|
|
|
|
Looking
for summer?
We’re here
to help you find it. By the calendar, it officially starts Monday at
But what
to with your time in the warmer weather and longer days? What
follows is combination sampling and introduction to organized
offerings in our area for people of all ages. Every year
at about this time Hood River News compiles this list of events,
activities and attractions in All are
intended as ideas and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, or at least
the longer daylight hours, in pursuit of exercise, entertainment,
artistic expression and even education — fun-style. While this
listing leans toward activities for kids, many are for adults or
all-ages. Classes
such as the museum history camps are just for kids, Timberline hikes
might be suitable for teens and adults, and programs such as Radio
Field Day are geared to adults but could be of keen interest to
youngsters. We’ve tried to include as much information as possible to
help individuals and families decide. This list
is far from an exhaustive one; it generally covers the first half of
the summer. Look for regular updates on summer events in coming weeks. Community
Education is a rich source of programs and classes in health and
wellness, recreation, youth programs, gardening, computers and many
more topics, along with camps and outdoor fun, including numerous
trips both near and far (see Saturday Day hikes, below). See the
online catalog at www.hrcommunityed.org. Summer Day
Camp Community
Education has openings for several summer day camp sessions in June
and July. Call
Preschool
day camp, July 26-July 30, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; cost $110.
Day camp,
cost $120, two two-week sessions: June 28-July 9 and July 12-23, both
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Arts
Center classes A variety
of visual art and theatre classes offered throughout the summer. Visit
www.columbiaarts.org for a schedule of classes and to register. For more
information on the workshops below contact Shelley Toon Hight at
June 21-24
— “Me, Myself and I Workshop; grades 1-6 June 30,
July 1-2 — “Sidewalk Chalk with a Twist,” grades 4 and up July 5-8 —
Butterflies, Flowers, Birds and Insects, grades 1-6 July 12-15
— Silk Painting Power, grades K-2 and grades 3-6 July 19-23
— Pre-College Portfolio Development Workshop, for high school juniors
and seniors July 26-29
— Innovative Performance theater workshop, with HRVHS theater teacher
Rachel Harry, ages 4 through fifth-grade Aug. 2-5 —
Innovative Performance theater workshop, with HRVHS theater teacher
Rachel Harry, grades 6-8 Aug. 2-5
and 9-12— Teens with Cameras Rule the World with photographer
Katharine Kimball, grades 6-12 Aug. 9-12
— Print Making Extravaganza, grades 1-5 Aug. 21 —
Plein Air Painting and Writing for Children at Dancing Moon Farm,
grades 2-8 Mid Valley
This year
the family-oriented program runs Mondays and Tuesdays from June 21
through Aug. 3, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Mid Valley Elementary School. The
program has been temporarily moved to the school’s new cafeteria due
to construction projects. “Students
and families will be able to check out books, earn prizes and get a
sneak peek at the new cafeteria. We will also have computers available
for students and their parents to use,” ELL teacher/after-school site
coordinator Kim Yasui said. Students
who read 100 or more books this summer will get three chances to hit
Principal Dennis McCauley with a water balloon at the first school
assembly in September. Saturday
Day Hikes Community
Ed lists dozens of guided Saturday Day hikes, through August.
Requested donation is $3; because schedules are subject to change,
hikers must confirm with Community Education a day or two in advance,
at Upcoming
hikes: June 19 —
Eagle Creek to High Bridge June 26 —
Wahclella Falls Loop, 8:30 a.m. to noon. July 3 —
Larch Mountain Loop. Radio
Field Day June 26-27
— The annual Amateur Radio Field Day will be held in the Walmart
parking lot. During this event members of Radio Amateurs of the Gorge,
or A press
conference will be held for local dignitaries at 11:30 a.m. Saturday,
followed by a Boy Scout project at 1 p.m. and a hands-on demonstration
for the public at 4 p.m. All
members of the community are invited to visit; particularly those who
might be interested in making ham radio a hobby. ‘Dog Day’
benefit June 27 —
It’s back by popular demand! On a special day celebrating dogs and
kids and family fun returns to the scenic Hood River waterfront from
The event
starts at Dog Day
Afternoon dog walk starts at Marina Park near the Visitor’s Center.
