opportunity to join KID’S PLAY 2009-2010!

Dear Parents, Teachers, Students and after school facilitators,

I want to take this moment to offer a very special free program to you or your child or teen. Now starting it’s 8^th year, Kid’s Play Arts Ensemble and YouthSound our “rocking boys band is looking for new students. What is Kid’s Play and YouthSound???

An ensemble consisting of pre-teens and teens (ages 8-18) invited to participate in a year-long residency at Hope Center studios (1210 W. Clay, Ste. 26). Master teachers Chris Howard (music) and Gayla Miller (theater) Roberta Cortes (dance) Patrick Ferreri (yoga) will join Jane Weiner (dance) in teaching the students on a twice weekly basis. Students MUST attend both days in order to take part. The students will attend classes in these three fields each week, working more intimately in the artistic fields, under the guidance of these teachers. With this more in-depth study and immersion in the art, the students will then be able to create new pieces that reflect their level of learning.

A performance is scheduled for May 1, 2010. This performance will enhance the student’s self-esteem, by providing a positive seeking of self, guided by master teachers, and then a culmination of that work in a nurturing and supportive performance space thus creating a positive boost.

We are so pleased and excited to offer this opportunity to join KID’S PLAY 2009-2010!

Your consistent attendance is key for your growth as an artist… and is vital for the program as well. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions or concerns.

NOTE: SCHEDULE CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS!

Weekly Classes for Teens (Ages 13-18):

Tuesdays

4:30-6:30pm Dance/Yoga Roberta Cortes/Patrick Ferreri

Thursdays

4:30 – 5:30pm Music Chris Howard

5:30 – 6:30pm Theater

Weekly Classes for YouthSound (BOYS, Ages 13-18):

Saturdays

4:00 – 6:00pm Jason Jackson/Chris Howard

PLEASE NOTE: Students involved in this program MUST attend both days in order to create the ensemble community. No previous experience is required and it is important that they recognize this is a year long commitment.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS (Ages 12 1/2 – 18): Students participating in photography class can not participate in the Kid’s Play Ensemble, as we are trying to include more students in our scholarship program.

Hope Stone, Inc.
is a unique organization dedicated to presenting authentic dance,

music and theater performances as well as embracing and nurturing

the creative and expressive side of children through the positive,

empowering experience of the performing arts.

www.hopestoneinc.org

Shooting Stars and Young and Intense Summer Dance Camps

Dance Houston Invites You

To Spend Your Summer Dancing! 

 

DATE: July 20 - 31, 2009 & August 3 - 21, 2009

TIME: 8:00am - 5:00pm

LOCATION: Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex & the Wortham Center
PRICE: $450 for Shooting Stars and $525 for Young & Intense

Dance Houston is now offering two summer dance camps for youth ages 8-11 and 12-17! These exciting camps for kids offer training and performance opportunities in modern, jazz, ballet, hip hop, social, and cultural dance.  Our mission is to foster self-esteem and self-expression while improving dance technique.  These camps are designed to help our students grow to love dance as a healthy, creative, and fun activity, while planting the seeds for discipline and growth. Their hard work builds into an entertaining showcase at the end of each camp! 

 

For more information or to register, visit us athttp://www.dancehouston.org/Summer_Camp.htm.

 

Registration fills quickly, so grab this opportunity while it lasts! 
 

Hope to see you there!

Kids’ Market Day on Saturday, March 28, 2009.

Kid’s Market Day offers children of all ages the opportunity to see where their food really comes from.  Students who have participated in Urban Harvest’s School and Youth gardening programs will bring their produce to sell at the farmers market.  Vendors will bring animals and equipment from their farms to show kids what farming is really like. Kid-friendly activities will include seed planting, face painting, scavenger hunt, raw vegetable tasting and egg dyeing using natural colors.  Live music and a cooking demonstration will also be featured. 

The Bayou City Farmers Market is a project of Urban Harvest.  Urban Harvest is a nonprofit organization that uses fruit, vegetable and habitat gardens to improve quality of life in the greater Houston area. These gardens serve to educate, strengthen community spirit, create therapeutic environments and provide food and income. We teach organic gardening techniques, help neighborhoods build successful community gardens, create outdoor classrooms at schools that teach core curricula, nutrition and respect for the environment, provide fresh, locally grown food, and encourage responsible land use. Our work benefits all of us by improving food, diet and health. It also builds engaging schools, neighborly communities, and valuable local businesses that together sustain and improve our environment.  Our Bayou City Farmers Market helps educate the public about the benefits of eating local produce in season and provides the local agricultural community with a direct outlet for their products.  For more information, visit our website www.urbanharvest.org. 

