2001 Kids' Summer Fun Guide

Sports Camps

AUSTIN SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL TRAINING CENTER America's favorite pastime besides Web surfing becomes even easier to learn! Austin will be holding summer sports camps for girls and boys. Campers get a snack each day and pizza on Friday, as well some excellent help with their swing. Special one-day clinics available, too. Ages: 7-13. Camps begin June 4. Mon-Thu, 9am-5pm; Fri, 10am-4pm. 386-5652. www.austinsoftball.com.

CHAMPIONS ALL-STAR SPORTS CAMPS are sponsored by Champions for Christ and offer instruction in volleyball, football, or basketball along with a little spiritual guidance. Special guests such as Bruce Crevier, four-time world record holder ball-handler in the Guiness Book of World Records, are assured in every session. Camps run different times, dates, and places depending on which sport you're interested in. Check the Web site for details. Ages: 9-17. 338-0433. www.championsfc.com/camps.html.

CAMP SUBZERO Brrr! This camp gets your kid out of the summer heat and into the freezer. Kids get to ice skate every day as well as play in a snow park and try their hand at field hockey on ice, otherwise known as broomball. To keep your cubs from turning into polar bears, though, Camp Zero also allows time for swimming, gymnastics at the nearby gym, and themed arts & crafts. Ages: 5-12. Weekly sessions begin June 4, 9am-5pm. Chaparral Ice Center, 14200 N. I-35. 252-8500. www.chaparralice.com.

CRADLES TO KIDS When they're out of their cradle, the kids will be ready for these weeklong camps with differing weekly themes. Activities include swimming, golfing, skating, and bowling. Ages: 5-12. June 4-Aug 10. 1601 Stratford, Round Rock. 388-4567.

MY GYM the year-round children's fitness center offers a summer camp with gymnastics, dance, and sports mixed with arts & crafts, storytime, music, snacks, and more mixed in. Ages: 3-8. Mon-Thu, 1-4pm, June 11-Aug 9. 115 Sundance Pkwy. #200, Round Rock. 255-0003. www.my-gym.com.

JAMES SILAS BASKETBALL CAMP James Silas, a former star guard for the San Antonio Spurs, returns for a third round of basketball camp. Silas and his professional coaching staff spend the first two days of camp teaching your child the basics of basketball. By day three, kids are divided into teams for some real action. Morning (for ages 7-10) and afternoon (for ages 11-17) sessions are offered. Mon-Fri, starting June 4. 708-9630 or 473-2528.

UT SUMMER SPORTS SCHOOL Like the old woman in the shoe, this program has so many courses you won't know what to do. There's archery or tennis lessons (ages 7-17), swimming lessons (ages 1 and up, adults too). Kids aged 7-10 can do it all in the sports camp which combines a variety of sports with field trips, swimming, and tumbling. Check the Web site for more information. UT campus. 471-1272. www.edb.utexas.edu/sss.

AUSTIN ROCK GYM Bouncing off the walls is encouraged at this summer camp, only there they call it rapelling. Kids in the beginner classes learn the basics of knotcraft and top-rope climbing. The more advanced classes get to spend some days outdoors with the real rocks and learn more advanced climbing techniques. Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm, beginning June 4. Austin Rock Gym, 4401 Freidrich #300. 416-9299. www.austinrockgym.com.

TOM GOHRING'S SCHOOL OF T'AI CHI Still can't shake the nunchaku (aka nunchuck) craze that came and went with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? This martial arts academy has special classes for kids and adults, specializing in basic nunchaku techniques -- with the usual fare of T'ai Chi, Chinese Yoga (Chi-kung), push hands, yoga, and Kung Fu. Call up for a trial class or two. 422-4245. www.taichitom.com.

KIDS INLINE SKATE CAMP Think of as many sports as possible. Now add the word "roller" to them. At this camp, kids will participate in rollerhockey, capture the flag, rollerbasketball, roller T-ball, and whatever else you can think of. Kids aren't just limited to in-line skates either: Scooters and skateboards are also welcome. Camps meet Mon-Fri, 8am-12pm, beginning June 11. The Austin Rec Center, 1301 Shoal Creek. 476-5662. motorblade@aol.com.

2001 AUSTIN JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY is Austin Parks and Recreation Department's high-quality golf instruction program for future Tiger Woodses. The program covers instruction in pitching, putting, chipping, fairway irons, driving, and sand traps. Classroom instruction includes courtesy, etiquette, care of the course, and how to use the rule book. The program culminates with the City Junior Golf Championship, held July 24-26. Ages: 6-18. Register at Lions Municipal Golf Course, 2910 Enfield. $75 ($35 for shorter Junior Golf Mini-Academy; scholarships available for both). 480-3020 or 477-6963. www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/golf_junior.htm.

AUSTIN JUNIOR GOLF CLINICS Austin PARD also offers introductory golf instruction covering beginning fundamentals of golf and conduct on the course. Call the host golf course at least two days prior to each clinic to register. Ages: 8-18. All clinics meet 8am-9:30am and cost $5. June 25, July 9 & 23 at Bergstrom Golf Course, 10330 Golf Course Rd. 530-4653. July 16 at Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer Golf Courses, 5400 Jimmy Clay. 444-0999. May 31, June 23, July 12 & 30 at Lions Municipal Golf Course, 2910 Enfield. 477-6963. July 5 & 19 at Morris Williams Golf Course, 4300 Manor Rd. 926-1298. www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/golf_junior.htm.

2001 NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS LEAGUE Austin PARD's inexpensive, comprehensive, grassroots program introduces youth to the lifetime sport of tennis, using the concepts of teamwork and sportsmanship, with emphasis on fun over competition. Children are provided instruction, matches, and racquets. The summer season culminates in the City Championships and a city-wide picnic. The league is held at courts all over the city; daily, Mon & Wed, and Tue & Thu schedules offered. Scholarships are available. Ages: 7-18. Call for specific dates and to receive a registration form: 480-3020 or 477-7773. Visit . www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/tennis.htm for a list of locations.