CHILDREN'S HOUR AT THE NEY is an annual summer morning story-hour and evening fairy tale costume ball held at the Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E. 44th. The storyhour will feature Clever Elise, told by Austin storyteller Kim Lehman, followed by an opportunity for children to create their favorite characters out of clay. There will also be a tour of the museum, complete with lemonade and cookies. The Fairy Tale Costume Ball will be held that evening. Guests are invited to dress as their favorite fairy tale character and enjoy an evening of classical music, ballet, and storytelling. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free to both events. Guests are asked to bring a blanket. Sat, June 27, 10am (storyhour) and 7-9pm (costume ball). 458-2255.
KidsCHEERLEADING CAMP for youth ages 6-11 will be offered at the South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland. Cost is $30; register now. Mon-Thu, July 27-31, 9am-noon. 444-6601.
KARATE CLASSES FOR GIRLS are offered at no cost (for the first two months) at Sun Dragon Women's Martial Arts, 203 E. Riverside. Classes are taught by women black belts, and participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and physical abilities are welcomed. Tue/Thu, 5:30-6:30pm. 416-9735.
THE SUMMER CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION will offer a unique series of programs for Austin area youth, sponsored in part by the J. Paul Montgomery's Heroes Program, Austin Writer's League, Auspicious Breaking Brew and Car Club, and the Austin Children's Museum. Educational activities and workshops include a Heroes Program (various sites and times); the Tejano Arts Festival and Low Rider Car Show (July 18-19); a Summer "Back to School" Youth Performance Festival (Aug 15); and more. Call for a complete schedule of events. 472-5636.
KIDS T'AI CHI MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES are offered weekly at Tom Gohring's School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, 6611 Airport Blvd. Programs are available for boys and girls ages 6-13. Call for a complete schedule. Website: http://www.taichitom.com. Ongoing. 452-8664.
CLAYWAYS POTTERY STUDIO offers half day summer camps for children ages 6-10 and 11 & up at their location, 5442 Burnet Rd. Camps are held in five-day sessions, Mon-Fri. Register now. 459-6445.
TERRA TOYS offers weekly storytimes for children of all ages at their location, 1708 S. Congress. June 28: Daniel Pinkwater reads Tooth-Gnasher Superflash. Sundays, 1pm. The shop will also feature a weekly summertime scavenger hunt, now through August 22. Participants scavenge the city for crazy items, and prizes are awarded to everyone. Saturdays, noon-6pm. Kids can also earn extra cash this summer by decorating shopping bags for the store. Call for details. 445-4489.
CHILDREN'S DAY ART PARK, the annual summer music series of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, is currently underway at Symphony Square, 11th & Red River. Beginning at 9:30am, children can visit the "Instrumental Petting Zoo" where they can try their hand at playing different instruments from the orchestra. During the morning festivities, members of the orchestra visit with the children about their instruments and play favorite tunes. At 10am, performances especially geared for young children are presented onstage. In addition, each week features storytellers, mimes, and magicians. After the featured entertainment, children can follow the Pied Piper down the "Lemonade Trail" to the Art Tent, where local artisans "set up shop" and children can create a variety of items to take home. Admission is still only 50cents per child (free for accompanying adults), and lemonade is only 10cents a cup! Those attending are encouraged to pack a sack lunch and picnic on the banks of Waller Creek. July 1: Jon Emery's Teddy Bear Picnic. Wednesdays, 9:30am-noon. 476-6064.
CHILDREN'S ART DAYCAMPS & CLASSES are offered at Laughing at the Sun Gallery, 2209 S. First. Camps are held Mon-Fri, 8am-12:30pm; classes are Mon, 6:30-9pm (ages 12-18) and Fri, 3:30-6pm (ages 6-12). Call for a complete schedule. 326-4410.
HALF PRICE BOOKS' SUMMER READING PROGRAM is open to children age 15 and under to encourage reading during the long, hot days ahead. Youth can read or be read to for 15 minutes to complete each section of "The Bookworm" form. Completed forms can then be redeemed for $2 off their next purchase at participating stores. As well, readers will automatically be entered in a drawing for two tickets on Southwest Airlines. Through August 31. 214/360-0833.
THE SHOTS FOR TOTS PROGRAM provides free immunizations for youth at a variety of Austin-area locations. No appointment is necessary, but parents/guardians are asked to bring the child's shot records and/or notice of needed shots from school; child's social security number; and child's Medicaid number (if possible/applicable). Call for a complete schedule and location information. Offered daily. 469-2188 (English); 469-2191 (Español).
AUSTIN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, 201 Colorado. The museum offers a wide variety of fun activities for children of all ages. Programs include Baby Bloomers, an informal play and explore time for children ages 0-2; Teetertots, for kids ages 2-4; Digital Film Editing, for youth ages 9-12; an Early Childhood Educator Workshop for adults; Adobe Photoshop 4.0 Multimedia Studio, ages 9-11; and much more. Call for fees and a schedule of events.
The museum has recently opened a new teen center, "The Loft," a unique new space providing innovative workshops and programs for teens. Activities also include open-ended conversation, group projects, and off-site trips to local cultural programs. Topics include design, multimedia, and video production; swing dance; acting; and more. Call for a complete schedule.
A new exhibition, "Robo-City," invites visitors to create and experience a technicolored mini-city through action and reaction with lights, music, and multimedia. Developed under the direction of Yacov Sharir (with the Sharir Dance Company) and a team of high school students, teachers, artists, and technicians, the exhibit is featured through July 12. Sharir says of the exhibition, "Whether it is activating sound, lights, or cyber humans, the children influence the outcomes -- or `co-author' the exhibit -- because they are in charge of what happens." 472-2499.
AUSTIN ZOO provides an up-close opportunity to meet a wide variety of animals that share the planet with us. Ninety percent of their residents are rescues, including lions, tigers, and bears (and monkeys, too!). The Zoo is located off 290 West, past the "Y" in Oak Hill. Open seven days a week, 10am-6pm. 288-1490.
THE AUSTIN NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER, located in Zilker Park, provides exhibits and educational programs for children of all ages. Free. Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. A variety of summer camps will be offered in June and July. Call for a complete schedule. 327-8181.
NATIONAL WILDFLOWER RESEARCH CTR., 4801 LaCrosse. Saturdays feature activities for the whole family, including nature walks, planting, leaf-printing, stories, etc. 292-4200.
PIONEER FARM, 11418 Sprinkle Cut Off Rd., demonstrates how pioneers settled and farmed the land. Visitors can see farm animals, take part in daily chores, and tour historic homes and barns. Admission is $3 adults/$2 children. Sun, June 28 features Field to Food: Jams and Jellies. Wild mustang grapes and other fruits will be made into wonderful treats. Sun, 1-5pm; Mon-Wed, 9:30am-1pm. 837-1215.