“No more classes, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks! Summer time!” This is a phrase familiar with fans of that pesky wabbit Bugs Bunny, and one that many school kids love to chant at the end of school. After all, summer is all about having fun under the sun, lazing around without having to worry about quizzes, long exams, homework and school projects. For parents however, summer brings on another challenge – how to keep kids from getting bored and prevent them from getting on the nerves of mom with their endless whining that “there’s nothing to do here!”
Fortunately, there are a lot of activities that can keep restless little tykes happily occupied. Whether it’s sports, arts and crafts, acting or science and technology, there’s a workshop or activity suited to various ages and interests. Here’s the lowdown.
A GOOD WAY TO ST’ART SUMMER
Ayala Museum partners with the Department of Tourism and Faber-Castell for this arts and craft workshop inspired by Philippine festivals. Targeted for kids aged 7-12, participants will learn new art techniques, painting, floral arrangement, decorations, fan making, and many other artistic pursuits while getting immersed in the stories and cultures in our regions.
Sessions will be held every Saturday starting from April 9 until May 28 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required, and workshop fees are P650 per session and P4,550 for a season pass. The fees cover one child and come with basic materials and handouts. Guardians will be allowed to wait in designated areas only.
For inquiries and reservations, call 7598288 local 35 or email santiago.mf@ayalamuseum.org. Look for Sofie Santiago or any Tours and Education associate.
DO-THE-RONALD WITH MCDONALD’S KIDDIE CREW
It’s never too early to teach kids the value of hard work, and McDonald’s 5-day summer workshop is an opportunity to teach children about discipline, hard work, teamwork, responsibility and sharing through art workshops, on-the-floor training, and other fun group activities. The workshop is geared for children 6-12 years of age, with a minimal fee of P650 that comes with a t-shirt, cap, bag, ID, workshop materials, and meals for five days. As kiddie crew, children will also get on-the-floor training like greeting customers and assisting the crew at the drive-thru and front counters in the participating branches nationwide. Plus, they will also discover their artistic skills as they go through creative art workshops that spell fun! They will make their own scrapbook, get acquainted with burger making, and will enjoy the talent workshop as they learn to sing and dance to the Kiddie Crew Theme Song, Do-the-Ronald, and Dance Exercise.
Registration is ongoing until April 30 with workshops conducted by batches starting mid-March. For more information or to enlist your kids, visit mcdonalds.com.ph.
21st century learning with Power Mac Center
Most kids nowadays can run circles around their parents when it comes to tech and smart gadgets. Mention “apple” and more likely than not, they know you’re not talking about the fruit either. For sure, young ones will enjoy the activities offered by premier Apple reseller Power Mac Center (PMC) that promise to be both fun and educational.
PMC’s Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC) will be conducting the annual Summer Workshops, now on its ninth year, with the theme “ReCREATE LEARNING: Shaping Kids for the Information Age.” The series features specialized topics integrated to 21st century skills, a set of abilities including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity that students need to develop in order to succeed in the information age.
Children aged 7-12 will enjoy a techie summer as they learn digital skills with Apple authorized trainers as mentors who will help enhance kids’ use of advanced digital tools and bring their imagination to life with lectures, demonstrations, guided hands-on activities, and actual project creation.
Participants may choose from specialized courses designed to familiarize students with various functions and programs that maximize the use of their Mac and iOS devices like Basic Electronic Engineering, Robotics Programming with Sphero, Game Creation, 3D Design to 3D Printing, App Development, Augmented Reality, Stop Motion Video Creation, and Interactive eBooks Creation.
Each topic will have three sessions for a fee of P3,500 per participant, and a packaged fee for two topics at P6,000 per participant. The workshops will start in Manila locations on April 4 and run until April 30. Scheduled workshops in Cebu will run from April 25 to May 6, and from April 11 to May 6 in Davao City.
Participants are encouraged to register in advance due to limited slots. Register online via http://tinyurl.com/PMCsummerworkshops2016. For detailed schedules and other information, call 553-4211 or 6399, or email workshops@powermaccenter.com.
