hilarious play happening right now called God of Carnage. It's apparently a comedy of (bad) manners that is supposed to change the way we look at polite conversation. I'm hoping to check it out next week.

Saturday, January 28

• See Under the African Sky at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building (4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor) at 11:00 a.m.
• Build your own build-a-saurus at the Lowe's Build and Grow clinics  at 10:00 a.m.!
• Attend the first ever "Grange Junior Maker" program at the Pittsfield Grange at 10:00 a.m.
• Stay warm while visiting Chillin At The Mills at Hudson Mills. There may not be much snow, but there is sure to be lots of fun!
• Teens still have time to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Dexter District Library (3255 Alpine St., Dexter) at 1:00 p.m.
• Want to participate in a fun scavenger hunt? The Ypsilanti District Library (8975 MacArthur Blvd., Superior Township) may just hold that anti-boredom key... From 2:00-3:30 p.m. be clever and use your head to search for clues and hidden treasures! 

So what will you do and around Ann Arbor with kids? I'd love to see your family fun photos either on the blog or the Ann Arbor Mom Facebook page.

Free Kids Workshops at the Pittsfield Grange

There is a new program for kids and their parents starting at the Pittsfield Township Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor). The Grange Junior Maker, will be a monthly free workshop where the kids will build electronics, robotics and wood. Their first project however will be building a workbench for use in future projects.

Please bring your tools and any supplies you would like to donate at 10:00 a.m., Saturday January 28.
Parents must accompany their children in order to participate. For more information call 734-926-5079.

Discount to Sesame Street Live

Were you considering taking the kids to see Sesame Street Live this weekend at the Fox Theatre but ticket prices were keeping you away? You're in luck then, as the Ann Arbor Mom can offer you special discount pricing of $3 off each ticket!

To redeem this coupon for discount admission, simply use the passcode "ERNIE" when checking out at OlympiaEntertainment.com.

Elmo hopes you bring the kids to the Fox Theatre this weekend. Get a $3 discount off
each ticket by using ERNIE when checking out at OlympiaEntertainment.com.

This special offer excludes Gold Circle & Sunny Seats. It is not valid on Family Nights, Kids’ Matinees, Saturday 2:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m., and may not be used for previously purchased tickets. The discount cannot be combined with any other offer.

Free Bouncing at Xtreme Bounce Zone

The Xtreme Bounce Zone (82 Aprill Dr., Ann Arbor) is offering free bouncing during their customer appreciation day on January 27, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Guests will receive free admission, pizza and a juice box!

Kids can enjoy the monkey house, the giant 18-foot slide, the obstacle course and many other great bouncers.