| Home > Kidstuff > Kidstuff 5 | |||
 |
Getting WetAs if the ocean weren't enough, this area offers plenty of
other opportunities for kids to douse themselves, and some of them are
downright thrilling, especially the water slides. One of the best is at the
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, 5320 Oleander Drive, (910)
791-0666, in Wilmington. Most warm weather attractions are open seven days a
week between Memorial and Labor days. Kids can find places to get wet in our
Watersports chapter or our
Sports, Fitness and Parks chapter.
|
||
|
Dolphin Aquatics and
Fitness |
|||
Dolphin Aquatics and Fitness offers summer
swimming lessons at Lanier's Waterside Campground in Surf City. Children
from 18 months to 18 years are welcome. A variety of times and sessions are
available, including a Stroke Technique class for children 7 to 10 years of
age. Lessons begin in early June and continue through August. Dolphin
Aquatics and Fitness is a non-profit organization.
|
|||
 |
|||
|
Buccaneer Cruises |
|||
|
Go shrimping like the pros on a Bubba Gump
Shrimp Cruise. Learn how commercial shrimp boats operate. Have fun, catch
fish and learn about exotic underwater marine life. The cost is $25 per
person, and trips depart 9 AM and return at 11 AM. Call for the exact dates
this trip is offered.
|
|||
|
Captain Charlie's Kids Fishing
Tournament Held annually on the same weekend as the King Mackerel
Tournament, the Kids Fishing Tournament fills the Southport Pier with junior
anglers (up to age 16) while the senior anglers are out at sea. A joint
effort of the Southport Recreation Department and the Southport Lions Club
along with some retail sponsors, it is a big event for the kids, who bring
their own rod and reel and bait. The first 100 kids receive a free T-shirt,
and there are free hot dogs and drinks for everyone. There is a fish-bowl
drawing for prizes throughout the tournament; the prize for the biggest fish
is a rod and reel, and there are many other prizes donated by merchants.
Best of all, this is a catch-and-release tournament — an environmental
lesson for kids. |
|||
|
Children's Crab Derby Have you ever seen a crab race? Sounds even better than
a frog race, doesn't it? Bring your child (up to age 16), a small basket
or crab line and bait on Labor Day Weekend and hope the tide is at its
best for good crabbing! (But don't worry, a local commercial crabber
usually stocks the yacht basin with some extras.) The children are
divided into teams of two or three according to age. Prizes are given
for the biggest crab and the most crabs caught in each age category. |
|||
|
Small Fry Fishing Tournament The Small Fry Fishing Tournament is a day
for families and their children ages 3 to 12 to fish along with local
police officers. Registration starts at 8:30 AM. Three age categories
include: 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. A $50 first prize is awarded in
each age group. Second and third place winners receive prizes, and all
kids get their choice of a toy after the event. Please note:
The number listed here is the Police Department number; call only
between 7:30 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. |
|||
|
Dorothy's Harbor Tours Take a child on an exciting fishing adventure aboard the
Dorothy, Topsail's favorite cruise boat. This 2½-hour
educational fishing excursion offers the opportunity to catch pinfish,
pigfish and a variety of other species while learning about the various
types of underwater marine life. All gear is supplied. Children younger
than 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Call for rates and scheduled
days. Trips are from 9 to 11:30 AM. Bring your own food and
non-alcoholic drinks.
