Looking for ways for your kids to have a great time while you work over the February break? Here are 10 great options for mid-winter break camps.
SIFF Filmmaking Camp
Students will work in small groups to make several short films. They will learn the basics of working together as a movie crew, writing scripts, directing actors, using accessible filmmaking technology, and digital editing. At the end of the week, the short films will be celebrated with a family screening in the SIFF Film Center Theater.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 to 21
Where: SIFF Film Center, Seattle Center
Who: Ages 9-12
The Mountaineers
Learn climbing, rappelling and other outdoor skills at this camp, which includes a field trip to snowshoe and sled at Hyak Sno-Park.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 17 to 21
Where: Mountaineers Seattle Program Center in Magnuson, with one field trip.
Who: Ages 7 to 12
Arena Sports
Burn off all that extra home-from-school-energy by keeping them active all day long at one of the Arena Sports “School’s Out” camps. These are very flexible, with half-day, full-day options, or your child can drop in for a single day if need be. (Ages 3 to 5 only have morning options.)
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or half-days, February 17 to 21 (Redmond location, February 14 to 15 and 17)
Where: All five locations (Magnuson, Issaquah, Redmond, SODO and Mill Creek)
Who: Ages 3 to 12
Pacific Science Center
PacSci camps are offered at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue and Pacific Science Center. Campers will engage in facilitated activities and experiments in topics like animal life, robotics, plant life, physics and more. Most camps go from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There are couple of half-day options at Pacific Science Center for kids in PreK and Kindergarten.
When: 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (mostly), February 17 to 21
Where: Pacific Science Center or Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center.
Who: Grades preK to 6
SANCA Circus Camp
The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts has camps that will teach your kids the finer points of tumbling, aerial arts, juggling, the trapeze and more.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., February 17 to 21
Where: 674 South Orcas St., Seattle
Who: Ages 6-17
JazzGirl Mid-Winter Break Camp
If you have girl in grade 5 to 12 who sings or plays an instrument, check out this week-long program of girls making music together and building community. Tuition is on a sliding scale, and girls can come one day or all five
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., February 17 to 21
Where: MLK FAME Community Center, 3201 E Republican St
Who: Grade 5-12 girls (Trans, non-binary and gender-non-conforming youth are welcome)
Uplift Writing and Communication
This half-day camp for kids in 6th, 7th and 8th grades teaches kids how to organize their ideas, revise effectively and get used to the conventions of academic writing.
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 17 to 21
Where: 2920 NE Blakely St, Seattle.
Who: Middle schoolers
Kids Science Labs
They'll still be learning even though they're not in school at this camp for science enthusiasts. Innovative projects and fun hands-on experiments will also show them how fun learning can be.
When: February 17 to 21
Where: Kids Science Labs, 405 NE 71st St., Seattle
Who: Ages 4-10
Seattle Children’s Theatre
Seattle Children’s Theatre offers full-day camps at their theatre in Seattle Center (Playwriting for grades 3-5 and Snow White for grades K-2) and at St. Thomas School in Medina (Shakespeare for grades 3-5 and Folk Tale Spinners for grades K-2.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 to 21
Where: Seattle Children’s Theatre or St. Thomas School Medina
Who: Grades K-5
Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo’s camps for kids involve outdoor games (rain or shine!), imaginative play and visits to the exhibits.
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for ages 4 to 6 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 6 to 8. Feb. 18 to 21.
Where: Woodland Park Zoo
Who: Ages 4 to 8.
