Your kids can put summer’s heat on ice and learn figure skating or hockey.
They can make a splash and learn to swim.
And they can accelerate their fun and catch the new “Cars 3” opening mid-June at YES Cinema or cheer superhero Captain Underpants in his movie premier opening today. In fact, when it comes to school’s out, plenty of fun is in, as in inside, said Diane Doup, community outreach coordinator for Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center.
The nonprofit agency operates the theater in downtown Columbus.
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“We’ve told our (film) booker that we’ve got to stay stacked with kids movies this summer as much as possible,” Doup said. “We are at the mercy of the movie studios sometimes. But we always want to try to offer some nice family opportunities when school is out.
“And it’s not just for the families that live here. We have a number of people with children when they come to town to visit,” she added.
For moms and dads looking to help their kids pick up a little STEAM — science, technology, engineering and math — the kidscommons museum downtown just added two new discovery kiosks featuring 12 panels that teach guests about those concepts, through elements such as gears, pulleys and more.
With a restructured school calendar in recent years, summer hardly seems as endless to youngsters as it once might have. But the list of activities is substantial. Here, we highlight just a few varied possibilities so your young people need not simply veg in front of their TV or tablet all day long.
YES CINEMA movies such as the animated releases “Captain Underpants,” “Cars 3” (June 16) and “Despicable Me 3” (June 30) at the nonprofit theater, Fourth and Jackson streets in downtown Columbus. Ticket prices: matinees $4 (before 6 p.m.). Evenings (after 6 p.m.) $4 for children ages 3 to 12 and $6 for adults. Information: yescinema.org.
CHOIR CAMP, free for elementary and middle school youngsters. Students will rehearse at 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in June beginning June 6 at St. Peter’s Lutheran School, 719 Fifth St. in Columbus, and present a concert July 1 at YES Cinema, Fourth and Jackson streets in downtown Columbus. Space is limited. Information: 812-379-1630.
FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH Summer of Exploration, June 5 through July 28, at the facility at 405 Hope Ave. in Columbus and at Columbus Youth Camp, 12454 W. Youth Camp Road. Weekly fee is $100 per child. Themes include “Space is the Place,” “Animal Kingdom” and more. Information: 812-348-4558 or foundationforyouth.com.
NOON KIDS CONCERTS, at midday at the Donner Park Shelter House near 19th and Lafayette streets in Columbus. Free. Co-presented with the Columbus Area Arts Council and the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. Scheduled: June 15 — “The Pirate Show” with Captain Paul highlighting the golden age of pirates with tales and sea shanties. June 22 — “Bum Ditty Bum” with Hoosier singer-songwriter Jerry D. Maulin as he mixes stories and songs.
CHAOTIC TUESDAYS, with the kinetic sculpture Chaos I at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 26, July 25, and Aug. 22. Presented as a partnership between several local arts and history-related agencies. Free. The event generally draws and adults and youngsters alike, and sometimes has included live music. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.
PHILHARMONIC STRINGS CAMP, interactive training for young musicians of all levels, June 19-23 at Ceraland Park, 3989 S. County Road 525E in Columbus. Cost: $185, but scholarships are available via Vanessa Edwards at 812-376-2638, ext. 4, or email [email protected].
LIVE ON THE PLAZA with hip-hop group and urban dance team The Groovaloos at 7 p.m. June 16 at the Bartholomew County Library Plaza, 536 Fifth St. in Columbus. Free. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.
DONNER AQUATIC CENTER public swim sessions, 1 to 6 p.m. weekdays, noon to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays, 739 22nd St. in Columbus. Admission: $2 for children 3 to 5 years old; $3.50 for those ages 6 to 17; $4 for adults 18 and older. Information: 812-376-2683 or columbusparksandrec.com.
YOUTH FISHING DERBY for children ages 3 to 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 4 at Mill Race Park Round Lake, near Fifth and Lindsey streets in Columbus. Cost is $5 per participant. Information: columbusparksandrec.com.
KIDSCOMMIONS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FREE-ADMISSION SUNDAYS, 1 to 5 p.m. June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6, 309 Washington St. in Columbus. Hands-on exhibits and activities, climbing wall, home exploration and other features. Information: 812-378-3046 or kidscommons.org.
ADVANCED HOCKEY BASICS, 12:30 p.m. Saturdays June 3 through Aug. 5, ages 4 to 14, Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena, 2501 Lincoln Park Drive, Columbus. Cost: $67. Information: 812-376-2686 or columbusparksandrec.com.
COLUMBUS YOUTH CAMP week-long activities for young people ages 5 to 18, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., various weeks from June 5 through July 24, with youngsters picked up and dropped off at Foundation For Youth, 405 Hope Ave. in Columbus. Cost: $100. Information: columbusparksandrec.com.
JUNIOR GOLF CAMP, ages 8 to 16, Saturdays 9 to 10:15 a.m. June 3 to June 24, Greenbelt Golf Course, 1000 N. Gladstone Ave. in Columbus. Cost: $40. Information: columbusparksandrec.com.
LEGO PROBLEM SOLVERS “camp” for youngsters ages 6 to 8 from 9 a.m. to noon June 19-23, kidscommons children’s museum, 309 Washington St. in Columbus. Registration deadline is June 5. Cost: $110 members/$125 non-members. Information: 812-378-3046 or kidscommons.org.
