Omaha Family Fun Guide - Spring 2024 by Family Fun in Omaha

Family Fun Guide OMAHA AREA

SPRING 2024

FEATURING: Summer Camp Guide Kid Food Crafts: Cake Pops Sugar Cookies Spring Break Activities Spring Break Bucket List Kid Activities: Word Search Crossword Puzzle

K EEP U PD AT ED O N FA MI LY F U N!

Visit u s at : fa mily fu ni n o ma ha .co m

Summer

ING AGES: 3 - 5

AGES: 6 - 7 ACTING

AGES: 8 - 11 MUSICAL THEATER

MUSIC

AGES: 12 - 18 DANCE

INTENSIVES

2024 Rose Theater Summer Camps 1

WELCOME

Leaf buds form as subterranean life and seeds wake from their dormancy. The ground begins to thaw. There is a remnants of a winter breeze, now cool and comforting as it mixes with the warmth from the Sun; fresh air, longer days, more daylight. Spring approaches. We search for the arrival of new activities. Our children are anxiously sensing the transition into longer breaks from school with more play. Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians alike are ready to move on from reminding children “it’s too cold for shorts, remember gloves, and zip that winter coat.” We begin Spring-cleaning, feeling the need

to organize. Planning commences for more fun vacations and things to keep the family busy, exploring, and still learning. Spring is an optimistic, hopeful time of the year. Our family loves it because we get to rediscover and watch nature wake up again. More opportunities open up for travel, and getting out around the city. But, it can be very busy. With this edition of the Spring magazine, We, Family Fun In Omaha, hope to help keep things busy and fun for you. We cannot possibly cover it all within these pages, so please check out our website and other social media forums for more. – Family Fun In Omaha Team

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©2024 Family Fun in Omaha. All rights reserved. We are not responsible for errors and omissions or changes since publication. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher. Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com 3

USE PROMO CODE C4KT2024 AND RECEIVE $5 OFF.

COLLEGE FOR KIDS AND TEENS Summer Exploration 2024

Registration is now open for College for Kids and Teens summer camps at Metropolitan Community College. • Art • Culinary • Engineering

• Robotics • Science • Sustainability

• Technology • And more

GE LLE F

R O

mccneb.edu/CE/SummerFun | 531-MCC-KIDS

S & TEE

IN THIS ISSUE

3WELCOME 7SUMMER CAMP GUIDE 15 K I D F O O D C R A F T S 18 S P R I N G B R E A K A C T I V I T I E S 21 S P R I N G B R E A K B U C K E T L I S T 23 K I D A C T I V I T I E S (PGS. 7-13)

(PGS. 15-16)

(PGS. 18-19)

(PGS. 23-24)

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ESPORTS SUMMER CAMPS! :ƵŶĞ ϯ ƚŽ ƵŐƵƐƚ ϵ͕ ϮϬϮϰ

Connect. Compete. Grow. • • • • • • •

/ŵƉƌŽǀĞ ƐŬŝůůƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŵĂǌŝŶŐ ĐŽĂĐŚĞƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƚŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ĨƵŶ ƚĞĂŵ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ DĂŬĞ ŶĞǁ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐǇ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƚƵƉƐ dŽƉ ƚŝƚůĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ &ŽƌƚŶŝƚĞ͕ ZŽĐŬĞƚ >ĞĂŐƵĞ͕ ^ŵĂƐŚ ƌŽƚŚĞƌƐ͕ ƉĞǆ >ĞŐĞŶĚƐ͕ DŝŶĞĐƌĂĨƚ ^ĞĐƵƌĞ ĐĂŵƉ ĚŝƐĐŽƌĚ ĐŚĂŶŶĞů tĞĞŬůǇ ŵĂƚĐŚ ƉůĂǇ͘ ŶĚ ŽĨ ^ĞĂƐŽŶ dŽƵƌŶĂŵĞŶƚ͊ &Ƶůů ĚĂǇ ĐĂŵƉƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĞĂƌůǇ ĚƌŽƉ ŽĨĨ ĂŶĚ ůĂƚĞ ƉŝĐŬƵƉ

Join us for the entire summer or just a couple of weeks!