The benefit dog walk is an easy 1.5-mile route along the spectacular
Columbia River waterfront trail to Waterfront Community Park. Walk
registration starts at 11:30 a.m. at Marina Park and the walk starts
at noon. The $15 dog walk fee includes free dog contest entry fees and
is a donation to Hood River’s nonprofit Adopt-A-Dog. Kids 12 and under
walk free with a paid adult. The first 200 walkers will receive doggy
goody bags and all paid walkers will receive free Dog Day contest
entry fees. Leading
the walk again this year is Hood River Mayor Arthur Babitz with his
dog Rocky. From From
Dog
festivities take center stage throughout the day. Dogs and their human
companions will vie for bragging rights as the most talented dog in
the region, the dog (and possibly human) with the most original
costume/s, the Gorge’s own doggie Olympian and the best-looking dog in
town. Contest entry fees are a $5 donation to Hood River Adopt A Dog
and all paid Dog Day dog walkers enter contests free. At 1 p.m.,
the Dogs on Parade Costume Contest will be held, with awards for best
costume, most original and most local theme. At 1:30 p.m., dogs and
their owners may enter the Doggie Olympics and try their hand — and
paws —- at an easy and fun obstacle course that is open to all ages
and skill levels. The finale is at 2 p.m., the Dog Day Talent Show,
with awards for best skill, best looks and most creative performance.
And there is bound to be a “people’s choice” award winner given to one
outstanding dog. Move over, King of the Hook. For more
information, visit
http://www.hoodriveradoptadog.org.
Museum
‘History Camps’ The
History Museum has half-day Community Education programs this summer
for kids entering kindergarten through fifth-grade. All camps
cost: $15 (includes materials and a snack) Learn more in the Community
Ed brochure or online at http://bit.ly/thmcamp.
July 20;
8:30-11:30 a.m. — Farm Life camp: “Quack-Quack Moo!” (Kindergartners) Horses,
pigs, cows, sheep, ducks, llamas — if you like farm animals, come play
with us for a morning! We will do an animal art project, play animal
games, read animal stories, and learn all about farm animals from Hood
River and around the world. We might
even pretend to be animals — and a few furry critters might show up to
meet us! Bring your favorite stuffed farm animal friend or farm animal
toy to join in on the fun. Cost: $15
(includes materials and a snack) n
Bugs may
be tiny, but they can have a huge impact on farming, and on the whole
environment! We’ll learn about how farmers and gardeners can deal with
bugs — the pesky ones and the helpful ones. Learn from
a bug expert about the different parts of bugs, and all the different
kinds of bugs that live in the Hood River Valley. Make your own
bug-safe bug-vacuum to catch and inspect local bugs. June 16;
8:30-11:30 a.m. —Farm Life camp “What About Dirt?” (fourth- and
fifth-graders) Do you
know why Hood River soil is so good for growing things? Do you know
how to compost your family’s kitchen scraps? Did you know worms eat
dirt?! Come find
out what makes dirt work, and build your own miniature worm-house or
compost-can. Wear clothes you’re not afraid to get dirty!
Marimba
camp Camp
Musango, a week of African art and music, for children 9-15, gathers
July 12-15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn to
play African marimbas, enjoy art projects exploring a variety of
media, and sing, danced and play games. Hood River
marimba teacher Karin Tauscher teams with Carrie Rodlend, a
high-energy teaching artist. Call
www.marimbamusango.com. Cherry
Celebration, Hood River
Fruit Loop July 10-11
— Soon it will be cherry season in the Hood River Valley, and farms
and attractions all along the valley’s famous Fruit Loop are welcoming
the arrival of the summer’s first tree fruit. The Hood River Cherry
Celebration takes place for the 18th time, Saturday and Sunday, July
10-11. Many
varieties of fresh-picked cherries will be available all along the
Fruit Loop during the Cherry Celebration. There’ll also be other
wonderful cherry treats, including cherry wine, jam, cookies, pies and
more. Taste delicious fruit and products, and choose your favorites to
take home. In
addition to tasty cherries, there’s plenty more available along the
Fruit Loop. Visit comfortable tasting rooms for wonderful
award-winning wines. Stop by an alpaca farm to meet the year’s
adorable babies. Take an orchard tour. Enjoy barbecue, delightful
desserts, cookies, and many more great treats. In
addition to the orchard-fresh fruit and great products, some Fruit
Loop farms are serving up special activities or attractions for the
Cherry Celebration. Admission
to Fruit Loop farms and attractions is free, and most are open from at
least 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Some have longer hours; wineries open at 11
a.m.). There is free parking, too. For
information about the Hood River Cherry Celebration, a complete
listing of Fruit Loop farms and attractions, and an easy-to-follow
map, visit the Fruit Loop website at www.hoodriverfruitloop.com.
Summer in
the Forest The U.S.