The Bayou City Farmers’ Market is opened every Saturday throughout the year and offers locally-produced vegetables, fruits and farm products. The market supports family farms and boosts the local economy.  There are thirty-five vendors with another twelve seasonal vendors whose products include a large variety of fruits and vegetables, yard eggs, duck eggs, goat cheeses, pasteurized goat milk, grass-fed beef and lamb, Gulf shrimp, honey and beeswax products, fair trade organic coffee, fresh cut flowers, fresh herbs, prepared foods and baked goods, healthy snacks, knife sharpening while you shop, and much more.  All of the items at our market are produced within 180 mile radius of downtown Houston.  

WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 8 am to noon 

WHERE:  3000 Richmond at Eastside (between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway), in the back parking lot.  The market isn’t visible from Richmond, so look for the cross street, Eastside (there’s a traffic light there) and turn north.  The market will be visible in the parking lot to the right.  
  

Free Creative Music Classes for Young People

Spring session starts on January 13, 2009

All classes are free of charge
All classes are held at MECA
1900 Kane Street, 77007 { map }

Nameless Sound Youth Ensemble - for adolescents and young adults
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8pm

Creative Kids Ensemble - for grades K through 8
Wednesdays from 6-7pm

Classes for People with Special Needs:
Creative Music for the Basic Skills Community
Wednesdays from 7-8pm
Creative Music for the High Functioning Community
Wednesdays from 5-6pm

ABOUT:

Nameless Sound Youth Ensemble
Freestyle music (improvisation) - all instruments are welcome. Participants may come from any musical background or any style of music.

Creative Kids Ensemble
The Creative Kids Ensemble explores the joy of music making in a positive and affirming environment. Sound, rhythm, singing, drumming, and story-telling are used to focus on coordination, listening, leadership, creativity, group-awareness, and self-awareness. Most of all - ITS FUN! Instruments are provided.

Classes for People with Special Needs
Nameless Sound explores music making for the special needs community. In an encouraging and structured environment, participants will engage in musical exercises that emphasize listening, coordination, peer support, self-expression, self-empowerment, and non-verbal communication. Instruments are provided.

For information, directions, and registration,
go to www.namelesssound.org,
or call 713-928-5653,
or respond to this email.

Register now “Go Green” Spring Break Camp– March 16 – 22, 2009

Go Green this spring at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s Spring Break Camp. From roots to shoots, children at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s Spring Break Camp will dig deep into understanding plants and how they live, grow and eat. Kids can look forward to growing their very own plants, designing gardens, creating an edible display, dyeing a bandana with plant pigments and much more. Campers are guaranteed to take home plants and other unique projects.

The Arboretum has a long history of providing quality nature camp programs that use this 155-acre nature sanctuary as a living laboratory to explore nature and science. This week-long camp will include both indoor and outdoor adventures. Children are taught by staff naturalists in classes by age (5 & 6, 7 & 8, 9-12).

Priority registration is given to Arboretum members by membership level. For more information, call 713-681-8433 or visit www.houstonarboretum.org/springcamp.asp

Cost: Full day camp (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.): $230 members; $270 non-members
Morning only camp (9 a.m. – noon): $120 members; $150 non-members
Family discount: $10 off registration for additional child in same family.

HOUSTON FIRE MUSEUM'S CHILDREN'S OPEN HOUSE.

Join the firefighters and staff of Houston’s ONLY Fire Museum TOMORROW, Saturday, December 20, from 10:30am -12:30pm for a “Children’s Open House”!

Kids will have a blast climbing all over the vintage firetrucks while they meet “Bernard the Dog” from the new kid’s show, “Heroes Hip Hip Hooray”! Also on hand will be “Hunter the Arson Dog” from the Harris County Fire Marshall’s office and there will be plenty of games. Reindeer piñata filled with holiday treats and cocoa and cookies will be served. This event is FREE and fun!

While you’re there, you can purchase a membership to the Fire Museum as a gift – or for your family!

Membership benefits include:

Free admission to the Museum $50 off birthday parties or special events 10% discount in the “Hot Stuff Gift Shop” Invitations to special events The Fire Museum produces the annual “Fire Fest”, the Fire Prevention poster contest, and other exciting and educational programming throughout the year. Based on the site of Fire Station No. 7, the Museum is a fine example of preservation since it has been completely renovated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum is located on the edge of Houston’s downtown at 2403 Milam Street and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am-4pm. Regular admission is adults/$3 and children, seniors, and students/$2.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Calendar of Events

Pre-registration is required for the activities/events listed below.

Call 713-366-0421 or visit www.houstonarboretum.org  for more information.

 

 

Tuesdays, Jan. 6, 13, 20 & 27

5:45 – 6:45 p.m.

Tai Chi

The Arboretum provides a serene, natural backdrop for this graceful, meditative form of exercise. Class is held inside Arboretum classroom overlooking the forest. Cost is $40 for month or $15 per session.