Ages 8 to 13 REGISTER@ ǁǁǁ͘ĞůŬŚŽƌŶĞƐƉŽƌƚƐĂĐĂĚĞŵǇ͘ŽƌŐͬƐƵŵŵĞƌĐĂŵƉƐ or call 404.990.9000

We develop well-rounded Esports Athletes; Plenty of Engaging Off-Screen Activities

• ,ĂŶĚƐ ŽŶ ĞǆƉůŽƌĂƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ ^d DͲƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ ĐĂƌĞĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐŝĞƐ • tĞĞŬůǇ ŐƵĞƐƚ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ • dĞĂŵďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ϮϭƐƚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ ƐŬŝůůƐ • ƚŚůĞƚĞƐ ǁŝůů ƌŽƚĂƚĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ dĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐǇ͕ ǀĞŶƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ƌĞĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ >ĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ƚƌĂĐŬƐ

STEM Careers Model

/ŶŶŽǀĂƚŝǀĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵŝŶŐ ďƵŝůƚ ďǇ ůŬŚŽƌŶ ,ŝŐŚ ^ĐŚŽŽů ĂůƵŵƐ ĂŶĚ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌͬƐŝƐƚĞƌ ƚĞĂŵ ŽƌǇ :ŽŶĞƐ ΀hE< ĐůĂƐƐ ŽĨ ϮϬϮϬ͕ DĂƐƚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶ ^d D ƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ ĞƐŝŐŶ΁ ĂŶĚ dŝĂ :ŽŶĞƐ ΀t^ ůĂƐƐ ŽĨ ϮϬϭϵ͕ DĂƐƚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ^ƉŽƌƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ΁͘ “We spent our entire summer in camps because our mom worked. We are both gamers so we wanted to design a cool space that we would have loved as kids that would also pass the “momͲtest” . Come check us out!”

PASSION LIVES HERE!

3404 N 190th Plaza Elkhorn, NE 68022

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Looking for a lot of fun at a variety of Summer Camps in and around the Omaha area? Create, discover, explore, perform, plan, and make more memories this summer with the many area summer camps! Summer camps are a great way to keep your kids active, having fun, and learning while school is out of session. There are camps with themes for every age and interest. You are sure to find one for your child. Be sure to visit the online guides. There you can search by: Type of Camp, Age of Campers, and the Date Range of Camp. Browse through this updated guide to find the perfect Summer Camp.

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BEST SUMMER

EVER!

2024 YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP New experiences, skill-building, a sense of community, and lasting friendships are all an integral part of YMCA Summer Day Camp. Campers will build their self-confidence, appreciate teamwork and sportsmanship, all while gaining independence as they nurture their spirits, challenge their minds, and strengthen their bodies. Kids will explore diverse interests and have a lot of fun along the way! For ages 5-12 years old! *5 year olds must have completed Kindergarten

Camps fill up fast...don’t wait!

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Rose Theater Summer Camps

College for Kids and Teens Summer Exploration

Turn up the spotlight on Omaha youth! Students at The Rose Theater summer camps will work on their acting chops, belt out show tunes and kick up their heels at The Rose’s state-of-the-art educational arts facility. Students interested in performing arts summer camps and classes can enroll in acting, musical theater, dance and production camps.

Metropolitan Community College offers College for Kids and College for Teens courses that bring fun and learning to children ages 5-18. Kids and teens can take classes that focus on art, culinary, engineering, science, robotics, STEM and more. Courses are offered at multiple locations within Omaha and our four county service area. DISCOUNT CODE: C4KT2024, $5 off, EXP: 8/9/24

YMCA of Greater Omaha Summer Day Camp YMCA camps offer kids aged 5-12 years (must have attended Kindergarten) a fun, safe & engaging environment where they will find friends, plus a sense of belonging & accomplishment. Parents can rest easy knowing their child is learning every day, all while having a great time. Sign up for 1 or 2 weeks or the whole summer! Sign up Feb. 1 for members and Feb. 5 for non members.