Forest Service — Zigzag Ranger District of the Mount Hood National
Forest offers Interpretive Programs on the Mount Hood National Forest All
activities are free but donations are accepted. For details call
The
activities include n
Timberline Lodge Tours, free and available to everyone, daily at 11
a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. n
Timberline Mountaineer Trail Guided Hike. Accompany a U.S. Forest
Service Ranger on a 2-mile round-trip hike to Silcox Hut, the upper
terminus of the original Magic Mile Chairlift. Explore the rich
outdoor history of Timberline along with the natural history of the
Mount Hood Area. Wednesday through Sunday at 1:30 p.m. This hike is
strenuous with an approximately 1,000-foot elevation gain (climb from
6,000 to 7,000 feet in one mile). Due to snow levels in the early
season participants will hike as far as possible up the trail. n Trail
tours: Explore the meaning of “Timberline” in this short 10-15 minute
talk and some of the difficulties faced by plants, animals, and humans
in this harsh environment. Wednesday through Sunday at noon. n
Timberline Star Party, July 17 and Aug. 28 beginning at 9 p.m. and 8
p.m. respectively, at the Amphitheater outside Historic Timberline
Lodge. Professors
of astronomy Doug McCarty and Dr. Todd Duncan, along with a number of
amateur astronomers, will provide telescopes for the public to view
galaxies, the moon, star clusters and planets from an elevation of
6,000 feet on the Southern slope of Mount Hood. Throughout the night,
astronomers will answer questions from the public during this unique
“tour” of the night sky. n Passport
to the Forest: Ever wonder how to identify tracks you find on the
trail? Why beavers were nearly hunted to extinction? How Mount Hood
was formed? Discover the answers to those questions and more at the
U.S. Forest Service “Passport to the Forest.” The Passport is a mobile
learning center with fun activities for both children and adults.
Simdau Environmental Education games, prizes, and fun filled
activities are open to the whole family, at SkiBowl and Timberline
Lodge. Hood River
County Fair July 28-31
— The 2010 Hood River County Fair takes place Wednesday through
Saturday, July 28-31, at 3020 Wy’east Road, south of Hood River near
Odell. Gates open at General
admission is $6 per adult Wednesday-Friday, $10 per adult on Saturday,
$2 for children aged 6-12, and children younger than 6, free. July 28 is
Family Day; admission is only $15 per car. It is also
a special “Salute to the Troops” starting at 6 p.m. with a barbecue
dinner for $10 — free to Oregon National Guard soldiers and other
active duty military personnel. All proceeds go to the Gorge Heroes
Club, which supports local troops. Free ride
bracelets are available to children of military personnel; see
information box for details. At 7 p.m.
a Color Guard from the Armory will post national colors and vocalists
Perry Cole and Harmony Allaway will perform patriotic selections. There will
also be displays of military vehicles and National Guard personnel
available to answer questions and discuss their pending deployment to
Iraq. Bracelet
Count: Children of active military personnel will be given free ride
bracelets for use July 28. Fair
Manager Clara Rice is taking reservations for the bracelets. Call Rice
at the fair office, The fair
features all manner of open class, 4-H, FFA and commercial exhibits. New this
year is “OMSI at the Hood River County Fair,” located in the gym. Kids
will love the hands-on opportunities to explore science, and to see
thought-provoking demonstrations. Every day
is “Bracelet Day” on Cascade Amusements carnival rides. Save money on
rides by purchasing a $17 ride bracelet ticket for just $12 in advance
of the fair’s opening. They’re available at the fair office, Mid
Valley Market and Clem’s Market in Odell, at McIsaac’s in Parkdale, at
Juanita’s Market in both The Dalles and Hood River, and at E.T.C. and
Columbia State Bank in Hood River, and must be purchased by 5 p.m.
July 28. For
additional information about the fair, call the fair office at Google
Community Celebration June 24 —
Fun for all ages, featuring food and drink, music and a drawing and an
auction for adults known as a “paddle raise.” It happens
from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at The Civic Auditorium, 323 East Fourth St., The
Dalles. Beer, wine and food will be available. Space is
limited; email the dalles2010@google.com for details. The event
is cosponsored by Google and Wonderworks, and it benefits Wonderworks,
which has been entertaining, educating and connecting families with
young children in the Mid-Columbia for more than 30 years. Through
hands-on exhibits, educational programs, and entertaining classes,
Wonderworks helps children ages 0-12 explore the world around them.
Currently, Wonderworks is working to purchase and renovate a building
in downtown The Dalles, which will become a permanent home for the
Children’s Museum. Summer
regulars n Hood
River Saturday Market, weekly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fifth and
Cascade; buy fresh fruit and produce and purchase locally made crafts
furniture, jewelry and more. Live music and other programs weekly. n Gorge
Grown Farmers Markets, each Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Hood River
Middle School (see Home and Garden Special Section for details). n First
Friday art walks are July 2, Aug. 6 and Sept. 3 in downtown Hood
River. Business offer expanded hours, along with special art exhibits,
music and other attractions. Parents
are asked to accompany their children. Watch Hood River News for
updates.
|
|
||||||||
|
|