 

Thursdays, Jan. 8, 15, 22 & 29 (No class on Jan. 1)
5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Yoga on the way Home

Why fight the traffic? Slow down and relax in the peaceful beauty of the Arboretum during a one-hour yoga session in the Arboretum's classroom overlooking the forest. Cost is $40 for one month’s classes or $15 per session.

Friday, Jan. 9

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Tadpole Troopers: Rocking Raccoons!

Ages 3 to 5 with adult

The spring series of Tadpole Troopers classes will explore the mammals of the Arboretum. In January, children will learn fun facts about raccoons.  Cost is $13 for members; $26 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

Friday, Jan. 9

1:30 – 3 p.m. 

Home School Class: MAD—Migration, Adaptation or Die

Ages 5 to 12

Designed especially for homeschoolers, this class will study how animals survive during winter and other harsh conditions. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

 

Friday, Jan. 9

7 – 8:30 p.m.

Arboretum at Night: Owl Prowl 

Ages 12 and up (parents must accompany minors)

Staff naturalists will provide a brief presentation on the owls of Houston, and then guide participants on a walk through the forest looking for these nocturnal birds of prey. Cost is $18 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration required.

 

Saturday, Jan. 10

9 – 10:15 a.m. or 1 – 2:15 p.m.

Tadpole Troopers: Rocking Raccoons!

Ages 3 to 5 with adult

The spring series of Tadpole Troopers classes will explore the mammals of the Arboretum. In January, children will learn fun facts about raccoons.  Cost is $13 for members; $26 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

 

Saturday, Jan. 10

9 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m.

Naturalist Explorers: Animal Hide & Seek

Ages 5 to 8

Some animals have adapted to hide for survival, yet others are brightly colored and easy to see.  Discover how an animal’s coloration helps it survive in its habitat.  Cost is $15 for members; $30 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

 

Saturday, Jan. 10

9 – 11 a.m.

EcoTrackers: To Camo or Not To Camo

Ages 9 to 12

Some predators and prey use camouflage to hide while other animals are brightly colored for all to see.  Students will learn through hands-on activities the pros and cons of camouflage and flashy coloring.  Cost is $15 for members; $30 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 13

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Field Trip: Saturday, Jan 17, 9–11 a.m.

Tree Pruning Basics

If you are thinking about pruning a particular tree or just want to understand pruning in general, here's your opportunity to prepare, whether you or someone else does the work!  Topics will include tools, safety, techniques for do-it-yourself pruning and tips on selecting a service provider. Instructor M. C. Swearingen is an ISA Certified Arborist with more than 15 years of experience working with trees. Cost is $40 for members and $60 for non-members.

 

Saturday, Jan. 17

7 – 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast with the Birds

Join us for breakfast and then a walk through the forest to see common winter birds at the Arboretum. A continental breakfast with a brief presentation will be at 7 a.m., followed by the hike. Guide Bill Eley is the Program Development Director at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and has over 30 years of experience birding the Gulf Coast, Mexico, and South America. Cost: Free for Arboretum Members; $10 for non-members.

 

Saturday, Jan. 17 

1 p.m.

Canoe Trip on Buffalo Bayou

Enjoy a half-day trip down Buffalo Bayou and learn about the history of Houston's most unique natural asset. This stretch of bayou flows between I-610 and Shepherd Drive, one of the wildest portions of the bayou, and includes the Arboretum and Memorial Park. The focus of the trip is education and conservation and will include discussion of important conservation issues currently facing our Bayou. Trip leader will be guide Don Greene, an award-winning conservationist and educator. Trip starts at 1 p.m. and will conclude between 5 and 7 p.m. A mandatory orientation at the Arboretum is held on Thursday evening prior to the trip. Cost (includes all equipment): $85 for members; $105 for non-members.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Field Trip: Saturday, Jan. 24

Identifying Common Birds

Learn about common Houston-area birds and their habitats, and how the changing seasons affect the types of birds that are present. Class will include techniques to identify all common species, including by call, as well as ways to attract birds to your yard. Instructor Bill Eley is the Program Development Director at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and has more than 30 years of experience birding the Gulf Coast, Mexico and South America. This class is open to anyone over the age of 10 and family participation is encouraged. The class includes a bird walk on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Arboretum to practice identification skills. Cost is $30 for members and $50 for non-members. Pre-registration required.

 

Saturday, Jan. 31

9 – 10:15 a.m. or 1 – 2:15 p.m.

Tadpole Troopers: Rocking Raccoons!

Ages 3 to 5 with adult

The spring series of Tadpole Troopers classes will explore the mammals of the Arboretum. In January, children will learn fun facts about raccoons.  Cost is $13 for members; $26 for non-members. Pre-registration required by Wednesday prior to class.

 

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4501 Woodway Drive • Houston Texas 77024 • 713-681-8433 • www.HoustonArboretum.org