You’re on vacation in Cape May, of course. Where else would you go? The kids are all excited – and you’re hoping against hope that you can figure ways to keep them entertained and still steal some time for yourselves. Of course, there’s all the usual family stuff to do. The beach, miniature golf, climb the lighthouse, visit Historic Cold Spring Village or Hangar One at the Naval Air Station Museum, the Cape May County Park Zoo – well list goes on and on.
 But what about something to do here in Cape May? The goal is to keep the kids occupied and give yourselves some time to do the things that kids normally don’t like to do – touring historic homes, sitting around doing nothing – that sort of stuff.
Cape May offers a pretty impressive array of programs and not just for little kids either but for all ages from toddler to teen.

 Camp Cape May - First off, there’s Camp Cape May which runs for 8 weeks in the summer beginning June 20 and ending August 12. Camp Cape May is run by the city’s Civic Affairs Department and is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm. The program fills up quickly, so either stop by Convention Hall and pick up an application or email capemayrecreation@hotmail.com or call 609-884-9565.

 The Nature Center of Cape May (NCCM) - The Nature Center of Cape May, located at 1600 Delaware Ave (down near the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center), is a wonderful source for summer programs.

 Wonder Kids - The Nature Center offers programs which are age-appropriate. Wonder Kids, for example, is pre-K through 2nd grade. There are two 8-week sessions on Monday & Tuesday or Wednesday & Thursday both from 10 am to noon - June 25 through August 18.

 The Nature Center offers a hands-on exploration of Cape May’s natural resources. Weekly programs for young explorers range from such yummy selections as: “Worms Eat My Garbage” to “Solar System Safari” with many other stops in between. In addition, the programs are designed to suit the needs of both year-round residents and summer visitors. Children may attend Nature Center classes just one day or for the entire eight-weeks. The cost for non-members (the Nature Center is an affiliate of the New Jersey Audubon Society) is $240 for all 8 weeks $30 per week $15/day. For NJAS members the cost is $160/ session, $20 per week, $10/day.

 Nature Wizards is for kids grades 3 thru 5 and is a 4-day, 8 week session from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday thru Thursday, June 27 through August 18. Programs for junior scientists range from “Life Aquatic” and “Marsh Madness” in which program participants explore the Harbor for Marine life and the saltwater marsh habitat for everything from microscopic organisms to large birds of prey to “Astronomy for Young Scientists.” The cost for non-members is $480/ for the whole session, $60/week, $15/day. Cost for NJAS members is $320/session, $40/week and $10/day.

 Harborside Explorers - Finally for grades 5 thru 9. This 4-day, 8-week session runs Monday thru Thursday, June 27 to August 18 from 10 am to noon and explores the possibilities of a career in marine science.
Programs offered range from “She Sells Seashells and Other Cool Seaside Careers” to “Fun in the Sun.” Cost for non-members is $512/ 8-week session, $128/ 2-week session, $16/day. Cost to NJAS members is $384/ 8-week session, $96/ 2-week session, $12/day.

 There’s More - Believe it or not there are other NCCM programs as well. Junior Internships are available for teens. And for the younger folk “Earth Arts for Little Hands” ages 4-6, held on Fridays, 10 am to noon, July 1 thru Sept. 2. Also on Friday from July 1 to Sept. 2, 10 am to noon, the Nature Center offers a crafts program for kids 7 years and up called “Natural Arts.” The cost for each of these programs is $120 for the entire session or $15/ day for non-members. For NJAS members the cost is $80/session and $10/day.

 Aqua Trail Kayak Camp - For the 12-16 year-old crowd, NCCM sponsors a basic and an advanced sea kayaking course. The basic sessions which are an introduction to sea kayaking are held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, from 9:00 am to 1 p.m. July 11,12, 13 and August 8, 9, 10. The advanced Kayak Camp focuses on rescue, chart interpretation, and meteorology is also held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30 am to 1 pm August 15, 16 and 17.
Again, we strongly advise pre-registration. Call (609) 898-8848 for a complete calendar of events and for a detailed Summer Children’s Programs brochure and registration form.
And be sure to check out their website www.njaudubon.org/Centers/NCCM or CapeMay.com’s events calendar for a list of daily, family activities.

 Young Filmmaker’s Summer Institute – A new and exciting program being offered this summer for the 13-18 year-old crowd is the 3rd annual Young Filmmakers’ Summer Institute being held June 27 thru July 1. This great opportunity is limited to 20 students. Tuition is $250 – partial scholarships are available. Sponsored by the Cape May New Jersey State Film Festival, the summer session is described by founder Ron Rollet as “a boot camp for taking teens from script to finished film in five days.” The Summer Institute will run from 9 am to 3 pm daily at the West Cape May Elementary School. The final films will be shown to a live audience on Friday, July 1 at 7 pm. For further information call 609-884-6700 or log onto their website www.njstatefilmfestival.com and get on it, if you have teen who might be interested.

Art-Dance-Theater Camp – Sponsored by Community Outreach Dance Network these weekly sessions are for children ages 6-11. There are actually 2 sessions at $150/week, $125 for more than one child or for more than one week. Week One begins June 20th. Week Two starts June 27th. Each session concludes with a performance by the troupe for friends and family. Participants create their own scenery, props and costumes. They contribute to the choreography and learn to improvise dialogue. They are supervised by professional artists, dancers and actors. Hurry – time’s a wastin’. Call 609-884-3536.

 Then there are programs which are fun but require parental supervision.

 Kids Theater - If you’re here in July and August and just looking for a fun family activity, try the Cape May Kids Playhouse Theater. Recommended for kids 3-12 years of age (kids under 3 get in free), Kids Playhouse Theater is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) and the City’s Department of Civic Affairs. Playhouse Theater is open every Monday and Thursday from July 4th to August 18th with two shows each day - One for early birds at 10 a.m. and a second evening show at 7 p.m. both held at Convention Hall. The Kids Playhouse mixes the entertainment up rather nicely featuring shows of magic, music, science, Snow White and The Little Mermaid told through puppetry, juggling and folk singing. A detailed schedule for the events is available at www.capemaymac.org or call 609-884-5404. The first performance for the Playhouse Theater is July 4th. The last performance is August 15th.

 Children’s Nature Walks - Cape May Point State Park offers Children’s Nature Walks as well as Kids and Critters Programs with live animals. Most programs begin June 17th. The Children’s Nature Walks are guided by a Park Naturalist on the Red Trail. Average time is 1 hour. Groups meet on Fridays and Sundays 11 am at the Park office. The walk is geared toward kids 3-12 years old and obviously a parent must accompany the child on the walk. Kids will be on the look out for bugs, snakes, muskrats and learn about trees and flowers along the way. For further information call the park office at 609-884-2159 or stop by.

 Beginner’s Bird Walks - Can be interesting for the whole family and a great way to introduce everyone to birding. The walk takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Again, groups meet at the park office on Fridays and Sundays at 9am.

 Kids & Critters - Kids & Critters is a special “please touch” kind of program. Snakes, turtles, frogs etc. etc. No sunscreen, bug spray or any other chemical substance on the hands please as it might prove harmful to the critters. Meet at the Park Museum on Saturdays at 11am.

Tank Time - Touch and learn about crabs and snails and other fish tanky type things. Tank Time is held at the Museum on Saturdays at 1 pm.

 Delaware Bay Safari – One of the best ways to introduce young people to nature and have fun too. Weather permitting and starting June 24th, the safari meets at the flagpole at Sunset Beach on Fridays at 1 pm. Participants help Park Naturalists drag the net and sort the fish. “Be prepared to get wet.”