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Winter Break Camps and Activities in Reno and Sparks

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Winter break activities for children and families around Reno and Sparks include camps and other things to do from several area organizations. According to the "Washoe County School District Calendar: 2017-2018 School Year," winter break is December 24, 2018 to January 11, 2019. Add in weekends on each end and you get lots of days to fill while the kids are out of school.

December 24 - 28, 2018, December 31, 2018 to January 4, 2019. During winter break, the City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is presenting Vacation Station Winter Break Camp for kids ages 6 to 12 and a half. These camps will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) and are offered in weekly sessions. Activities will include sports, games, field trips, and arts and crafts. The fee is $100 per week or $30 a day.

• Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, 1301 Valley Road (EMNECC)
• Plumas Park and Gym, 475 Monroe Street
• McKinley Arts and Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive

For more information, call (775) 334-4280. Kids should bring a lunch. A waiver of liability for is required for field trips to various local fun spots. Scholarships are available. You can now register online.

December 31, 2018 - January 4, 2019 (no camp on January 1) and January 7 - 11, 2019. The Discovery Museum winter break camps are popular and the number of kids is limited, so sign up as soon as you can to ensure your child a spot. Online registration is available at the Winter Camp Discovery web page. The information phone number is (775) 786-1000. Kindergarten camp is from 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Camps for older kids are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are camps for different age groups, from Kindergarten through 7th grade. Early drop off and late pick up are available for an additional fee. Financial assistance is available.

January 2 - 4 and 7 - 11, 2019. A series of one day Holiday Art Camps will be held at the Lake Mansion in Reno during these days. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost for the 3-day camp is $75 per kid (all supplies included). The 5-day camps are $125 and are either morning or afternoon sesions, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be different art, theater, and creative movement/music activities at each session. Each camp has its own online signup page, so navigate to the date of interest on the calendar page to enroll your child.

January 7 - 11, 2019. Fun with Clay. Kids ages 7 to 12 will have fun exploring the tactile nature of clay. Instruction will encompass basic hand building, throwing on the wheel, and sculpture. Students will learn about the basics of pottery, glazing and the transformation of their pieces from the heat of kiln. All works will be fired in the Museums' kiln. Snack and materials are included. It's $165 for museum members, $185 non-members. Sign up online through the website.

January 7 - 11, 2019. Teens will have fun exploring the tactile nature of clay at the Nevada Museum of Art. Instruction will include basic hand building, throwing on the wheel, and sculpture. Students will learn about the basics of pottery, glazing and the transformation of their pieces from the heat of the museum's kiln. Snack and materials are included. Class is for teens ages 13 to 18, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. It's $165 for museum members, $185 non-members. Sign up online through the website.

December 21, 26 - 28, 2018 and January 1 - 4 and 7 - 11, 2019. Looking for festive holiday activities for your children (Kindergarten through 6th grade) during the winter break? This program offers field trips, sports, games, crafts and more. Drop-ins will be taken on a space available basis only beginning the Thursday before the week of desired attendance. Anything less than a full section is considered drop in. For details on costs and location, call the recreation office at (775) 353-2376 or go to the "Sparks Recreation Activity Guide."

January 7 - 11, 2019. KIDS University at UNR offers themed winter camps featuring the academic STEAM components, creativity, chemistry, animals, Legos, science, engineering and more. Camps are for grades 2 to 8 and are organized around different themes. Camps are daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each camp has its own set of detailed information available from the KIDS University website. Drop off is 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and pick up is 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The fee is $275 per camp. (775) 784-4062.

The Downtown Reno Ice Rink at Greater Nevada Field will be open daily throughout winter break (weather and ice conditions permitting). There will be several sessions per day during the winter break holidays. For more information about times and dates, refer to "Reno Ice Skating Rink Schedule."

There are some excellent snow play places near Reno and Sparks. Many of these areas, like Tahoe Meadows off the Mt. Rose Highway, are on public land and free for snow play. Many of the Lake Tahoe area ski resorts have sledding and tubing hills with lifts. These aren't free, but they can be lots of fun and are way cheaper than lift tickets.

The Reno metro area offers four multi-screen theaters, a low-cost cinema at the Grand Sierra Resort, feature films and star shows at the Fleischmann Planetarium, and an IMAX theater in Sparks.

You'll find fun activities at your local library branch during winter break. The Washoe County Library System offers many free events, activities, and presentations. Children of all ages, families, and adults will find something of interest at every library branch in Washoe County.

Blue sky after winter snow in Reno, Nevada. Photo © Stan White

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