NORTH HAWAII — With just a week or two left in the 2017-2018 school year, multiple schools and nonprofits have announced summer programs throughout the region where children can explore their creative talents.
Honokaa
In Honokaa, Hamakua Harvest is offering a free Children’s Summer Garden Program Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Friday afternoons June 19 through July 13. The goal is to provide youth with an innovative, hands-on experience to learn through action and gain positive, self-sustaining habits in an outdoor classroom. Community garden sessions for all ages will also be offered from 4:15 to 5 p.m. Fridays.
The program is funded by Councilwoman Val Poindexter, County of Hawaii, The Atherton Foundation and Laura Jane Musser Fund. To register, contact Garden Coordinator Jenny Bach at 640-0278 or info@hamakuaharvest.org.
Waimea
Parker School has four options open to all students as part of their Summer Enrichment Program. The first is Parker Summer Camp for ages 5 through 12 that will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Parker’s lower school May 28 through July 13. This year’s theme is “The Greatest Summer.” Each week, campers will take educational off-campus excursions. Attendees will also have art, athletics, dance, performing arts, science experiments and other hands-on activities. For questions or registration details, contact Mrs. Christian at 885-0072, extension 7158 or cingalls@parkerschoolhawaii.org.
Performing Arts Summer Camp for ages 10 through 15 will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday July 2 through 20 in Parker School’s Theater. Campers will spend this three-week camp experiencing the world of “The Lion King” with a 30-minute adaptation performance of the popular Broadway show. Campers will engage in all aspects of play production throughout the camp including acting, music, choreography, set design and costume design. For questions or registration details, contact Sara Jane Lilley at slilley@parkerschoolhawaii.org.
High school students can take a full SAT prep course at Parker School 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays beginning July 28 through August 25. The complete 15-hour SAT prep course includes all materials and assessments. Students must attend both the “TEST” and “CLASS” sessions. Visit www.horizoneducation.com to register. For questions, contact Holly Weigle at hweigle@parkerschoolhawaii.org.
The final Parker School option is Challenger Sport’s British Soccer Camp for ages 3 to 14. There will be two camps, the first July 23 through 27 and the second July 30 through Aug. 3. Each camp offers four programs by age: First Kicks for ages 3 to 4 from 9 to 10 a.m.; Mini Soccer for ages 4 to 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon; Half-Day Camp for ages 6 to 14 from 9 a.m. to noon; and Full-Day Camp for ages 8 to 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The curriculum includes a variety of foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, freestyle soccer, small-sided games and coached scrimmages. For more information and to register, visit www.challengersports.com. For questions, contact Nick Howitt at (760) 849-4111 or nhowitt@challengersports.com.
Lavaroots will host a Summer Arts program June 4 through 29 for children ages 7 to 13 at Waimea Country School, culminating with a performance of the play “Mystique de Plastique, The Folly of Trash Unwrapped” at Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Gates Performing Arts Center. Students will explore sustainability and solutions through the arts with classes ranging from hip-hop, art, drumming, garden, circus arts, acting, capoiera, dance and soccer. Limited scholarships are available. For more information or to register, go to https://lavaroots.com/#camp.
A six-week community summer program will be held at Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School for students entering first through eighth grades. Session 1 will run from June 12 through 29 and Session 2 July 2 through 20. Classes all days will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, except for July 4. Children can be dropped off at the school between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m.
As a collaboration of two 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, it is open to all students with this year’s theme, “From Mauka to Makai.” Students will have an opportunity to experience classes that they wouldn’t normally have access to, such as Hawaiian, Spanish or French culture, art, PE, Taiko drumming, math, science, music, cooking and coding, among others. Children will be able to select the classes on a first come, first served basis. Class selections will be available shortly after registration is submitted. The Ho’ike, to showcase learning, will be held on the last day, July 20.
Scholarships are available. The deadline to register is May 31. To obtain an application or for questions, contact Stasia at 890-2500 or stasia@kalo.org; Chelsea at 937-0768 or clafrance@babystepshawaii.org.
Waimea Elementary and Middle School will host a Neilan Foundation Summer Music Camp July 5 through 27. The camp will be from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. weekdays for Waimea Elementary K-5 grade students. The program combines chorus, art, sports and time with friends, plus breakfast and lunch daily and transportation home if needed. Students will perform a grand finale with an “Aladdin” theme from the Disney comedy-musical-fantasy adventure film for family with lunch.
The music camp is $50 per child through a partnership with Waimea Elementary, Waimea Middle, Ho’okako’o Corporation and Neilan Foundation. For more details and to apply, call Diane Kimura-Sugiyama at 887-7636, extension 269, or email dkimura@waimea.k12.hi.us.