Battle winter break boredom

Students in Clovis Unified School District will get two weeks off for winter break beginning Monday, Dec. 21. (Fresno Unified students get three weeks of vacation.) To battle boredom until they return to school Jan. 4, (or Jan 11 for FUSD) students can enroll in nearby camps for art lovers, science enthusiasts, animal activists, aspiring chefs and budding gymnasts.

My Gym Clovis

My Gym Clovis, 1990 N. Fowler Ave., Suite 109 in Clovis, will offer two half-day camps from Dec. 28-31 for ages 2  ½ to 10. Children must be potty-trained to attend camp.

Each camp day has a different theme: pirates, knights and princesses, science and food.Camp times are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

For each day of camp, My Gym members pay $30 for the first child and $15 for siblings. Non-members pay $35 for one child and $20 for siblings. A healthy snack will be served.

Details: (559) 765-2565.

Valley Animal Center

Valley Animal Center, 3934 N. Hayston Ave. in Fresno, is offering two-day winter camps for $70 per child per camp. Current volunteers get a discount. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but extended care is available for an extra charge.

Two snacks are provided, but children should bring a sack lunch each day of camp.

Two Careers with Animals camps will be held; children ages 5 to 8 can attend camp on Dec. 21 and 22, while those ages 9 to 12 can attend on Jan. 4 and 5.

“We’ll have special guests demonstrating what they do in their careers,” said VAC’s volunteer manager and outreach and education program coordinator, Shannon Escobedo. “We’ll have a veterinarian, a groomer and a trainer, so that the kids can experience what’s out there if they like animals.

“They’ll also get to do the behind-the-scenes stuff with the shelter and clinic staff and work with our shelter animals, too.”

A Careers with Animals: Wild Animals camp will be held Dec. 28 and 29 for children 7 to 12. Sierra Endangered Cat Haven, Critter Creek Wildlife Station and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo will do hands-on demonstrations with exotic animals.

Register online at www.valleyanimal.org/camp or in person at the shelter. Camps are limited to 20 students. Details: (559) 233-8690.

The Discovery Center

The Discovery Center, 1944 N. Winery Ave. in Fresno, will host holiday break workshops from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 28-30 and Jan. 4-6.

The first workshop, Weird Winter Science, will include crafts, activities and the study of snowflakes. The second, Winter Animals, will teach kids about bunnies, snakes and fish and how they live. Students will also learn about the many careers involved with animals and nature.

The cost is $75 per three-day class for members or $90 for non-members. Details: (559) 251-5533.

The Artist in Me

The Artist in Me, 1085 E. Herndon Ave., Suite 108, in Fresno, will offer Christmas Art Camp from Dec. 21 to 24 and Holiday Art Camp from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1 and from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8. Both camps run from 9 a.m. to noon and are intended for ages 6 and up.

In the first session, children will paint two works of art -- Glow in the Dark Christmas Tree and The Snowman -- and a wooden animal ornament. They will also create two custom animal sculptures, which they will also paint. The camp costs $125 per student.

Holiday Art Camp attendees will paint three works of art and wooden animal ornaments or magnets. The will also create and paint two animal sculptures.

Paintings for the Dec. 28-Jan. 1 session include Polar Bear, Cardinal and Holiday Goodies. Paintings for the Jan. 4-8 session include Polar Bear, Snowman and Northern Lake.

The five-day camps cost $150. To register, visit www.theartistinme.us. Details: (559) 367-2084.

Gymnastics Beat

Gymnastics Beat Inc., 5620 W. Barstow Ave. Suite 103 in Fresno, will offer full-day and half-day camps for children ages 3 to 12 from Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-31 and Jan. 4-8.

Participants must be potty-trained. Attendees will play games, create crafts and learn gymnastics. Two snacks will be provided, but campers must bring their own lunch.

Half-day camps are from 8:30 to noon or 1 to 4:30 p.m.; full-day camp is from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Camp costs $35 per day full day and $25 per half day. A $35 registration fee also applies per family.

Parents can register their children at www.gymnasticsbeat.com. Details: (559) 271-9400.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 894 W. Belmont Ave. in Fresno, offers single-day educational experiences for children 3 to 17 during its Winter Camp program on Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-31 and Jan. 4-8.

Cubby Camp, for potty-trained children ages 3 to 5, is from 9 a.m. to noon for $33 per day for zoo members and $36 per day for non-members.

Adventure Camp is offered for children 5 to 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two snacks are provided, but campers must bring their own lunch. The cost is $55 per day for zoo members and $59 per day for non-members. Extended care is available for an additional fee.

Older children, 11 to 17, can register for Shadow a Keeper, a hands-on learning experience that allows them to work alongside zoo staff. Openings are limited, and the shadowing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon for $65 per day for members or $75 for non-members.

To register, visit www.fresnochaffeezoo.org/zoo-camp.

I Heart Art

I Heart Art Fig Garden Art Studio For Kids, 5524 N. Roosevelt Ave. in Fresno, will offer one-, two-, or three-day art camps from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 28-30. The camp costs $45 per day or $120 for all three days.

Children in kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy art instruction in drawing, watercolor, acrylic painting and other multimedia art projects.

Camps are limited to 10 children; ask about discounts for siblings. Details and registration: (559) 708-6532 or www.iheartartfresno.com

Young Chefs Academy

Young Chefs Academy, 1134 E. Champlain Drive, Suite 101 in Fresno, will host Winter Break Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 22-24 and Dec. 29-31. Chef Sam Slosman will lead the three-day classes for children ages 4 to 12.

Each day the students will make three to four recipes, play games and make a craft to take home. The kids will eat their creations during camp and the recipes will be sent home so they can recreate them with family.

Each three-day session costs $125, or kids can sign up for one day for $50. Register at http://fresnoca.youngchefsacademy.com/camps. Details: (559) 433-6698 or fresnoyca@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Battle winter break boredom."