Summer activities for children

Billabong Surf Camps
Ride On Surf School, located behind Pompano Joe’s in Miramar Beach, announces it has teamed up with Billabong USA to offer Billabong Surf Camps for the 2008 season for children ages 8-18. Offering two-day, three-day and weekend camps, the surf camps will run throughout the summer each day from 9 a.m.-noon through Aug. 22.
The camps feature surfing instruction and lessons on ocean awareness, wave breaks, ocean conditions, water safety, wave etiquette, paddling, push up and pop up techniques and balancing.
After proper instruction and practice lessons, the camps conclude with a surf contest and beach relay race. Each child will receive a Billabong grab bag complete with fun goodies including a T-shirt, DVD and stickers. The surf camps include a surfboard rental, leash, rash guard and/or wetsuit.  Students are encouraged to bring a light snack, water, towel and sunscreen. 
For more information on camp schedules, call 582-2593 or visit www.RideOnSurf.com.

Wild Encounters
Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop will host Wild Encounters, kids workshops conducted by Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for children between the ages of 5-10. Workshops will focus on Backyard Wildlife and Stewardship.
•June 6: Reptiles and amphibians.
•June 20: Bats.
•July 11: Birds.
•July 25: Mammals.
•Aug. 8: Bugs and spiders.
Build crafts, explore nature, eat snacks, play games and meet live animals. Space is limited and cost is $20 per child per workshop paid in advance to secure reservation.
For information, call Wild Birds Unlimited at 269-0665. 
 
Drama workshops at OWC
The Children’s Summer Intensive Study Theater Workshop is for youth ages 6 to 13 who are interested in learning more about in-depth character and script analysis techniques as well as vocal and dance warm up techniques and styles. The workshop is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday to Thursday from June 9 to July 3 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the OWC Niceville campus.
Young students will have the opportunity to perform vaudeville skits and songs in the lobby of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center before the show or during intermission of OWC’s summer musical production of “Gypsy” at 7:30 p.m. on July 9-12.
Registration for the four week non-credit workshop is $300. Interested students should register for course number XKD 3200B/Ref# 57474 now at any OWC campus or center. Contact the OWC Continuing Education Department at 729-6085 for more information on registration or the workshop.
The Creative Dramatics program will be held June 9-26. Participants age 13 through  college-age will learn about choreography, acting, voice, makeup and staging and will star in a production of “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.” in the Sprint Theater of the OWC Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Enrollment for Creative Dramatics is open now through June 9 at any OWC location. No prior experience in theater is required and eligible high school and college students may earn college credit. The final production of the workshop participants, “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.” will be performed June 26 at the Sprint Theater at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. The performance is open to the public and free of charge.
Those interested in Creative Dramatics should enroll in OWC course numbers DAA1580-55261 (Musical Theater Dance I) and THE2820-55605 (Creative Dramatics). The regular fee for enrollment is $252. High school students may be eligible to take the Creative Dramatics class free of charge through dual enrollment. For more information contact Mary Lou Baker at 729-5832.

University of West Florida
The University of West Florida Division of Continuing Education will offer a variety of day camps for kindergarten through high school age children beginning June 9 and ending Aug. 8. Most of the camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some being offered for half-day sessions in either the morning or afternoon. Extended camping is available for an additional fee.
Costs range from $70 for some of the half-day programs to $263 for two-week programs. Campers are asked to provide their own sack lunch.
Call 474-2083 or visit uwf.edu/explorecamps.
Camp categories include:
•Cartoon Camp: Learn how to draw characters, film animated movies and sculpt and paint clay dragons.
•Creative Summer — Art and Theatre Camp: Designed to encourage campers to express themselves artistically and develop their creativity through a variety of activities involving visual and performing arts.
•Math, Science and Geography Camps: Choices include Marine Science Camp, Math and Science Camp, Space and Beyond Camp and Around the World Camp, all designed to make often intimidating subjects enjoyable and exciting for kids through a series of experiments.
•Gifted camps do not require that a child is identified as gifted. Rather, they are taught by local gifted teachers. The two gifted program options are Forensic Science Camp and Web Quest Creations Camp, both designed to challenge and actively engage children intellectually through meaningful and authentic experiences.
•Whodunit Mystery Camp combines creativity, theater and reading into one week of fun-filled mysteries. Each camper will have a character role and learn how to be a detective in their choice of one of three mystery camps.
•Tech It Up! Technology Camps are hands-on learning experiences for participants to have fun while developing technology skills. An option of a half-day Outdoor Adventure Sports Camp in combination with a half-day tech camp will also be offered, with separate camps for boys and girls.
•Engineering: Robotics Camps are offered at the elementary and middle school level as participants will explore firsthand “real” robots and get a more in-depth look at the construction of robots and how to work in collaboration with them.

