Many local organizations offer fun camps during the holiday break

The following are a list of area camps and pricing: Camas Community Education, 841 N.E. 22nd Ave. To register, call 833-5544 or visit www.camascommunityed.org. Winter break camp: For kids in kindergarten through fifth-grade. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, Dec. 17 to 21. Fees are $45 per day or $200 per week, or $30 for a half-day and $140 for the week. Safe Sitter's Training: For kids ages 11 to 15. It prepares the student for nurturing and protecting children. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17. The fee is $65. Boys Basketball Winter Camp: For kids in third through eighth grade. Hours are 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, Dec. 19-21. The fee is $45. The Jack, Will and Rob Boys & Girls Club To register, visit the club at 2033 N.E. Ione St., Camas. Winter break kids camps: For kids in first grade through 12 years old. Options include Sunrise Club from 7 to 9 a.m., morning camps from 9 to noon, and drop-in activities from noon to 5 p.m. Drop-in activities require a $5 membership. The camps will be held Monday to Friday, Dec. 17 to 21, as well as Wednesday to Friday, Dec. 26 to 28. Fees are $50 for morning camps the first week and $30 the second week, and $10 for the Sunrise Camp each week. Camas Parks and Recreation, 1718 S.E. Seventh Ave. To register, call 834-5307. Winter break drama camp: For kids ages 6 to 12 years old. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, Dec. 17 to 20, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, with the play held afterward. The fee is $115 for Camas residents and $125 for non-residents. Preschool winter camp: Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Thursday, Dec. 17 to 20, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21 for a dress rehearsal and holiday performance. Fees are $85 for Camas residents and $105 for non-residents. Winter survival camp: Ages 8 to 12 years old. Sessions will be 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, Dec. 17 to 20. The fee is $60 per session. The camp is held at Scout Hall in Crown Park. Washougal Community Education and Recreation To register, visit Hathaway School, Portable D, 630 24th St., Washougal, or call 954-3838. Winter Wonderland Camp: For kids ages 3 through fifth grade. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, Dec. 17 to 21. Fees are $100 for the class, and $10 for the materials. Basketball Fundamentals Camp: For kids in second through eighth grade. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, Dec. 17 to 19. The fee is $35. Whether you’re a working parent looking for childcare while school is out, or just want to keep your kids occupied during the upcoming winter break, there are a plethora of options available in the local area.Camas Parks and Recreation, Camas Community Education, Jack, Will and Rob Boys & Girls Club and Washougal Community Education & Recreation all offer camps geared for kids who want to cook, craft or work on their jump shot. “The greatest benefit of offering a holiday camp for children is that it’s a win, win situation for all,” Camas Community Education coordinator Karen Rudolf said. “Parents love having a safe, happy place for their children to attend and the children have a great time on their winter break with friends and trusted adults.” The camp includes Wii, air hockey, billiards, pingpong, basketball shoot-outs, wall ball, board games, arts and crafts. “The nice thing about the Camas Community Ed winter camp is the wide variety of activities we offer,” she said. “Children have different interests and we have something for all of them. From creative crafts to educational computer software, from outside and covered play areas to inside Wii, billiards, basketball shoot-out, air hockey and Legos. We have a small library area with puzzles and board games and a dress-up station for make believe. We simply are the one stop shop for kids.” At the Camas Community Center, preschoolers and those in elementary school can participate in drama camp where they will prepare and present a holiday play. New this year to the Camas Parks and Recreation offerings is a winter survival camp. Attendees ages 8 to 12 years old will learn real survival tips mixed with games and fitness. “We try to use a holistic approach,” said organizer Seth Sjostrom. “I’ll teach them about actual survival skills, and then we go to the fun and games.” He added that it wasn’t just for kids who love the outdoors. “It’s really for everyone,” Sjostrom said. “There is also a lot of thinking and science involved, as well as adventure.” The Boys & Girls Club will keep children occupied with art, holiday baking, video game design, games and a basketball camp. Unit Director Mandy Cervantes said the camps are well-structured and affordable. “The best part is that it gives kids something organized to do while their parents are at work,” she said. “The kids really seem to enjoy bonding with our staff and socializing with other kids who go to different schools.” Washougal Community Education is offering a basketball camp for second- through eighth-graders, and a winter wonderland camp for kids ages 3 through fifth-grade. It includes making ornaments, wreaths, snow globes, winter magnets, framed artwork and snowman soup. At the end of the week, attendees will be able to wrap their creations for gift giving. “Finding activities for kids to do in the cold weather can really be a challenge for parents,” said Kathy Douglas-Evans, Community Education technician. “Winter break camps offer a fun way for kids to spend the day, full of organized games, arts and crafts and more. The kids benefit from the interaction of organized games, they enjoy making and eating their own snacks, and they are very excited to make holiday crafts to give to someone special.”

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