Cabin fever is avoidable when school’s out

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 20, 2008

Poulsbo Parks and Rec has programs to get kids off the couch.

POULSBO ­— School’s out for the holiday season.

This is great news for the North End’s nearly 7,000 students, but maybe not so awesome for the area’s working parents who now must fork over the cash to supervise children chilling at home.

For that very reason Poulsbo Parks and Recreation is offering two camps during the winter break so students can keep their scholastic creativity flowing and to give parents an alternative to traditional day care services.

“There’s a need for parents to find activities for children to do when there’s no school,” said Kris Goodfellow, one of two recreation program managers. “It gives parents an opportunity other than a baby sitter and kids an opportunity to have fun and a little education.”

The winter break offerings are the “Be Scene: Youth Theater Program,” which runs Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 2-3, and the “Mad Science Camp: Claws, Codes and Constellations,” which runs Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 2. Both camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The mad scientists will go on the hunt and search out animals, follow scent trails, solve chemical mysteries, while looking for clues. They’ll also tamper with crystal creations, slime formulas and slime creatures; sure to be a slimerific good time.

As of Wednesday afternoon no little scientists had registered for Mad Science camp and Goodfellow said if come Tuesday afternoon no one had signed up the science camp would be canceled.

Cost for the science camp is $116 and it’s held at Vinland Elementary.

The theater camp is already filling up, but Goodfellow said there’s still room for a few more budding actresses/actors.

Students will spend the week learning lines, rehearsing and building props for the set. The theater week culminates in a play performance on Saturday Jan. 3 and the theme is along the lines of a western hoedown.

Cost for the theater camp is $139.

Students ages 9 to 15 are invited to participate and will need to bring a lunch for both camps.

The camps are a new endeavor for the recreation department and something they’re just trying out to see if the interest is there.

“There are lots of opportunities in the community for kids to engage in athletic activities, but not that many opportunities for kids to do stuff that’s more creative,” Goodfellow said. “The thing I like about the science camp is it’s an important part of school and anything we can do to help make it fun and exciting for kids will help spark an interest.”

The Parks and Rec department is also offering day-long activities during the North Kitsap School District’s Learning Improvement Days.

In October a mad scientists day camp was offered and 10 kids showed up to help make, star in and produce a short, special-effects zombie DVD. The scientists arrived at Poulsbo Middle School at 9 a.m. that day and were very excited, Goodfellow said.

“Mad Scientist has all kinds of little gadgets,” she said. “They were making a zombie movie and all had scarves and fake gashes and then went outside to film.”

Another round of offerings is slated for Jan. 20.

For more information, call the Recreation Center at (360) 779-5917 or stop by 19540 Front Street, Poulsbo.