There’s always something to do on the North Olympic Peninsula.
That’s especially true in the summer, when organizations offer myriad activities to entertain and teach young people.
Here are a few ideas:
Summer reading
The North Olympic Library System offers a variety of summer reading programs for children of all ages at the county’s four public libraries:
■ Port Angeles, 2210 S. Peabody St.
■ Sequim, 630 N. Sequim Ave.
■ Forks, 171 S. Forks Ave.
■ Clallam Bay, 16990 state Highway 112.
“Fizz, Boom, Read” challenges elementary students to read or be read to for at least 14 hours this summer.
Each youngster who completes the challenge will earn a free book. For each 14 hours read, participants are entered in a drawing for a chance to win a tablet.
All completed reading logs must be received by Aug. 2. Pre-registration is not necessary.
The libraries have events planned through the summer, including science-based programs, a sing-along and a pool party.
For middle and high school students, the library offers teen-friendly weekly workshops in robotics, game design, engineering and electronics, and online publishing.
Each teen can earn a free book for reading three books, and for every three books read, each is entered into a drawing for a netbook.
For more information on summer reading programs, visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-summerreading.
A wide variety of day camps are open for first- through sixth-grade students, with more limited options for those in middle and high school.
Feiro Marine Life Center
The Feiro Marine Life Center on City Pier in Port Angeles offers marine science camps for youths from 5 to 15 years old.
Each year is different, said Melissa Williams, Feiro executive director.
“We have new programs and new instructors,” Williams said.
Camps include Young Junior Oceanographer for children 5-7 years old, Junior Oceanographer for youths 7-12 and Underwater Robotics: ROV Explorers for those 12-15.
Costs and times vary. For information and to register, visit www.feiromarinelifecenter.org.
YMCA Port Angeles
Day camps are offered at the Clallam County YMCA, with the final session Aug. 25-29.
Each day camp class is a half-day, and campers may be registered for one or two classes per day, with after-camp care available.
Most classes are limited to 20 campers.
Campers must be registered by the Wednesday before the camp begins. Early registration is recommended.
Parents can register their children at the YMCA offices, 302 S. Francis St.
Classes include Lego madness, geocaching, sewing, mixed media art, beach explorers, masters painting, hiking, print making, basketball, soccer, golf, mask making, “junkyard wars,” clay sculpture, “weird science,” skateboarding, art, playground games, Frisbee, building forts, art that moves, drawing, cheerleading, flag football, paper art, street art, dancing, cooking, tennis and a Port Angeles parks tour.
Two courses are restricted to older students: volleyball, age 7-12; and basketball, age 7-12.
A weeklong drama camp will be offered for older students and teens, age 8-16.
A Girls Leadership Camp, for young women entering seventh and eighth grades, is planned from July 19-26 at Camp David Jr.
The cost of $425 includes room and board for all seven days. Financial assistance is available.
For more information, visit www.clallamcountyymca.org or phone 360-452-9244
Boys & Girls Clubs
Programs are offered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, both at the Mount Angeles unit at 2620 S. Francis St. in Port Angeles and at the Carroll C. Kendall Unit at 400 W. Fir St. in Sequim.
For $30 per year, youths ages 6-18 can attend a drop-in program from noon to 6 p.m. weekdays through late August and take part after-school activities during the 2014-15 school year.
There are no limits to registration for summer activities.
“The more kids who sign up, the more staff we hire,” said Tessa Jackson, membership coordinator for the Sequim unit.
The drop-in program includes a lunch and snack, local field trips, summer academic enrichment and a variety of daily activities.
Members can take part in the Junior Rangers programs on select Tuesdays, in which students visit popular Olympic National Park locations with educational guides from the park.
Day camp, from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., includes breakfast, lunch and a snack; daily activities; and regularly scheduled activities, which include field trips to popular regional attractions, such as the Seattle Aquarium or Point Defiance Zoo.
The camp is $65 per week or $15 for one-day drop-in campers. The cost of entry to some field trip destinations is not included in the camp fee.
For more information on the camps or the drop-in program, phone Port Angeles at 360-417-2831 or Sequim at 360-683-8095.
To register, stop by the club offices.
Port Angeles Recreation Center
All Port Angeles Parks and Recreation day camps are full.
The Rec X’Press Day Camp, located at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., offers daily activities and field trips for children ages 5-12 through Aug. 22.
Each two-week session of the camp costs $165.
NatureBridge
The Olympic Summer Field Research Course for high school students at Olympic National Park’s NatureBridge on Lake Crescent is full.
For information, visit www.naturebridge.org.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
