March 2006

Classes for Kids

Preschool

Nature Alphabet: Hands-on discovery, crafts and nature walks. Ages 3 to 6 with adult. 10:30-11:30am March 7 (C is for Caterpillar) and 1:30-2:30pm March 21 (D is for Dandelion). $6; registration required. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., next to Cheney Stadium, Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Olé! Passport to Play Spanish Explorations: Preschoolers, with adult. 9:30-11am Fridays, except first Fridays. $5 per family, plus admission ($5 adults and children 1 and older). Children’s Museum of Tacoma, 936 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-627-6031. www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org.

Homeschool

Legends of the Longhouse and Customs Long Forgotten: A special enrichment class for homeschool students, interwoven with humor, legends and song. Presented by Master Basket Weaver and Storyteller Harvest Moon. Students will weave and learn about the history of Northwest Native American basket weaving and the rituals of gathering materials. Ages 6 to 18. 10am-2pm March 1. $4.75; parents are free. State Capital Museum, 211 21st Ave. SW, Olympia. 360-753-2580. Next enrichment class, Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery will be April 5.

Budding Scientists: Explore nature through games, walks and crafts. Ages 5 to 7. 10-11:30am first and third Wednesdays. Topic for March 1 is Going Underground. March 15 is Plants in Your Own Backyard. $7. Registration required. Call for location. 253-565-9278. www.tahomaaudubon.org.

Beginning Science at the Nature Center: Topic is It’s Not Easy Being Green. Ages 8 to 10, 1-3pm March 9. $10. Classes fill quickly, registration required. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Intermediate Science at the Nature Center: Topic is Plant Power. Ages 10 to 12, 1-3pm March 16. $10. Classes fill quickly, registration required. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Advanced Homeschool Science: TTopic is Botany. Ages 12 to 15. 1-3pm March 23. $12. Registration required. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Pay-as-you-can Homeschool Vacations: Have fun and learn too, at the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. Learn about cranberry growing, oyster harvesting, whale watching, shipwrecks and more. Located on the Long Beach Peninsula. Email NWHomeschool@aol.com for specifics and available weeks.

Art Classes: Ages 6 and older. Call for times. $5 to $10 per week. Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center, Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup. 253-445-9175. www.fredoldfieldcenter.org.

History Lab: Become a detective and solve a history mystery! Ten student minimum, grades four and higher. $5. Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. 253-798-5884. www.historylab.org.

Homeschool Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop: Designed for homeschooled boys in Pierce County, activities can be incorporated into homeschool curriculum. Pack 5575 ages 6 to 10, 253-539-3868; Troop 675 ages 11 to 17, 253-875-0192 or 253-826-2688.

Maplebrook Farm: Learn about processing wool, milking goats and making cheese. All ages. $25 per four-week session. Maplebrook Farm, near Gig Harbor. 253-857-7429. http://hometown.aol.com/sheriemcm/Maplebrookfarmhome.html.

YMCA: Homeschool P.E. and swimming. All ages. Tacoma, 253-564-9622; Lakewood, 253-584-9622; Puyallup, 253-841-9622. Olympia (Briggs), 360-753-6576, Olympia (Downtown), 360-357-6009.

Snoqualmie School Train: Make reservations now to ride the rails into the past on May 9, 10 and 11. 12:30pm excursions will be geared toward homeschool students. Activities include locomotive cab tours, railway communications, and a 40-minute steam train excursion. $5 per student, with one teacher per group admitted free. Payment required by April 21. Snoqualmie Valley Railroad, 38625 SE King St., Snoqualmie. 425-888-3030, ext. 204 or email jessie@trainmuseum.org.

After School and Weekends

Nursing Information Sessions: Learn about careers in nursing and how to prepare for nursing school. For high schoolers**. Noon-1:30pm March 7. FREE. Tacoma Community College, Bldg. 19, Room 26, 6501 South 19th St., Tacoma. 253-460-4306. www.tacomacc.edu/events/events.asp.

Big Brother/Big Sister: Activities include tips for handling a baby, storytime and art activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 3 to 6, 10-11 am; ages 6 to 10, 12:30-2pm March 11. $25 per family. Class meets at Tacoma General Hospital; fees are paid to Bates Technical College. 1-800-342-9919. www.multicare.org.

Crafty Critters: Participants work alone or with others to produce craft projects to take home. Today’s craft is Springtime Basket. Ages 7 to 11. 3:30-4:30pm March 28. $6. Pre-registration required. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Wild Expressions: Interactive nature workshops. Ages 12 and older. March 4 is Natural Essences, March 11 Wild Landscaping, March 18 Origami Creatures and March 25 Poetic Expressions. Call for times. $6 to $8 per workshop covers all materials. Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St., Tacoma. 253-591-6439. www.metroparkstacoma.org.

Parks and Recreation Centers

Recreation centers offer a variety of classes, camps and day camps. Call or visit Web sites for schedules.

Fircrest Recreation: 253-565-8177.
Lacey Parks and Recreation: 360-491-0857. www.ci.lacey.wa.us.
Lakewood Parks and Recreation: 253-589-2489. www.ci.lakewood.wa.us.
Metro Parks Tacoma: 253-305-1015. www.metroparkstacoma.org.
Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation: 360-753-8380. www.ci.olympia.wa.us/par/.
Pierce County Parks and Recreation: 253-798-4176. www.piercecountywa.org/parks.
Peninsula Parks in Gig Harbor: 253-858-5524. www.piercecountywa.org/parks.
Puyallup Parks and Recreation: 253-841-5457. www.cityofpuyallup.org.
Thurston County Parks and Recreation: 360-786-5595. www.thurston-parks.org.
Tumwater Parks and Recreation: 360-754-4160. www.ci.tumwater.wa.us.

Deadline Details
Submission deadline is the 20th of the month, about six weeks prior to publication. Next deadline is March 20 for May events. Please e-mail information, including date, time, cost and ages to PugetSoundParent@aol.com. All submissions are run on a space available basis.

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