Looking for local spring break fun for you kiddos? Here are some options

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Emilee Boster

Spring break is right around the corner, and although some families are lucky enough to get vacation time, many more are staying in Tuscaloosa and searching for a place their children can hang out during the work day. Here are some potential options if you’re looking for kid-friendly local camps or events.

Art

Art Garage Tuscaloosa Spring Break Mini Camp

1. March 14-15 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
2. $200 tuition, members receive 10% discount 
3. Ages 4-12; parents can drop children off
4. At this Art Garage camp, children will experiment with different art forms such as clay, paint and sculpting. One project will guide students through repurposing recycled material into a birdhouse. The goal of this camp is to introduce children to a variety of ways they can create art. “Expose children to art no matter what as much as we can,” said owner Joanna Lemmon. “We want children to get exposed to art.”

Art Garage Tuscaloosa Spring Break Open Play

• March 14-18 check online for available times
• $25 for non members or free for members; parents stay to observe children
• This daily open play session at Art Garage gives children the opportunity to explore all different art forms. The Art Garage studio is almost completely free-range during these sessions. It features stations at the front of the studio with tables and chairs for students to work through a guided art project. The walls of the building are covered with a chalkboard so children can draw directly on the walls with chalk. In the back of the studio, there are baskets of recycled materials for students to use in any art project they choose. The studio has paint, markers, papers and even smocks to protect clothing from all the art fun. Open play is available every week, not just for spring break. 
• Make reservations here.
  

Kentuck Art Exploration Spring Break Camp

• March 13-16 9-11 a.m. 
• 8-12 year olds
• $150 Tuition; all supplies included
• At this exploratory camp, students will experiment with watercolor, acrylic, still-life, landscape and portrait art and leave with their own sketchbook to apply the art forms they practiced throughout the week. 

Kentuck Spring Break Clay Camp

• March 14-16 from 2-4 p.m.
• 7-12 year olds
• $160 tuition; includes all supplies 
• Instructed by Amy Smoot, this clay camp will guide students as they work through ceramics and hand building techniques. Students can learn to this unique art form from an experienced artist.

Kentuck Spring Break Art Camp

• March 14-16 from either 10-11 a.m. for 2-8 year olds or 1-2 p.m. for 8-12 year olds
• $75 tuition, including all supplies
• This 3-day art camp will feature a different art form each day: Tuesday is screen printing, Wednesday is block printing and Thursday is encaustics, hot wax painting. The camp will also highlight three artists who are known for that particular art form for students to learn a bit of art history.

Kentuck How to Draw Caricatures

• March 17 from 1-4 p.m.
• Tuition $35; all supplies included
• Ages 10+ recommended, but all ages are welcome
• Those who enjoy sketching cartoon characters can learn the step-by-step process of drawing a caricature at caricature artist Kevin Van Kyning’s class. He will also draw a caricature of each person who attends the class.

The Good Art Company Kids Camp (Full Week)

• March 13-17 from 11 a.m. – 3p.m. 
• $175 tuition for the week with lunch served daily
• Ages 8+ (parents welcome to stay for younger kids)
• This week-long camp will guide students through various projects such as terrarium making, magnet marketing, gourd painting, tie dye, pet rocks and idea labs. The camp will immerse children into creativity while guiding them through projects. “This is a fantastic break from their phones and also an affordable alternative for those who don’t get to travel or have spring break plans,” said The Good Art Company owner Amy Mims. The camp concludes Friday with a paint and pizza party. 

The Good Art Company Kids Camp Daily

• March 13-17 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• $40 per day, lunch served daily
• If you do not want to commit to the entire week, parents can sign up for this daily art camp. This is the same camp as the week long one with the various projects such as terrarium making, painting and tie dye. 
• “Like adults, kids are stressed out too! They suffer from so many things. Emptiness, death, health (mental and physical) family problems, poverty and all of the things people as adults struggle with. Art camp gives them a release, a place to take a break from the outside world and focus on creating,” said Mims. 

Sports and Athletics

PARA Spring Break Camp

• March 13-17 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Kindergarten – Sixth Grade 
• $20 a day for PARA members, $24 a day for non-members
• At PARA’s spring break camp, kids can explore the outdoors and get active through these guided recreational activities. The specific activities of the day will depend on the weather. Students should bring lunch, 2 snacks and 3 drinks each day. The daily schedule will be online.

Shelton State Baseball Spring Break Camp

• March 13-16 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Ages 6-14
• $100 tuition
• Students who enjoy playing baseball and want to learn more skills from the Shelton State Baseball Coach and staff should join this baseball camp over spring break. Each camper should bring a snack, gloves, shoes and bat. There will be a snack break, and water will be available but campers should bring water bottles. 

Tumblebus Station Day Camp

• March 13-17 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 
• Tuition is $130 for the week
• This children’s fitness station includes a jungle gym for children to play in all day over spring break.  

Theater

Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre Spring Break Camp: Seussical

• March 13-17 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and March 18 for a 10 am and 12 pm performance
• Ages 5-18
• $250 tuition per camper
• Students staying in Tuscaloosa for spring break will be transported to Whoville with the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre. Throughout the camp, students will practice their acting, singing and performing while preparing for a 30-minute performance of the musical Seussical KIDS at the end of the week on Saturday at 10 am and 12pm. No theatrical experience is needed to participate in this camp.

Events

GameTime’s Alberta City Block Party

• March 18 2-6 p.m. at Jaycee Fairgrounds
• Families can experience a time of fun at this city block party at the park. There will be free bounce houses, food trucks and a video game truck.

Children’s Hands-On Museum Search for Shamrocks

• March 17 from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
• Admission is $12 for ages 1-64, $11 for 65+ and free for those under 1
• Solve seven riddles in the Children’s Hands-On Museum to find hidden shamrocks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and collect gold coins for prizes.

Other kid-friendly places open during spring break:

Children’s Hands-On Museum

• Tuesday – Saturday, 9:30 am – 4pm 
• 2213 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 3540
• Located in downtown Tuscaloosa, the Children’s Hands-On Museum features more than 15 rooms that encourage childhood creativity, exploration and learning. The museum showcases rooms such as a space station, a hospital and a farmer’s market for children to explore various historical and modern places while playing with toys placed throughout the exhibits. The museum has an online tour that displays the entirety of the museum. 

Tuscaloosa StoryWalk

• Jaycee Park 701 Kicker Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
• Experience a day at the park and time to read a story at Tuscaloosa StoryWalk. This collaboration between Tuscaloosa Public Library and Tuscaloosa PARA encourages families to feel the fresh air, walk around Jaycee Park and read a different story each month. Each page of the story is on a different podium around the park. 

PARA parks

• The Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority has more than 30 local parks families can visit this hopefully-sunny spring break. Bowers, Ol’ Colony and Palmore feature disc golf courses, which are free to the public and a fun way to be active this break. Many of the parks also include outdoor basketball courts and playgrounds. The online list details the amenities at each park. 

Tuscaloosa Barnyard

• Open Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm and Sunday from 1-5 pm 
• Admission is $12 per person with $5 drive a tractor and $5 horse ride add-ons
• Play when closed $10: Monday – Friday 8 am- 5 pm, pay online or in cash for limited play with no staff assistance 
• Experience a day at the farm with Tuscaloosa Barnyard. Children can pet and play with farm animals, jump on a gigantic pillow, drive a tractor, ride a horse, hold baby chicks and slide down a 50 foot slide.