Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Tyrone Taylor (left) and Sarah Mahmud, second-graders at San Jose's Lakeview School, pet an 8-year-old king snake at the Youth Science Institute in Saratoga.

Hot Ideas

There's more than television under the sun

By Patricia M. Gray

It's summertime, a time kids should indulge by playing and soaking up the sun. But these days, more often than not, children are watched by the favorite nanny of the '90s--TV. Young people in the Los Gatos area, however, have many opportunities to participate in recreational and educational activities, and some are even free.

Here's a list of places to get started making plans for the summer:

Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation, 123 E. Main St., Los Gatos; 354-8700

With convenient locations at various schools, the rec department offers abundant summer activities for preschoolers through teenagers, including summer school, specialty day camps, field trips, swimming lessons, overnight adventures and more.

A four-week afternoon day camp is being offered this summer. The program provides the opportunity for children to attend a four-week summer school program from 9 a.m. to noon and then attend afternoon day camp at the same location.

Past favorites are also offered, such as sports camps, parent and child programs, Cooking With Kids and more. Fees are $25 and up, depending on the program.

Southwest YMCA, 13500 Quito Road, Saratoga; 370-1877

The "Y" offers a great variety of recreational and educational activities for families and children of all ages. Programs include summer child care, day camps, sports camps, travel camps, family camps and a lot more.

New Summer Fun Family Nights at the child-care centers offer family time to play and be together.

Day campers are divided into three age groups. Day campers enjoy activities based on various weekly themes, including environmental awareness, field trips, hiking, social-skill development, cookouts and diversity appreciation.

Specialty campers can follow more specialized interests, such as ice skating, "splash," mass media and, new this summer, performing arts.

Backpacking camps and family camps on the Trinity River are offered. The price depends on the program. YMCA members receive discounts.

Youth Science Institute, 16055 Sanborn Road, Sanborn-Skyline County Park, Saratoga; 867-6940

The Youth Science Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to the enrichment of the community through science education. YSI offers opportunities for getting back to nature through a variety of informative science classes, summer camps and family programs.

Summer science classes include Awesome Amphibians, Feathered Friends, Powerful Plants, and Back to the Creek. A variety of summer camps are offered, such as Animal Friends, Bugology, Take-A-Hike, Jurassic Giants, Sensational Senses and Tiny Beasts. A special summer camp includes children's outdoor musical theater, featuring a production of Robin Hood, a play in the woods. Families can learn together on science safaris that cover such topics as a Starry Safari, the Secret World of Bats, earthquake walks and summer night hikes.

The demand for YSI programs has doubled, and some classes are filling rapidly. "Everybody wants to sign up for the Vasona programs, but because the park is heavily used, it has the most limits with expanding," says YSI executive director Anne Dunham, adding that Sanborn-Skyline and Alum Rock Park locations offer more of a natural and rural setting, but parents seem to prefer the more centrally located Vasona Lake. Prices are modest, with discounts given to YSI members. The YSI program at Vasona Lake County Park is located at 296 Garden Hill Dr., Los Gatos; 356-4945.

A Place for Art, 16755 Littlefield Lane, Los Gatos; 356-7782

A home-based art school, A Place for Art offers aspiring Monets fun with art media such as clay, papier-mâché, sticks, tin and tissue paper. Each class lasts three hours and costs $65 for one day a week or $110 for two days a week (includes all supplies).

During the school year, A Place for Art teaches the fundamentals of perspective drawing or three-dimensional drawing. Joann Pfeiffer started the school after discovering there were no art classes in Santa Clara County to teach kids how to draw. "We are offering crafts in the summertime, but during the regular school year, it's a serious drawing class," Pfeiffer says.

Villa Montalvo, Box Office, P.O. Box 2520, Saratoga; 961-5858

For 42 years, Villa Montalvo has presented world-class performances in a beautiful setting. Villa Montalvo offers a collection of cultural events, including "Pickle Slices" on June 15, a fast-paced production featuring dancing, acrobatics and comedy. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children. On June 29, the Missoula Children's Theater presents The Wizard of Oz; tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children.

Santa Clara County Parks, 298 Garden Hill Drive, Vasona Park; 356-2729 or 356-3741

Young naturalists can explore Santa Clara County's 40,000 acres of urban and mountain parks, trails, lakes, creeks and open space preserves. County parks offer hiking, jogging, bicycling and walking trails, archery, fishing, horseback riding, campsites and interpretive centers. Or just enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the many local parks: Vasona Lake, Sanborn-Skyline, Los Gatos Creek Park, Rancho San Antonio and Lexington Reservoir.

School of Piano, 12380 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, Suite 7, Saratoga; 865-1072

Established more than 20 years ago, the School of Piano offers private lessons or summer piano camps for budding musicians. SOP's goal is to make music fun.

Lessons include music theory and history, mixed in with fun musical games reinforcing theory concepts and music-reading skills. Composition is covered in some classes.

Three summer sessions run June 9-Aug. 23, offering Piano Camp, Saturday Mini-Camp, Kinderpiano Camp, Musical Games, Sing With Jennifer and Synthesizer Sight-Reading. Prices range from $19 to $375.

St. Andrew's School, 13601 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga; 867-3785

St. Andrew's offers an extensive summer sports program for young athletes in third through seventh grades. Sport camps are designed to offer students opportunities to experience a variety of sports, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, hockey, track and field, softball, football and frisbee games. Four camp sessions run July 14 through Aug. 8. Tuition is $150 a week or $275 for two weeks.

On the drawing board for Creative Arts Camp are Yeah for Clay!, Voice Yourself through Song, and Celebrate Life with Dance. Students are combined into three age-based groups and rotate through the three sessions each day. The cost is $150 for the two-week camp.

Saratoga Recreation Dept., 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga; 868-1248

Saratoga's Recreation Department offers a wide range of summer camps in sports, nature, overnight outings, gymnastics and much more.

The youth sports program features Kidz Love Soccer for children 312 to 12 years old. This camp is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of soccer in a noncompetitive environment. Children are encouraged to develop a love of the sport and confidence before going on to more in-depth and competitive camps.

New this year is Adventure Seekers, which offers all-day care plus before- and after-camp care for an additional cost. This program is offered June 23 through July 18.

The most popular camp offered is Nature Camp. It incorporates games, songs, crafts, creative dramatics, storytelling and more into action-packed, nature-themed days. Other camps include Camp Caterpillar, Backyard Scientists and Beach Adventure. Costs range from $79 to $219 depending on the program.

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