Summer. It's a time for kids to kick back, relax and enjoy themselves. There are several camps in Clark County that offer options ranging from a few hours to several days. Camps include everything from how to improve sports skills to how to improve outdoor skills. Best of all, there are choices for all ages, stages and price ranges.
Whenever Robyn Pfeifer puts on her costume for play rehearsal, she has an "ah ha' moment."We really take some things for granted today, such as being able to wear comfortable clothing," she said.
The theme of Earth Day 2012 was "Mobilize the Earth." Organizers encouraged participants around the globe to attend a local event or start one. "Together we will stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part," the Earth Day website states. Locally, the call to action was answered.
Mention the term "4-H" to most people, and an image of kids in rural farming communities raising livestock typically comes to mind.But 4-H is much more. While raising animals continues to be a core function, local leaders are also encouraging young participants to give back to the community by doing outreach and service projects. The Silver Star Stockmen 4-H group in Washougal mainly focuses on large animals for market and breed projects, but has also branched out into community service projects.
Alan Bosse was at a truck stop in Long Beach, Calif., in 2009 when he made a seemingly insignificant decision. With a few extra minutes to spare, the long-haul trucker and graphic design student took his new camera out and snapped a few photos of passion flowers growing along a nearby fence.A few months later Bosse, 50, entered the photo, "Passion and Bee" in a nationwide Earth Day photo contest sponsored by the website Bing. It won first-place out of approximately 17,000 entries.
Alan Bosse's work will be on exhibit at the Second Story Gallery. It will be unveiled at a reception during First Friday on April 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Second Story Gallery is located at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave.
A "three-peat" is often considered the crown jewel in team achievement: To win a state title three years in a row takes accomplishment to a whole new level.It's the exact feeling the Camas High School Knowledge Bowl Team had when they realized they'd won the state tournament again. "It was really exciting," said Marcus Bintz, team captain. :State was a really good opportunity for us to showcase our strengths well. We're very happy." Knowledge Bowl is a competition which quizzes students on topics relevant to their education. "Basically, it's everything you ever learned in school if you never forgot anything," said team member Griffin King. "It's all related to school topics."
Spring break in the Northwest usually means stormy weather and cold days. But don't let that keep the kids from getting the most out of it.Camas and Washougal offer several options for kids to be interactive and engaged during their time off from school, without spending several hours in front of the television or computer. For those parents who don't have the week off with their kids, there is the option of an all-day or part-day spring break camp through Camas Community Education. "Not everyone goes on vacations and many parents need childcare," said Director Mary Weishaar. "And if others are going to be home and just want their kids to have some fun, structured activities, there's a half-day camp option, too."
Camas Parks and Recreation Community Center, 718 S.E. Seventh Ave., 834-5307 o Junior camp counselor training, $35: Provides pre-training for ages 12 to 16 who want to become camp counselors. The training is held Monday, April 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"Be the change you want to see in the world."This famous quote by Mahatma Ghandi calls people to action. It is also the theme of Challenge Day, an event which provides participants with the tools to break down the walls of separation and isolation, and build new levels of respect and communication within their schools and communities. Washougal and Excelsior high school students, along with teachers, administrators and community members, had the opportunity to participate in Challenge Day last week. WHS counselors Christina Mackey and Owen Sanford first heard about it from a student intern, who said he'd participated in it at another school and it, "changed his life." "When we heard that, we had to investigate," Sanford said. "I started researching it, and got pretty overwhelmed by the costs and how to make it all happen. Then we heard there was a grant opportunity through Clark County Department of Community Services, and so we applied and got it."