Kamp Kelly Wamba
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s “All Kinds of Art” will present a one–week multi cultural summer camp program at Destin Middle School for students entering first grade through eighth grade. The 5-day camp will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 16-20. The cost of the camp is $125 and includes supplies and camp T-shirt.
AKA will offer four fantastic classes featuring the summer camp’s theme of “West Africa Meets Hip Hop.”
•Hands On With Zig is back by popular demand. The history and development of contemporary hip-hop is traced to traditional West African rhythms and music. Award-winning Zig Wajler will teach this interactive performance class which compares rhythms and introduces authentic African instruments. Students will create a mastered audio CD.
•West Africa Hip-Hop Dance by Noreen Poppell of The Ballet Conservatory. Students will learn the basics in hip-hop dance.
•Become a Chef with authentic West African cuisine by award-winning chef Tim Creehan and staff.
•Masks and More with art teacher Eva Markham to create West African masks, clay sculpture and a variety of other art forms.
Call 650-2226 for more information.

Abrakadoodle
Abrakadoodle Art Camp, each lasting one week, will be held throughout the summer beginning June 23 at the Destin Community Center.
The themed camps — including Wild, Wild West, Pirate Island, Zoo Doodle Safari and Garden Safari — are open to kids ages 3 to 12.
Each camper receives a T-shirt, Kamper Kit and their own framed artwork. Tuition for the camps costs between $150 and $175.
Registration is now in progress and can be done online at www.abrakadoodle.com.

History and archaeology summer camps
West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., in partnership with Florida Public Archaeology Network, will offer two weeks of history-inspired summer camps for children entering fourth through seventh grades. History camp will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 23-27 and archaeology camp will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 14-18. Each session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and costs $100 per camper for registration before June 1. Call 595-5985, Ext. 108, or visit historicpensacola.org.

Kids on Campus
Enroll for Kids on Campus summer enrichment program at Okaloosa-Walton College at all six OWC locations. The course list and registration forms are available at all area elementary and middle schools, OWC campuses and centers, and on the college web site www.owc.edu.
Kids on Campus provides students entering grades three through eight an opportunity for fun learning in the areas of athletics, theater, art, and academics in a college environment.
The program will host two sessions at the Niceville campus, June 16-26 and July 14-24. Classes are held Monday through Thursday.
Half-day sessions are from 9-noon or 12:30-3:20 p.m. Full-day sessions are 9 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
For an additional fee, extended day options begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Call 729-6086.

Destin Commons Free Kid’s Summer Movie Series
Rave Motion Pictures will host free movies at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday in June and July.
A kid’s movie meal, including a
drink, popcorn and candy, is available for $1 off. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Scheduled movies are:
•June 10, 11:  Shrek — The Third.
•June 17, 18: Firehouse Dog.
•June 24, 25: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.
•July 1, 2: Alvin & The Chipmunks.
•July 8, 9: Bee Movie.
•July 15, 16: The Pirates.
•July 22, 23: Charlotte’s Web.
•July 29, 30: Surf’s Up.

Tire Swing Art Camps
An Art of Our Own art studio announces its Summer Tire Swing Art Camps will be offered June 16-20, for girls ages 6-12; June 23-27 for teens ages 13-17; and July 7-11 for girls and boys ages 6-12.
Cost of the camps is $150 and includes snack and supplies. The camp will meet under the oaks and in the art barn of Santa Rosa Beach from 9 a.m.-noon. Limited to 20 campers. To register and for additional information, call Becky Hart at 598-6501 or e-mail dierhart@mchsi.com.

Archaeology Kids: Museum Summer Camp
“Archaeology Kids: Museum Summer Camp” will be held at the Indian Temple Mound Museum this summer.  The camp will run from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 16-18 or July 14-16. Campers will experience 10,000 years of history in three days.
Each day children will learn about the past, about archaeology, museums, artifacts and make a take home project. There will be camp supplies, a snack to enjoy and art/science activities to participate in.
Day 1: Digging into the Past — Campers will experience a mock excavation and learn about       archaeology.
Day 2: Partners with the Past — Campers will learn about early Native Americans through the museum’s special summer exhibit “Florida’s Lost Tribes.”
Day 3:  Bringing the Past to Life — Campers will learn about the past as they experience the Indian Temple Mound Museum’s artifact collection.
The cost of the camp will be $50 per camper for all three days. Students going into the third through sixth grades are welcome. Advance registration is required. Call Gail Lynn Meyer at the City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center, 833-9595, to reserve your place.

Summer Camps at the PMA
The Pensacola Museum of Art will offer three unique art camps for children this summer.
Camps are open to ages 6-14. Cost is $70/PMA members and $85/non-members. Camps will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday. A mid-morning snack will be provided. Each camp concludes with a group exhibition and reception. Call Patrick Jennings at 432-6247.
•June 23-27: Absolutely Abstract focuses on exhibition at the PMA. Students will explore techniques and styles and create abstract and non-objective masterpieces.
•July 14-18: “Active Members” is based on annual Member’s Juried Exhibition. Students explore different mediums represented in collection and create their own works.
•July 28-Aug. 1: “Looking at Landscape” will allow students to study techniques used to create illusion of space in landscapes and create their own works.