Children will find plenty of entertainment this summer from camps, sports leagues, and other activities. The following is a list of some of the programs offered for kids in June, July, and August. Stay tuned for ads for these and other programs throughout the summer.

Haines Elementary Sports Programs

This year, the Haines Borough School District is running three summer sports programs: tee-ball, soccer, and golf. Tee-ball is open to kids ages 5-8 and meets at the high school track from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 7. Soccer will run from July 6 to August 10 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the track and is open to all K-8 students. The golf program will hold three three-day sessions. The June session is already underway, but there are still open slots left in both the second and third sessions (July 18-20 and August 8-10). All groups will meet at the golf course from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A grant from the school district is funding several full scholarships for each golf session. There are four scholarships left for July and 15 for August. To sign up for golf or tee-ball, email Jordan Baumgartner at [email protected]. To sign up for soccer, just show up at the first practice. Baumgartner says athletes should feel especially lucky this summer that all the program fees for tee-ball and soccer – plus the golf scholarships – are covered by a grant.

Takshanuk Water Council “Stream Team” Program

Some openings remain in the Takshanuk Watershed Council’s “Stream Team” watershed exploration program. The group is open to children 8 and older (or younger than 8 with an accompanying adult). Participants will learn about the watershed, build models, study aquatic insects and collect water measurements at locations including Sawmill Creek, the Chilkat River, and Mosquito Lake. Education Coordinator Tracy Wirak-Cassidy says the goal of the program is to use mini hands-on experiments to show the relevance of real data the kids collect. She recommends the program for students interested in citizen science and hands-on learning. The group meets on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Thursdays from 10-4 p.m. at Marvin Garden. A $50 donation is requested. Lunch is provided for all participants under 18. To sign up, write to [email protected]. The Watershed Council will also lead its next free community hike on Friday July 22 at Mount Ripinsky. Hikers meet at the trailheads at 10 a.m.

Library Summer Reading Program

The Haines Borough Public Library’s free summer reading program has already begun and will continue through July 27. Programming is scheduled for Monday through Friday at 2, 3, and 4 p.m. Each hour-long period begins with a themed activity and then transitions into time for reading, when kids can win prizes for the books they read.

Children’s librarian Holly Davis expresses her gratitude for the books and “treasures” donated so far and says that the library continues to accept donations. The weekly activities include puppet shows, gardening, art projects, nature walks, ukulele club (ukuleles provided), Spanish practice, and amateur magician hour. Calendars with specific information are available at the library.

Summer Youth Theater Conservatory

Lynn Canal Community Players is resuming its Summer Youth Theater Conservatory this summer after a two-year break for covid. The program, which has been a feature of Haines summers for the last several decades, will begin on July 1 and conclude on July 24 with a production on the Chilkat Center stage. Award-winning director Annette Hillman is flying in from Tucson, Arizona, to teach students the fundamentals of theater and to lead them in performances of vaudeville, classic radio plays, and a melodrama called “Show Time on the Show Boat.” The conservatory is open to students ages 8-18, and a separate “playmakers group” welcomes 5- through 7-year-olds. Both groups will rehearse Monday through Friday at the Chilkat Center for the Arts – the older group from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the playmakers from 9 a.m. to noon. Several spots are still available in both programs. Tuition is $325 for the conservatory and $225 for the playmakers. To register, call Annette Smith at 766-2708.

Klukwan School’s Tlingit Language & Culture Program Summer Youth Activities

The Haa Aaní Ka Heeni Latini (caring for our land and water) program will run from June 7 to August 12 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. All ages are welcome, but students in Pre-K through second grade must be accompanied by an adult. On Tuesdays participants will help out in the Klukwan community garden and gather wild edible plants. On Fridays they will help in the school garden, harvest wild plants, and cultivate mushrooms and seaweed. Thursday’s activity is the Takshanuk Watershed Council’s Stream Team program (see above). Each day’s programming will begin at 10 a.m. On Tuesdays and Fridays the program will finish at 2 p.m., and Thursday’s watershed activities will finish by 3 p.m. Free lunch is available for all registered children under 18. Activities are all free of charge, funded by STEPS Alaska and Chilkat Indian Village. For more information and to register, contact Justina Hotch at [email protected] or 767-5551 ext. 3.

Lkoot Kwáan Culture Camp

The Chilkoot Indian Association will be resuming its Lkoot Kwáan Culture Camp after a two-year pandemic hiatus. The program is tentatively scheduled for July 17-23, but final information and registration will be available next week at https://www.chilkoot-nsn.gov. The Culture Camp is hosted by the L’ukaaxh.ádi clan, and its programming focuses on Tlingit cultural activities including fishing, fish processing, and art projects. Children will also be learning and using Tlingit language words. All students are welcome to register; you don’t have to be Tlingit to attend.

Vacation Bible School at the Haines Presbyterian Church:

The Haines Presbyterian Church will offer Vacation Bible School for kids entering Pre-K through sixth grade. The program runs from June 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Activities include games, songs, stories, and snacks, and everyone is welcome regardless of religious affiliation. Preregistration information is posted on the front door of the church.

Girl Scout camp

Girl Scouts of Alaska will be holding a weeklong camp in Haines from July 4-8 as part of its Southeast Traveling Day Camp program. Girls will learn outdoor skills, work on a community service project, and participate in daily STEM and environmental education activities. Programming will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and girls in grades K-12 are eligible. Register online at girlscoutalaska.org/camps or by phone at 907-248-2250. The camp will meet at the Haines Presbyterian Church. A tiered pricing system begins at $55.

Monthly overview

June: golf, tee-ball, Vacation Bible School, Haa aaní ka heeni latini program, library programming, Stream Team

July: golf, soccer, tee-ball, Girl Scout camp, Summer Youth Theater Conservatory, Haa aaní ka heeni latini, Lkoot Kwáan Culture Camp, library programming, Stream Team

August: golf, soccer, library programming, Stream Team