|
|||
|
|
Going MentalBabbage's Babbage's carries a fine selection of video
games, CD-ROMs and computer games in addition to its wide range of other
computer software. Books-A-Million This book superstore hosts story hours with various themes
and related activities for young children every Saturday at 3:30 PM. When
the children's section is otherwise quiet, kids enjoy playing on the
"train-car" benches. The locomotive houses a TV that shows ongoing
children's programming or videos to keep kids entertained while their
parents browse nearby. Brunswick County Library Story times, including books, music and crafts, for
children ages 2 through 5 are offered at these Brunswick County public
libraries at 10 AM on Monday at the Harper Library in Southport, Tuesday at
the Leland Library and at Hickmans Crossroads Library in Calabash, Wednesday
at the Barbee Library on Oak Island and Thursday at Rourk Library in
Shallotte. Afternoon activities for school-age children kindergarten and
older include stories and crafts and are held at 4 PM at Leland, Hickmans
Crossroads, Oak Island and Shallotte on the same days listed above. The
Brunswick County Libraries also host a summer reading program for school-age
children. The six-week program involves weekly special guests and activities
at the libraries. Participation in all library programs is free. Cape Fear Astronomical Society Kids old enough to understand that those bright objects in
the night sky are incredibly distant will appreciate the occasional sky
observations, using members' telescopes, sponsored by the Astronomical
Society to raise interest in membership. Viewing sessions are announced in
the calendar of the Wilmington Star-News. The public is also
invited to the society's monthly meetings, which feature interesting films
and presentations. Meetings take place on the first Sunday of each month (or
the second, if delayed by a holiday) and are also announced in the
newspaper. The society is open to everyone of any age, regardless of any
astronomical knowledge. In addition to the popular public viewing sessions,
the society also undertakes periodic school talks and trips to planetariums.
Membership has one prerequisite, if you could call it that: a sincere
interest in astronomy and in learning more about it. Membership costs $20
per year ($25 for families) and includes the society's monthly newsletter,
Cape Fear Skies, and the Astronomical League's quarterly
publication, Reflector. Members can also get a reduced subscription
rate to Sky and Telescope magazine. Contact Ronnie Hawes, the
club's president, at the society's mailing address, 305 N. 21st Street,
Wilmington, NC 28405. |
||
|
The Children's
Museum of Wilmington 116 Orange St., Wilmington (910) 254-3534 |
 |
||
|
The Children's Museum is a colorful, exciting space where
children and adults can engage in activities that will enhance lifelong
learning and creativity. Programs focus on the arts, science and technology,
health and safety, mathematics, multicultural studies and the environment.
In its storefront setting, the museum features a two-deck pirate ship
complete with treasure maps and costumes plus a fully stocked grocery store
complete with shopping carts and cash registers that introduce basic math
concepts. Kids of all ages enjoy the puppet theater or perform on the circus
stage where they can become different personalities using a variety of
costumes and props. Explore with microscopes in the science lab or maybe
learn about what makes stars twinkle at night. The Art Studio is designed to
introduce children to a multitude of arts media and methods while enhancing
their capacity for learning and creativity. The Children's Museum relies
heavily on volunteers and welcomes new participants. It is open Monday
through Friday during the school year from 10 AM to 3 PM, Saturdays from 10
AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 1 to 6 PM; during June, July and August, and
most school holidays the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM
to 7 PM and Sundays from 1 to 7 PM. Admission is $8 per person.
New Hanover County Public Library The Children's Rooms at these libraries are excellent
resources for stimulating learning and entertainment that isn't limited
to story times. During the school year, a variety of craft, science or
activity programs for elementary or middle-school ages are offered on
afternoons or weekends. Family programs may feature music, theater
groups, storytelling or author presentations. Library storytime sessions
are designed for children in four age groups. Lapsit Storytime allows
babies under 18 months to interact with a parent or caregiver while they
enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and movement activities. Toddler Time
offers stories, songs and interactive finger plays for children ages 18
months through 3 years and their parents. Preschool Storytime may
include films as well as songs and stories and is geared for ages 3
through 5. All the Storytime sessions are held weekly on different days
at the different library branches, giving you a choice of schedules.
