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The following information is provided by the organizations listed as
a service to these organizations, for informational purposes only. These
organizations and activities are not sponsored by MIPA, but may be of interest
to MI preschoolers and their families. Please call the individual
organization to verify information.
 LEAP FOR GREEN
An Earth Day Celebration for Kids of All Ages
Saturday, April 19th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
At the Community Center at Mercer View
The entire community is invited to celebrate Earth Day at the “Leap for Green” fair on Mercer Island. Kids and adults will be able to
jump into fun activities both indoors and outdoors including: Food, Storytelling, Live Reptiles, Recycled Arts & Crafts, Mini Farmer’s Market, Music, Gardening, Dancing.
Measure your carbon footprint, learn about easy ways to be gentler to the environment, and join the party. Bring the whole
family, admission is free! For more information, please visit www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen or call 206.275.7609.
Interested in helping? Please email Ellen Jeffcott at ellenjeffcott@gmail.com or call Joy Johnston at 206.275.7791.
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 Boys & Girls Club Events for Preschoolers
MY GYM-BELLEVUE CLASS AT THE CLUB: TERRIFIC TOTS 2 1/2-3 1/2 years old
SESSION 1: Tuesdays 3/4-4/29 10:00-10:45am COST: $100
SESSION 2: Tuesdays 5/6-6/10 from 10:00-10:45am COST: $80
Terrific tots are introduced to our unique “Adventures” & “special rides” that are the signature of My Gym. This class
will focus on physical play through guided instruction. Tots will develop social skills as while becoming good listeners,
following directions, cooperating in a group, and learning about themselves!
MY GYM-BELLEVUE CLASS AT THE CLUB: MIGHTY MITES 3 1/2-4 1/2 years old
SESSION 1: Tuesdays 3/4-4/29 11:00-11:45am COST: $100
SESSION 2: Tuesdays 5/6-6/10 from 11:00-11:45am COST: $80
This class is completely structured, with exhilarating activities for the children. Strength, flexibility and agility are increased,
as Brian introduces gymnastic skills using the safest spotting techniques & communication geared to build self
esteem & confidence. Relays, more complex games, and beginning sports skills lead to increased strength, enhanced
manipulative ability and improve hand-eye coordination.
“Earth Day Recycled Art”
THURSDAY, April 24th from 9:30am-11:00am
At the Creation Station, you and your child will create a variety of fun arts and crafts with recycled products. Come
dressed for a mess because there are no boundaries for how many pieces of art you & your preschooler can make!
Cost: $7 per person OR $10 per family.
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 Mercer Island Parks & Recreation and Nature Vision
Nosy About Nests
Join us for a wooded walk around Luther Burbank to look for signs
of spring nests.
Saturday, April 12th from 1:00pm–2:00pm
Age: Family
Cost: $11.00/child & parent, $5.00/sibling fee
Location: Community Center, Groveland Room
ABC & Reading
By age 3, most children start to tell that letters and numbers are
different from pictures. This class will have them focus on words
in the environment and explore letters, sounds and site works
through routines, activities and games that train children's eyes,
ears and mind for reading in a fun way to keep children's
enthusiasm for reading. (Min. Reg. 6).
Fridays, April 11 – June 27, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Age: 3 – 5 years
Cost: $325.00 (12 wks.)
Location: Community Center
Spanish through Creative Arts & Games
During this 12 week program, children will be given an
opportunity to understand and use elements of Spanish around
specific topics. Within each topic, we have delineated linguistic
features such as specific syntactic structures, expressions and
vocabulary. Linguistic features will be practiced in different
activities such as music, movement, art and games.
Fridays, April 11 – June 27, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Age: 3 – 5 years
Cost: $325.00 (12 wks.)
Location: Community Center
Wetland Walk-About
Join us for a walk in the wetland and take in the Spring wake-up of
Nature!
Saturday, May 17th from 1:00pm–2:00pm
Age: Family
Cost: $11.00/child & parent, $5.00/sibling fee
Location: Community Center, Groveland Room
Binoculars on Birds
Join us for a walk on the shore of Lake Washington as we use
binoculars to spot shorebirds.
