Uncategorized | Orange County Kids Activities Blog

November 19, 2009

Free Audio Books Online

A while back I wrote about audio books available – for free – from the Orange County Public Library. At the time there were many books, including popular titles, that could be downloaded to your computer. Stephanie Meyers popular Twilight series, The Cat in the Hat and Eragon were among them. There were fewer books that you could download to your iPod or burn to a CD.

Well, it seems that the list of iPod accessible downloads is growing. The library now carries Stephanie Meyers’ new book The Host, James Patterson’s The Quickie, and The Jury by Fern Michaels, in a format that you can download to your iPod. All for free. If well known authors are making some of their books available in this format, maybe more authors and publishers will follow suit.

You can also get many, many classic books in a format that you can download to your iPod or burn to a cd. In fact, here’s a list of 100 Free Audio Books – classics all.

Should you switch to audio books? Well, maybe not entirely. Everyone should learn how to read the written word. But there are a lot of times when an audio book would be a good idea, or maybe just a change of pace. What about the high school student who is an auditory learner, dragging himself through Moby Dick? What about an older reader who has trouble with small print size? What about something different for the kids for a long car ride?

If you live in Orange County, California you can get free audio books online at the library’s website. If you already have a library card, you don’t even need to go to the library. Here’s a summary of how to set it up. If you live in another county, check with your local library. Many are offering similar services. If your library doesn’t offer free audio books online, try LibriVox.

Happy Listening!

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June 22, 2009

Live the Movie Magic!

Filed under: Performing, Summer Camps, Uncategorized — Tags: movies, Summer Camps — admin @ 12:00 pm

Nothing captures the imagination quite like a really good story. Kids have been fighting with light sabers since 1977. And who wouldn’t want to be Hermione?

Well, some creative person has thought up a way for kids to experience the world of their favorite movie. The City of Brea is offering four week-long summer camps built around favorite movies.

Be a Jedi for a week!

Star Wars Camp

Campers will participate in Jedi training. They’ll learn performing arts, martial arts, film, costuming, crafts and magic in preparation for fighting evil.

Indiana Jones Adventure Camp

Kids will use codes and strategy to find some of the world’s most prized historic pieces.

Survivor Camp

Tribes of campers participate in competitions that require teamwork and dedication.

Harry Potter Camp

Campers will study magic, potions, horticulture and flight. They’ll make capes, wands and everything they need to be a witch or wizard. This camp is offered the week before the opening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Don’t live near Brea? These and more theme camps are offered through various cities by Edutainment Arts. Their website includes a description of all the camps they offer and the various recreation departments they work with.

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April 2, 2009

Summer Day Camp at a Bargain Price

Filed under: Scouting, Summer Camps, Uncategorized — Tags: archery, cub scouts, day camp, pushcarts, summer camp — admin @ 12:00 pm

It’s hard to believe, but the kids will be out of school in a few months. The best summer camps always fill up fast, so it’s time to start making your plans!

Woodwork

In these difficult economic times it’s more important than ever to spend money wisely, and this is a bargain. Cub Scout Daycamp is offered in 8 locations in Orange County this summer. What is Cub Scout Daycamp? It’s hiking, games, push carts, crafts, archery, woodworking and water wars. It’s loud, dirty, exhausting fun. Just what every boy needs after a long school year.

Here’s the part that will surprise you. The cost is only $115 for the week. Compare that to $225 for a week-long basketball camp or $190 for a science camp. How do they do it? The staff is free. That’s right – these camps are run by volunteers.

Pushcarts

Here’s how it works. Each pack collects applications from its scouts and parents. For each age group on each day, they must have a ratio of 4:1 or better. Can’t get away from work for a week? That’s okay. If one parent from each family takes one or two days off to go to camp, your child can go to camp all 5 days.

What do parents do at camp? Most choose to accompany their son and his den to the program areas to supervise the scouts and assist in the activities, but there are other volunteer positions available.

What if you have other kids who are not cub scouts? While you are with the scouts, your other children can play in the supervised Sibling Camp. Older kids can work as youth volunteers.

Archery

What if your child is not in Cub Scouts? Now is a great time to join. If your son will be in 1st through 5th grade next year, he’s just the right age. Contact a pack at your local school or church to join or contact the Boy Scouts Orange County Council.

What if you can’t go the week that camp is being held in your area? No problem. Go to a different district’s camp on a different week. They’re all fun!

Packs are collecting applications now. They need time to compile the applications and coordinate ratios, especially for the camps that take place early in the summer. Registration closes as early as next month for some camps.

Just watch out. Parents have been known to have so much fun at camp that they keep coming back year after year. Even after their kids have grown up!

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