Book Break, offered during the summer, is a weekly storytime for
children ages 6 through 10 that offers longer stories, read-alouds,
activities and films. All programs are free and open to the public. Call
the library's Youth Services office at the number above to inquire about
schedules and registration, which may be limited for some events. Fort Fisher Aquarium Outreach Program Touch and learn about sea creatures! This popular outreach
program from the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a one-hour
presentation on invertebrates. Children enjoy the educational experience of
touching and learning about a variety of sea creatures. This program is held
during the summer, please call for the exact dates. The Topsail Island
Historical Society sponsors this event, and a donation is requested. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Quarter Moon has a great selection of books,
puzzles and games. Much of the merchandise is selected for its educational
value, and they carry many books about the beach. From sea creature coloring
books and pirate stories to books about sea turtles, the large children's
section has something for kids of all ages. |
|||
|
|
|
HolidaysThe holidays are a special time for families. Be sure to
check the local newspaper for details of specific events happening in
the area, since the southern coastal region is known for going all out
for every celebration. Christmas is filled with too many events to
mention, such as the Poplar Grove Christmas Open House
at Poplar Grove Historic Plantation, 10200 U.S. 17 N., (910) 686-9518
Ext.26; the Island of Lights Festival, held at various
locations in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, (910) 458-7116; and the
Christmas By-The-Sea Festival in Oak Island and
Southport, (910) 457-6964. Check these and other holiday happenings in
our
Annual Events chapter. Listed here are some offerings grouped by
holiday. Be sure to stop by or phone the Cape Fear Coast
Convention & Visitors Bureau at 24 N. Third Street in
Wilmington, (910) 341-4030, (800) 222-4757, for the latest Calendar of
Events; you can also access it online
www.cape-fear.nc.us. |
|
|
Easter
Egg Hunt This citywide
Easter egg hunt is held every year on a Saturday before Easter in
Franklin Square Park, where there are plenty of hiding places. Nine
hundred plastic eggs with prizes inside and 10,000 candy eggs are
scattered throughout the park to the delight of the participating
children. Easter
Egg Hunt at
Hugh MacRae Park Hosted by the Wilmington
Jaycees for the past 29 years, the annual Easter egg hunt is a great
time for some 3,000 youngsters ages 10 and younger. Volunteers place
more than 10,000 hollow plastic eggs filled with candy in hiding places.
The participating children are divided into age categories and assigned
specific hunting areas. When the horn sounds on the appointed day,
bedlam ensues. |
|||
|
Halloween Haunted Wilmington Walking Tours and Other Fun ThingsJoin some of the area's most renowned local
actors and ghost hunters as they lead you through old alleyways and down
dark streets on a journey into the depths of Old Wilmington. Meet the
poor souls who still haunt our fine city. Hear tales, both past and
present. The Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington conducts a
nightly walking tour throughout the year. The tour meets year round by
the Riverfront at the foot of Market Street. Hours are April 1 through
October 31 at 8:30 PM, plus Tuesday through Saturday at 6:30 PM; from
November 1 through March 31 the tours are Tuesday through Saturday at
6:30 PM. Special Halloween times vary. You're advised to call ahead,
(910) 602-6055. |
|||
|
BSL Haunted
Hayride |
|||
|
|||
|
Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea
Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea at
the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
offers a safe, family-oriented place to enjoy Halloween a little early.
The aquarium provides safe, indoor trick-or-treating (at candy stations
provided by local businesses). There are costume contests, crafts,
storytelling and lots of aquatically themed Halloween fun. There is a
modest admission fee, but kids 3 and younger are admitted free. Call the
above number for exact date, time and further details.
|
|||
Kwanzaa This seven-day African-American cultural celebration is observed yearly in the Wilmington area during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. The word refers to the harvest's "first fruits." During the holiday, people use each day to meditate on one of the holiday's seven principles: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith). Public radio WHQR 91.3 FM broadcasts its
Kwanzaa production, Season's Griot, created and performed by local
storyteller and musician Madafo Lloyd Wilson together with other
storytellers from around the country. This hour-long program is distributed
nationally as a holiday special broadcast. Call for details and program
times, (910) 343-1640. |
|||
Christmas The Kings Grant subdivision off N.C. Highway 132 (N. College Road), is a must-see for kids and adults during the weeks prior to Christmas. Each year, residents adorn their homes with an incredible array of lights and decorations, attracting caravans of people who turn off their headlights to view the spectacle in all its glory. Turn right onto Kings Drive, which is about 1.25 miles north of the Market Street overpass. Just follow the line of cars; you can't miss it! Santa Claus arrives at Independence Mall,
3500 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, (910) 392-1776, every year in mid-November
and remains ensconced in winter glory until his midnight ride on Christmas
Eve.