Sing Omaha Music Camps Three show choir camps for grades 3-12, our summer show choir camps are preparatory/growth experiences for students in a low-pressure environment. Music Explorers is for ages 6-9 and promises to be a fun and exciting exploratory experience, lots of fun for all! Sign up by April 1 and save!

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Elkhorn Esports Summer Academy

McGuigan Arts Academy Rock ‘n’ Palooza

The Elkhorn Esports summer camp is designed for kids who love video games and are also looking to build skills in their favorite game, create connections, and compete in a fun team environment. Each day also features cool off-screen activities to create awareness and interest in the technologies and careers within the esports ecosystem.

Explore the music of great rock bands such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Davis Bowie and more! Explore acting through improvisation and scene work! Get messy and create outside the box through drawing and painting! Full Day & Half Day Options.

Summer Adventure Camp at Lauritzen Gardens

Nebraska Dance

Exciting adventures await campers 5-12 years old! Lauritzen Gardens is a giant outdoor learning lab, where hands-on experiences in nature and outdoor activities are supplemented with crafts, games, snacks, and in-class lessons. Choose from six full-day camps with fun themes that connect children to nature, build life skills, and foster an appreciation for the environment.

Nebraska Dance is your best bet for amazing Summer Dance Camps forage 3 through 12th grade. From 3-day M/W/F camps with half-day times, to our brand new 5 day all day camp available as well! Camps are offered at both of our locations. Activities include dancing, crafts, snacks and tons of fun! Don’t miss our Boutique Ballet performing “Alice in Wonderland”.

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Quest Forward Summer Exploration

Spark Adventure Camps

Quest Forward Summer Camp will be offering four camps this year. Camp goers will have fun in Filmography, Photography, Digital Media Marketing, and Outdoor Science. Students will use industry tools to create fun projects that they can be proud of!

Spark Adventure Camps are parttime week long STEAM based camps for grades 1st-8th. They will offer fun hands-on learning experiences that include art, engineering, science, technology, claymation, podcasting and much more. All 11 camps are located at Millard North Middle School. Registration is open now and space is limited.

Challenge Island Omaha Northwest Camp

Kindermusik (Music & Movement)

Sail Away on Slimetopia® 3: Slime Chefs on Deck™, Launch into Mission Space, or Rollerblade to Island Doll Camp. Add SteinerAMA’s exciting Personal Armor series to discover Slime Movement, Navigating Threats in the Cosmos, and Doll Movements in Self-Defense for added fitness & fun! Screen-free STEM fun to expand your elementary students’ imaginations!

Find a summer filled with joy, laughter, and music for your little ones!

DISCOUNT CODE: FFIO15 15% 4/15/24

Our Kindermusik summer camps are all about YOUR child’s magical journey through music, offering a delightful mix of rhythm, movement, and creative expression. Come once a weekend enrich their summer with the joy of music at Kindermusik with Overton Music Studios. Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com 11

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Bloom Summer Camps Are you looking for an activity for your child that is positive, safe, and encourages development? Sign up at Bloom for summer dance camps or weekly classes! - Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Cheer, Contemporary, Musical Theater and more! - Three Locations: Northwest Omaha (Blondo), Southwest Omaha (Oakview), and Elkhorn.

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The Durham Museum Summer Camp With fun and affordable camps ranging from wizards to LEGOs, The Durham is serving up a one-of-a-kind experience that sparks the imagination. NEW THIS YEAR, an animal-themed camp inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall, the focus of our summer exhibition! Half-day and full-day programs are available for 1st-5th graders. To fit busy schedules, before and after-camp care is available.

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Girl Scouts of America At Girl Scout Camp, the possibilities are endless. You’ll be amazed at what outdoor experiences can do to develop her confidence to take on new challenges. Day, overnight and weekend camps await you! Register for a Girl Scout Camp valued at $25 or more and receive your membership for FREE! This offer is available to all non-member girl-identifying youth grades K-12.

Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America During scout camps, youth can experience the great outdoors, meet new friends, gain confidence, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Summer camp experiences include activities like STEM, nature, games, aquatics and MORE! Camps vary by date and location. Please visit: www.mac-bsa.org for more information.

Join us for summer fun at Nebraska Dance! Session 1 June 10th - 29th Session 2 July 8th - 27th

Summer dance classes & camps in June & July Central Location 11426 Davenport Street

Lighthouse 11212 Chicago Circle

West Location 18039 R Plaza

Scan code or visit our website to register

nebraskadance.com Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com 13

KID FOOD CR AFTS stick in chocolate then insert into every cake ball and bunny until each has one stick. Set aside to dry. Remove cakesicles from freezer and pop out of molds.

Kids Krafty Easter Cake Pops Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

1 box cake mix 1 can frosting 1 bunny chocolate mold 1 cakesicle moldice pop sticks 1 bag white chocolate chips or melting chips cake pop sticks 1 bag orange melting chips 2 tablespoons canola or coconut oil, divided 1 bag green melting chips pastel sprinkles 1 piece hard foam (optional) edible markers

Bake the cake according to the package instructions and let cool completely. Crumble cake and mix with 1/2 can frosting until dough forms. Add more frosting, if needed. Using small cookie scoop, form dough into balls and set aside. Place dough in bunny molds then pop out and set aside with balls. Place dough in cakesicle mold, insert ice pop stick in each slot and freeze 5-10 minutes. Melt handful of white melting chips. Stick tip of each cake pop

In bowl, melt orange melts then mix in 1 tablespoon oil and transfer to cup. Dip cakesicles and scrape off excess using rim of cup. Place on parchment paper to dry. In bowl, melt green melts then place in zip-top or piping bag. Cut tip off bag, pipe carrot leaves onto piece of parchment paper and let dry. Melt remaining white melts and mix in remaining oil. Transfer to cup and dip ball-shaped cake pops and bunnies then tap stick on edge of cup to remove excess. Over separate bowl, sprinkle ball-shaped pops with pastel sprinkles. To keep ball shape, let dry by sticking in piece of hard foam. Bunnies can dry face side up on parchment paper. After bunnies are dry, use edible markers to make face and color in ears. When carrots and leaves are dry, remelt orange melts and place in piping or zip-top bag. Cut off tip and drizzle orange over carrots. Add small line of orange on each ice pop stick and place leaves on each stick. Let dry. E

N J O Y

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KID FOOD CR AFTS

Easter Sugar Cookies

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Icing: 1/3 cup meringue powder 1/2 cup warm water, plus additional for thinning (optional), divided 3 tablespoons vanilla 1 bag (2 pounds) powdered sugar 2 tablespoons corn syrup assorted food coloring To make icing: Mix meringue powder, 1/2 cup warm water, vanilla, powdered sugar and corn syrup. Separate into bowls and add food coloring; mix with water, as needed, to thin for piping.

Cookies: 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 dash salt 3 cups all-purpose flour To make cookies: Heat oven to 350 F. Cream butter and sugar. Mix in egg, vanilla, baking powder and salt. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time to form dough. Roll dough out to 1/4-1/2-inch thickness. Cut into shapes, place on baking sheet and freeze 10 minutes. Bake 8-12 minutes. Cool completely before icing. Place icing in zip-top or piping bags and cut off tips. Put cookies on parchment paper. Trace outline first then fill in middle. Use toothpicks to smooth out. Let dry 6 hours and finish decor ating with different icing colors or edible markers. E

N J O Y

Visit Culinary.net to find more Easter Inspiration and recipes from “Cookin’ Savvy.” Both Kid Food Crafts came from: FamilyFeatures.com

