by Ashley Boquist and Claudia Vergara
Life is a beach. Well, not necessarily in central Pennsylvania, but there is still plenty of fun during the hot summer months. When the pool and the playground are just not enough, take advantage of the innumerable educational, recreational, and just plain fun opportunities offered right here in the Centre region and just a little bit beyond.

" Get a Clue @ Your Library” with the Schlow Centre Region Library 2007 free Summer Reading Program begins in June and continues through August 23. Research has shown that summer reading is the single most important activity to maintain competency levels; Anita Ditz, the Children’s Services Librarian suggests children read at least five books during summer break.

The kick-off will be held at the library with a Family Fun Fair on June 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Events begin at 2:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Visit www.schlowlibrary.org for more details.) Some of the summer activities include:

1. The Reading Club encourages kids to maintain a reading log in exchange for small giveaway items. Counting the pages means getting tickets for larger prizes from local sponsors
2. Terrific Tuesday craft day (weekly)
3. June 14 Bruce Weaver, magician and ventriloquist
4. June 20 Mystery of Sounds—messing around with found sound/recycled materials with Bruce Metzel, self-proclaimed “gizmologist.”
5. June 21 Animal CSI with Creature Teacher Jodi Wallace
6. June 27 Schlow CSI general crime scene investigation with borough officer Greg Koehle
7. June 28 The American Philatelic Society will host a program on clues from stamps
8. June 29 Visit with children’s author Ashley Bryan from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
9. July 5 Explore mysterious concoctions
10. July 19 The Fly By Night Players perform a Lunchtime Mystery Theatre at 12:30 p.m.
11. July 25 Find the secret ingredient in foods from around the world.
12. July 26 Learn about other forms of communication, such as Braille and sign language.

Does your child want to be a weatherman?-Then sign him or her up for Penn State Weather Camp.-The camp runs June 24 – 29 on the Penn State campus, for kids entering grades 8-10.-Your child will have the opportunity to study tornadoes, launch a weather balloon, and much more. Learn more about the camp at www.outreach.psu.edu/programs/weathercamp/

The Center for Arts and Crafts at Penn State offers a wide variety of art camps from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.-There is one session each in June and August, and two in July.-Learn more at www.sa.psu.edu/usa/craftcenter/.

If your child loves the great outdoors, Centre Region Parks and Recreation offers a wide variety of programs for all ages.-Log on to www.crpr.org -to see all the offerings.

Be a team player at the C3 Sports Day Camps at the Christ Community Church on 1606 Norma St.-They offer a number of different sports, including volleyball, basketball, baseball, and soccer.-Call 234-3071 for more information.

Get into the groove with the camps offered by The Music Academy in State College including Jazz and Rock camp for intermediate students, Music Enrichment Camp for Young Musicians (grades K-6), and the Summer Day Camp at the Music Academy for instrumentalists, vocalists, and dancers grades 6-12.-Call 238-3451 for more information.

The Creative Oasis downtown offers a number of art day camps all summer long for all ages in many different mediums, from hand puppets to wheel pottery.-Call 237-1982 for more information.

The State College Area YMCA offers weeklong sports clinics in several different sports, including football and cheerleading.-Log on to www.scaymca.org to see a complete list of events.

The Art Alliance in Lemont holds a variety of camps and workshops for children and teens, as well as summer classes for adults. Both beginners and experienced artists are welcome. Call the Art Alliance at 234-2740 or visit their Web site www.artalliancepa.org for more information.

Don’t forget about family fun!
Stone Valley Recreation Area offers a lot of recreational opportunities for the whole family, including sailing lessons, a sailing camp for kids, and Moonlight Canoe—a canoe program from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. that includes a bonfire.-Call 863-1164 for more information.

Round up the kids and head to Bellefonte Children’s Fair on Curtin and Armour Streets on June 2.-There will be over 100 crafters and artists, along with food, family entertainment, and children’s activities.-

There may not be an ocean within a hundred miles, but that shouldn’t put an end to aquatic fun. Bald Eagle and Prince Gallitzin state parks offer sailing and scuba diving.-Log on to www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks for more information.