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
Summer is the main anticipation of almost any school-aged
child, but it can be tiring for parents, especially those who work, to
invent fun, imaginative activities for their children day after day. Summer
camps are a great antidote for this problem. The southern coast offers many
different camps for you and your child to choose from. Day camps and sports
camps (rather than overnight camps) are the norm in the southern coastal
region. For sports camps, children must own basic personal equipment,
including protective gear. Team items such as bats and balls are provided.
Be sure to review our chapter on
Sports, Fitness and Parks as well. Day campers generally need only swim
suits, towels and sneakers to get the most out of their camp experiences. An
extremely useful publication, Summer Alternatives, lists dozens of
summer activities for school-age children in our area. It is distributed in
late April by the New Hanover County Schools and may be obtained free by
calling the Community Schools office at (910) 254-4221, or you can pick one
up at your child's school. Ashton Farm Summer Day Camp Ashton Farm, established in 1975, is located on a 72-acre
historic plantation about 18 miles north of Wilmington. Owner Sally Martin
provides children ages 5 through 12 with down-to-earth fun. Kids participate
in farm life, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, whiffle ball, tennis,
hiking, arts and crafts, animal care and archery. One-week sessions from
June to August are available (daily with permission). Discounts apply for
additional weeks and/or additional children registered. The camp provides
round-trip transportation to Wilmington, camper health insurance and drinks;
children should pack their own lunches. Single-day camps have been added to
coincide with teacher workdays.
Brigade Boys & Girls Club Serving children since 1896, the Brigade Boys & Girls
Club is a popular place for summer activities. Between the last day of
school and the first day back, kids enjoy a wide variety of games,
sports competitions and reading, plus arts and crafts. The regular
summer program runs Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6 PM.
Youngsters are divided according to age groups: 6 through 11 years and
12 to 18 years. A swimming pool with certified lifeguards makes this a
great place to spend a hot summer day; some swimming instruction is
available. Free breakfasts and lunches are provided. Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department Activities at this camp include swimming, boating, water parks, miniature
golf, skating, bowling and more. Participants meet at the Brunswick County
Government Complex in Bolivia each morning of camp, which runs Monday
through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Day camp registration is subject to
availability and is taken on a first-come, first-serve basis, starting in
April (call for dates). Payment is expected at the time of registration. Camp Seabreeze Open to children attending kindergarten through fourth grade, this day
camp provides activities such as sports, games, crafts, story times and
guest speakers. Camp is held 7:30 AM until 5 PM each Monday through Friday
from June 11 through August 8. Registration is required and begins April 7. |
|
|
|
Cape Fear Museum |
|
|
|
A variety of hands-on
science and history activities are
available for
children ages 5 through 10 in
half-day camps at the Cape Fear Museum.
Different camp themes, such as Young Engineers and Beneath Your Feet, are
offered five days a week from June through mid-August. Call weekdays
between 9 AM and 5 PM for information and to register. For information on
the museum, see our
Attractions chapter.
Carolina Coastal Adventures Camp July through August, week-long fun camps for kids include
lessons in surfing, kayaking and fishing plus visits to the North Carolina
Aquarium at Fort Fisher, hiking in the state park, and marsh exploration.