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SPRING BREAK ACTIVITIES

SPRING BREAK FUN IN OMAHA

Enjoy many FUN Things to Do on Spring Break in Omaha. (Pictured: Platte River State Park). For other things to do around the Spring months visit: familyfuninomaha.com/fun-ideas-spring-break-omaha

Visit Current Exhibits Through Apr 14th – Millions of Miles at Omaha Children’s Museum Explore the world of freight travel and the many awesome jobs behind it, with areas focusing on the seas, the roads, the sky, and even the future of travel right here in Omaha! Location: Omaha Children’s Museum Through May 5th – Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion presents full-scale machines that were built after in-depth study of Leonardo da Vinci’s designs by a group of scientists and skilled craftsmen in Florence, Italy. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that many of the mechanisms are life-sized and fully operational. Visitors may touch and set them in motion, combining a fascinating hands-on experience with an exploration of the principles he employed to create each machine. Location: SAC Aerospace Museum Through May 12th – BRICKLIVE Brickosaurs at Lauritzen Gardens On display for the first time in the United States, experience BRICKLIVE Brickosaurs, an adventure of Jurassic scale. Marvel at 30 iconic dinosaur sculptures made from more than 1.5 million bricks, while discovering prehistoric plants in the garden’s collection. This dino-mite brick sculpture exhibit is included with garden admission and is FREE for garden members. Location: Lauritzen Gardens 18 Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com

SPRING BREAK ACTIVITIES Through May 24th – Ocean Bound at Omaha Children’s Museum Embark on a journey through watersheds to see how everyone’s actions on land affect our ocean. Ocean Bound presents watershed science in four themed exhibit clusters. Location: Omaha Children’s Museum Mar 9th-May 26th – Toytopia at The Durham Museum TOYTOPIA will rekindle the wonder and delight of your favorite childhood moments as you can play all day in a world of big toys. Featuring the World’s Largest Etch A Sketch, a life-size Monopoly car and game board, a retro arcade area and a life-size dollhouse, visitors of all ages will be transported into a world of nostalgia, where they can discover the origins of their favorite toys, who made them, and why they continue to be beloved. Location: Durham Museum

Always Available, Always Fun Omaha Zoo and Aquarium Enjoy this spring with this Omaha Favorite and the country’s best zoo! Kiewit Luminarium See the world in a new light. The Kiewit Luminarium is a wonderful place for everyone to explore the astonishing phenomena that shape our world, our communities, and ourselves. Wildlife Safari Park Start your adventure behind the wheel, but don’t forget to stretch your legs on the trails. Hike to one of many overlooks, where you can spot bison, elk, bears, wolves, pelicans and waterfowl. Visit the Eagle Aviary, home to bald eagles and whooping cranes or come on down to Prairie Dog Town adjacent to the Visitor Center, which is home in close proximity to our small mammal and birds exhibits Hiking, Playgrounds, and Parks There are so many more wonderful places to explore outdoors in and around the Omaha area. Please visit FamilyFuninOmaha.com to discover some of the favorites in the area. Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com 19

SPRING BREAK BUCKET LIST

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Girl Scouts

Summer Camps Explore the outdoors. Learn new skills. Endless possibilities.

Who: Elementary, Middle School, High School What: Have fun while experiencing a variety of outdoor activities. Zip lining, challenge courses, archery, swimming and more! Available in all areas of the state. Day, overnight and weekend camps await you! Where: Papillion, Fremont, Nebraska City, Grand Island, Valentine and North Platte

KID ACTIVITIES

All About Butterflies

Answers on page 26 Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com 23

KID ACTIVITIES

BASKET

BUNNY

TREAT

CANDY

RABBIT

SPRING

EGG

HUNT

GRASS

HOP

FIND

BOW

TREASURE

CHOCOLATE

EASTER

Answers on page 27 24 Spring 2024 I FamilyFuninOmaha.com

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KID ACTIVITIES

All About Butterflies Answer Key

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KID ACTIVITIES

ANSWER KEY

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FIND MANY MORE THINGS TO DO THIS SPRING AND THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AT:

FAMILYFUNINOMAHA.COM ilyFunin