Jollibee’s Future ‘Mini Managers’
Jolly Kiddie Club (JKC) members can look forward to an exciting summer with the Jollibee Mini Managers Camp, a fun and productive way for children to learn the value of work through fun and games. Targeted for JKC members aged 4-7, the weeklong, fun-filled workshop that starts on April 4 is seen to make JKC members become better individuals in the future. Though fun activities, participants will be taught about the importance of excellence, respect for individuals, honesty and integrity, leadership, teamwork, and other core values that a Jollibee restaurant manager embodies.
The Mini Managers’ hands-on and interactive role-play activity will expose kids to Jollibee’s best store practices. The campers will be asked to carry out what they have learned as they are assigned to different food, service, and cleanliness stations in the store. Kids will feel like a manager dressed up in their own Jollibee Manager uniform during the exercise.
Registration for the Jollibee Mini Managers Camp runs for the whole March nationwide, and the workshop proper will last until May. If your kids are not yet JKC members, visit a Jollibee store to apply for membership and register for the Mini Managers Camp now. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines.
Basketball at B.E.S.T. Center
Does your son have ambitions to become the next Chris Tiu? He will probably have better chances if you enroll him at the B.E.S.T. (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training) Center founded by former national coach Nicanor “Nic” Jorge. The country’s premiere basketball school, which has Tiu for its alumni, will be holding basketball clinics in several areas for various levels from Preparatory to Level 6 for kids aged five and above.
Starting April 1, classes will be held in Amoranto Sports Complex and Starmall Alabang on Tuesdays and Fridays while Caloocan High School, Xavier School and Malate Catholic School will be the venue for clinics every Wednesday and Saturday starting April 2. Meantime, classes will be held at Perpetual Help Las Piñas on Mondays and Thursdays starting on April 4 while the Ateneo College Covered Courts will be the venue for Preparatory and 1-6 levels beginning April 11. In Lancaster New City in Imus, Cavite, Sunday classes will be held starting April 17 to May 22.
For inquiries and other information, like B.E.S.T. Center on Facebook or call 4116260 or 3723066 from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Hit the Bull’s Eye with THE ARCHERY ACADEMY
Fans of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games can channel their idol with help from The Archery Academy. Starting on March 28, summer lessons will be conducted by batches with MWF or TTHS schedules either in the morning from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. or from noon until 2:00 p.m.
Located in Greenhills in San Juan, the Archery Academy was put up by “a group of passionate archers who want to expand the archery community by exposing more people to the sport.” Their mission is to make sure that every student gets to understand the fundamentals and safety rules and be able to enjoy the sport with their peers. Hourly classes are offered with full programs for first timers and refresher courses for returning archers.
Fees for beginners is at P8,500 and P6,500 for returning students. For more information, check out http://thearcheryacademy.wix.com or like it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheArcheryAcademy/?fref=ts.
Kick up some fun with FUTBOL FUNATICS’ CAMP
Kids who get a kick out of scoring a goal will enjoy the Futbol Funatics summer camp that kicks off this April 2 in several venues in Metro Manila that include the Meralco Center (Pasig City), Tahanan Village Park (BF Homes Parañaque City), BGC-TURF (Bonifacio Global City, Taguig), and Cuenca Park (Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa).
The camp offers training for beginners and kids as young as three up to teens according to the following age brackets: Beckham Buddies, 3-6; Messi Magicians, 7-9; Ronaldo Runners, 10-13; and Cannavaro Captains,14-17.
There will be 10 sessions per module and participants can choose weekdays or weekends for their sessions. Fees are P3,000 for the 10-session module, P330 per session for 8-9 sessions, and P400 per session for seven and below sessions. Uniform fee is P600 for two shirts; black long socks at P350 per pair and black shorts (optional) at P450-P500.
Interested participants are required to make reservations. Text the name, age, selected camp venue, and the date the participant plans to start to 0917-329-00-11. You may also email to futbolfunatics@yahoo.com or call 622-2898/ 0917-329-0011. For more information and updates on schedules, like Futbol Funatics on Facebook.
S.T.E.P. TAEKWONDO
Martial arts students say that one of the greatest things that they learn is the value of self-discipline – something that will benefit them not only in their personal life but in dealing with others in the professional world. Parents can take the first step in instilling discipline and other values in their children by enrolling them in martial arts like taekwondo for example.