When the weather doesn't cooperate, kids keep busy with games, crafts and
videos with a marine-science theme. Has your child developed an interest in
kayaking, fishing or surfing? Try one of these week-long, in-depth programs
— the Kids Coastal Kayak Discovery Camp provides kayaking adventures and
information about kayak safety; the Captain's Fishing Camp takes kids on
great fishing and learning adventures; the Surfing Beach Days Camp is a week
filled with surfing, body-boarding, surf kayaking, surf fishing and beach
ecology. There are some discounts available for early registration
(March/April). Coastal Explorers This camp for fifth through eighth graders includes
exploration of beaches, dunes and barrier islands as well as swimming in the
ocean and the Baptist Assembly Pool. Participants will also have
opportunities to kayak, fish and play sports. Camp is held 7:30 AM until 5
PM each Monday through Friday from June 11 through August 8. Registration is
required and begins April 7. 1101 S. Anderson Blvd., Topsail Beach (910) 328-1619, (910) 328-1532 Some families plan their vacations around this
long-running children's program that is sponsored by the Emma Anderson
Memorial Chapel. Both daytime and evening activities are offered Monday
through Friday during the summer months. A schedule of events is
prepared weekly, and activities can include beach volleyball, pier
fishing, miniature golf, pizza parties, cookouts, basketball,
volleyball, billiards or Ping Pong. The program is open to all children
and youth from first through 12th grades, and there is no cost to
attend. Participants can come for one day or a week. Girls Inc. Day Camp Girls Inc. offers half-day and full-day camps in
Wilmington and Brunswick County from one week after school lets out for
summer break until one week before school resumes. Activities include
sports, crafts, swimming, computer classes, sewing, field trips, career
exploration, science projects and cooking. Guest speakers are brought in
from time to time. The Wilmington camp accepts girls from kindergarten to
age 18. Call for information and to register. Jelly Beans Family Skating Center Jelly Beans' summer day camp, for kids ages
5 through 12, is especially convenient (and affordable) because your
child can just drop in for a single day at a time. While roller skating
is a natural part of regular activities, Jelly Beans concentrates
heavily on outdoor and educational field trips. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher Aquarium summer camps promise learning and fun for
youngsters in several age groups — 5 and 6 years old, 7 through 9, and 10
through 12. New in 2008, children ages 13 and 14 can enjoy summer camp at
the aquarium. Scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM, sessions
are offered in June, July and August. Each group of 16 campers will enjoy
age-specific, fun-filled outdoor activities, including crafts and programs
that help kids understand and appreciate aquatic environments. Pirate Boot Camp Avast ye parents! To turn your children (ages 6 to 12)
into little pirates, send them to Pirate Boot Camp for a week in June.
They'll come home with names like Bloody Tom and Cannonball, not to mention
eye patches, tin foil and cardboard swords, and skull and crossbones flags.
Under the tutelage of legendary local pirate Stede Bonnet, they will learn
Pirate-ese along with the history of pirates and Southport. At the end of
the week they will parade down Howe Street menacing the populace, play
tug-o-war, participating in a waterfront treasure hunt and singing 'It's a
Pirate's Life for Me." UNCW Athletic Department UNCW sponsors day and overnight summer sports camps in baseball,
softball, basketball, tennis, swimming, volleyball and soccer. These
sessions give younger players a good foundation for the sports and
emphasize fundamentals. Call for information early in the season, as
these camps tend to be quite popular. UNCW MarineQuest The University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Division
for Public Service and Continuing Studies invites kids to become part of
MarineQuest, one of the most unique marine and environmental education
programs in the country. MarineQuest encompasses a wide variety of marine
and environmental education programs for ages 5 through 16. For information
about Sea Squirts (ages 5 and 6), Sea Camp (ages 6 through 8), Eco Camp
(ages 9 and 10), Coast Trek (ages 11 and 12), Ocean Lab (ages 13 and 14) or
Camp O.C.E.A.N.S. (ages 15 and 16), call the information line at (910)
962-2460. City of Wilmington Recreation Division For kids who truly enjoy challenging physical activities
and like being on the move, the Adventure Pathways programs are just the
ticket. Guaranteed not to be boring, the week-long excursions are held in
June (other trips, such as snowboarding and art gallery tours occur year
round). Sessions for boys and girls ages 10 to 14 include exploration,
watersports, hiking, climbing and overnight camping. Space is limited. Fees
range from $175 to $200; registration begins at the end of February and the
deadline is May 6. Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department Art Camp, Soccer Camp and Creative Performance Arts Camp
are among the fun offerings for kids sponsored by the Wrightsville Beach
Parks & Recreation Department. How about surfing lessons? Call for a
brochure and more information on all the activities offered through the
Parks & Recreation Department. |
|||
|
|
Wilmington Family YMCA |
|
|
|
YMCA summer day camps for tots to teens (from
kindergarten through age 16) operate June through August on weekdays. The Y
is open for daytime activities from 7:30 AM to 8 PM. Among the many fun
things to do, kids can participate in pool swimming, indoor and outdoor
sports, arts and crafts, reading, music and games. Field trips to the beach,
local attractions and other kid-friendly places are popular. Stop by to
register as spots are limited. |
|||
|
|
|
||
