Ann Arbor Summer Camp & Day Camp Expo 2012

Find details on Ann Arbor Summer Camps
and Summer Day Camps during the Summer
Camp Expo at Briarwood Mall.

The sun may not be shining but I know many Ann Arbor area parents are already beginning to plan what to do this summer when the sun DOES come out and the kids are out of school for summer vacation. They are starting to plan for summer camps and summer day camps for the kids! I know I have started thinking about it...

I am in the process of updating my annual list of Ann Arbor summer camp and summer day camp options for parents, but if you are anxious (and I know many of you are based on the e-mails I have received) then I have a solution for you!

This Saturday, February 4 at Briarwood Mall (Center Court) from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., area parents can learn more about summer camp options during the Spring Into Summer Camp Expo. This year's Summer Camp Expo will feature local summer camps and programs from karate and dance to environmental and music education for children of all ages. Parents can expect to find information from some of these camps:

• Jewish Community Center's Camp Raanana 
• Black River Farm & Ranch 
• Daycroft Montessori School 
• Dancer's Edge @ Studio O 
• YMCA Camps Nissokone & Ohiyesa 
• Crystalaire Camp's Camp Lookout 
• City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services 
• Varsity Day Camp 
• Summers-Knoll School's Tower Education 
• Keith Hafner's Karate 
• YMCA Storer Camps 
• Ypsilanti Township Recreation Center 
• Oz's Music Environment 

A free performance from Colors the Clown beginning at 1:00 p.m. can also help entertain the children while you are there.

Summer camps that wish to send me updates on their summer camp programs can contact me at tmayrend at gmail dot com. This year I also have openings for sponsorship and special advertising deals.

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.