Scientific Taekwondo Efficiency Program (STEP Taekwondo) offers that opportunity with summer classes that begin this April until June at various venues like Makati (Movement Performance MNL), Quezon City (Kalayaan Badminton Center, Xtreme Boxing Gym, Precious Gem), and Mandaluyong and Pasig. Kids from age four and above will enjoy learning taekwondo commands like kyung rea (bow); chareyut (attention), choon be (ready), si jak (begin) and ku mahn (stop) that go with hand and body gestures.
For inquiries, schedules and other details, call or text 09176420123, or like Scientific Taekwondo Efficiency Program (STEP Taekwondo) on Facebook to get updates.
Dance, dance, dance!
Shake the boredom away with the Acts Dance and Arts Academy workshop at the third level of Orange Bridge along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City (beside the Shaw MRT station). Whether it’s hip-hop (including the contemporary and lyrical kind), ballet, jazzfunk, breakdance or KPop, there’s a kind of dance that will bring the groove into your vacation.
Classes start this March 28 to April 23 for Batch 1 and April 25 to May 21 for Batch 2. The recital is scheduled on June 11.
For more detailed information, like Acts Dance and Arts Academy on Facebook or call 904 3604 /+63 917 9237453. You may also log on to www.actsdanceacademy.net.
Kids are Acting up!
Kids Acts Philippines, a non-profit professional theater company that stages original and adapted youth and children’s plays will be running TheCampArt Performing School: Summer Musical Recital featuring “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Adapted from the popular Hans Christian Andersen tale that we have all come to love, the summer musical recital is set to music by Eugene Belbis with script and lyrics by Luigi Nacario.
The three times a week summer workshop will be held from March 20 until May 29 at Unit 260, 2F Cityland Pasong Tamo Condominium in Makati with schedules starting at 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. for different age brackets starting at three years old until 17, from Kinder theater to Teen theater.
For fees, schedules, classes and other information, call 507.3396 / 09154478959 / 0919.4338565 or email kidsactsphilippines@yahoo.com.ph. You may also like Kids Act Philippines on Facebook. Photo by Eugene Belbis from Kids Act Philippines Facebook page.
A library of learning
We know its summer and kids are supposed to be off books and anything that reminds of school, but the little bookworms will have the time of their life with The Learning Library that offers Beginning Reading, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Public Speaking and Filipino workshops for children ages three to 16. Classes begin on April 4.
Visit http://www.learninglibraries.com for schedules at Loyola Heights, Greenmeadows, Makati, Alabang, Pasig, New Manila, West Avenue, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Marikina branches.
You may also call 294 8081/09178282669 or email inquiry@learninglibraries.com to reserve a slot and get exact schedules, locations and other details. You may also check out its account on Facebook.
SINGAPORE MATHE-MAGISIANS
Those old enough to have watched Stand and Deliver will remember this inspiring movie about a math teacher who gives problematic students a shot at college by teaching them complicated math concepts. Like they say, math is the great equalizer, and you can give your kids that extra edge through Singapore Math classes offered by MatheMagis Singapore Maths from children aged 4-14. Classes are conducted in a creative and understandable manner to demystify the notion that math is complicated. Sessions begin on April 4 with one hour per session for 10 sessions.
For more details, visit www.mathemagis.com or check out https://www.facebook.com/mathemagis.singaporemaths on Facebook. You may also call their branches in Serendra (833-7374), Makati (556-5109), Katipunan (225-6330), Timog Avenue (261-1611) and SM Pasig (209-8128). Photo courtesy of www.mathemagis.com.
Go theatrical with 9 Works’ STAGE CAMP
Want to be in theater? Then make your dreams come closer to reality with 9 Works Theatrical’s STAGE CAMP summer theater workshops for kiddies, pre-teens, teens and even adults. The workshop will start on April 11 until May 29 from Monday to Friday. The seven-week workshop will be conducted at The Loft, Rockwell Club in Rockwell Center, Makati City with culminating showcases at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Stage camp teachers are Onyl Torres (for Kiddie and Pre-teen camps), Sab Jose for Teen Camp and Robbie Guevara for Adult camp.
You may contact Camille at 0917.554.5560 or check out info@9workstheatrical.com for additional information on schedules and more importantly, to reserve a slot now!