Ready to change up your workout and have fun? How about kayaking lessons at Tussey Mountain Outfitters? Lessons are offered weekly at Bald Eagle State Park Lake from 6 p.m. until dusk.-Call 355-5690 for reservations or visit www.pa-reservations.com/tussey/events.html for more information.

The hills are alive with the sound of music at Summer Sounds, sponsored by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. The festival will be held every Sunday at 7 p.m. at The Gazebo in Talleyrand Park from June through August.-Bring your lawn chairs, but leave your wallet at home—it’s free!

How about a “Symphony Under the Stars?” Check out the Nittany Valley Symphony’s Annual Pops Concert on June 22 at Tussey Mountain. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.nvs.org for more information.

Kids can’t keep their hands to themselves? Then bring them out for Touch-A-Truck on June 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the State High South Parking lot.-Children can crawl, pretend to drive and get really hands on with these big machines!-Free admission.

Several Family Fun Nights occur throughout the summer at both Park Forest Pool and Welch Pool. (All Fun Nights are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
*Wednesday, June 13 - Welch Pool Disco Night
*Wednesday, June 27 - Park Forest Pool Country Night
*Wednesday, July 11 - Welch Pool Hawaiian Night
*Wednesday, July 25 - Park Forest Pool-o-Ween

The Fun Nights will feature prize giveaways, contests, and activities for the entire family.-Come in costume if you wish; pool staff will provide decorations and music.-(Rain date is the following Thursday for each night).-Regular evening admission rates apply; free for season pass holders.

Come and enjoy beautiful bluegrass and folk music at Music Nights at the Marsh at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center! Some concerts may be outdoors, and some will be held in the barn.-A small fee will be charged to support the Nature Center and the local musicians. Visit www.crpr.org for more information.
*Saturday, May 19; 6 p.m.-- Cup O Joe-$5/per person *Saturday, July 21; 6 p.m.---Jim Colbert & Friends-$5/per person

Summer Discovery Days are held at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center on-Tuesdays and Fridays from the end of June through the first week of August, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors can explore the Nature Center grounds, check out the barn, ask questions about programs, hike the trails, or even bring a picnic.-Visit www.crpr.org for more information.

On June 30 at 9:30 a.m., bring the little ones to the Annual CRPR Kids on Wheels Parade.-Bring your bike, tricycle, wagon, scooter, etc. and meet at the corner of Foster Avenue and Locust Lane.-The parade will start at 10 a.m. and will end at Central Parklet. Free admission. Visit www.crpr.org for more information.

The Annual CRPR Peanut Carnival takes place-Thursday, July 19, 6-8 p.m. at the South High School Lower Gymnasium.-Each year, counselors and campers from the KIDVenture Summer Day Camp create booths and decorations for the Carnival.-Participants purchase bags of peanuts and use them to pay for playing the games. Check www.crpr.org for updated information.

If you’re in the mood for a safari, go to Penn’s Cave in Centre Hall and check out the Howling Wolf Mountain Tour—a three-hour tour of the mountain and trails in a Hummer, ending with refreshments in Sara’s Parlour inside the Historic Penn’s Cave House. Visit www.pennscave.com for more information.

Road Trip!
Some places just never get old, like the “Sweetest Place on Earth”—Hershey Park. The amusement park-is a fun day by itself, but there’s also a zoo, a spa, golf courses, shopping and plenty of nearby hotels if you want to get away for the entire weekend.-Visit www.hersheypa.org for more information.

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts opens The Science of Aliens on June 16, a large, in-depth and hands-on exhibition to examine the possibility of life on other worlds. This exhibit, which has visited London, Paris, and other world cities, is expected to bring in visitors from all over the East Coast. Visit www.whitakercenter.org for more information. –SCM

Tip: The Centre Region Parks and Recreation offers a Community Service Discount Ticket Program for discounted admission tickets for many amusement parks. Visit their office at 2643 Gateway Drive #1, State College.