Saturday, May 24th from 10:00am–11:00am
Age: Family
Cost: $11.00/child & parent, $5.00/sibling fee
Location: Community Center, Groveland Room
BK Play
BK Play ® turns seemingly ordinary daily activities into eyeopening
experience for your young child. We make early learning
opportunities fun and easy. BK Play promotes early learning
by connecting, watching & listening to the children, and extending
children’s inquiries and building on their interests. Visit
www.bkplay.com to learn more.
To Register: 206-275-7609
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MERCER ISLAND LIBRARY STORY TIMES AND ACTIVITIES
Mercer Island Public Library, 206-236-3537
4400 88th Ave SE,
View MAPThe Mercer Island Public Library holds
weekly story times for your young ones! For more information or to
register for the story times and activities, please call the library at
206-236-3537.
Baby and Me Story Time
Friday, April 4th at 10:30am
Introduce your baby to books and the
library! Stories, music, bounces and tickles.
*Please register.
Story Time for Wonderful Ones
Wednesdays, April 2nd and 9th at 10:00am
Engaging activities and stories with the young in mind.
*Please register.
Toddler Story Time for Twos
Tuesdays, April 1st and 8th at 10:00am
Ages 2-3 and caregiver
Maggie Bennett shares stories, music, and
activities. *Please register.
Preschool Story Times
Ages 3-5
Tuesdays, April 1st and 8th at 11:00am.
Stories music and activities. *Please register.
Pajama Story Time
Monday, April 28, 7pm
Ages 3-7
Come dressed and ready for bed and enjoy
stories, music, creative drama and fun!
HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM
Friday, April 4th at 1:00pm
Home Schoolers ages 8-12
Join creative writing teacher Peggy King Anderson as she helps
you to have fun playing with words using her lively bag of
objects to get you started. In the class we’ll create a word bank,
and then draw on our “deposits.” We’ll stack, snack and
re-arrange words, creating haiku and rhymes. Come, ready for
fun and go home with at least one poem or maybe more!
*Registration required.
FAMILY PROGRAM - Happy Birthday Shakespeare!
Saturday, April 19th at 11:00am
All Ages
Join us for a fun celebration!
11:00am Cartoons and popcorn
12:00pm Renaissance Magic Show,
featuring Tony Comito
1:00pm Birthday cake
Friends of the Mercer Island Library are asking for your
support!
Support community programs for our library by donating books, cassettes,
videos, and DVDs. All proceeds from the upcoming sale go to
programs for the community. Drop your items off at the library.
Donation forms are available. Pickup is available. For more
information, please call 206-250-5909.
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 MESSY ARTS & CRAFTS
Tuesdays, 10:30am-11:30am
“Parent and Pre-Schooler?
Messy Arts & Crafts (stuff you won’t do at home) Different activities each week!
New drop-in program for Tuesday
mornings! The Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club is offering Messy Arts &
Crafts for parents and preschoolers.
You and your child can enjoy creative
and sensory exploration together with
fun, interesting materials and techniques.
The class is every Tuesday from 10:30am-11:30am, and it is limited
to the first 10 families who arrive that
day. Cost is $5 per child.
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 ISLAND
BOOKS PAJAMA STORY TIME
Thursdays, 7-7:30pm
3014 78th St. SE, 232-6920
We will be kicking off a new story time/pajama party this June.
Each Thursday, from 7-7:30pm, families and kids up to 7 are invited to come in
jammies, bring their bears and listen to stories and music before
bedtime. This summer, we will feature storytellers from the Seattle
Storyteller's Guild and local kid's rock band, The Recess Monkeys.
As always, admission is free and the popcorn or cookies are on
us. For more information, please contact Nancy Shawn at 232-6920.
See http://www.mercerislandbooks.com/storytime.htm
for a listing of upcoming storytellers.
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INDOOR PLAY SPACES
When the rains start, when the temperature drops, and you are driving past playgrounds rather than stopping for a playdate, do you ever wonder: how am I ever going to get the energy out of these kids?
MIPA is committed to finding more varied indoor options for drop-in, highly-active play. The flexibility of drop-in options is important in our busy lives for when an ongoing class is not convenient, or is too structured for your preferences. Showing up at these indoor play spaces is a great opportunity for informal socializing to meet new children or a good choice to meet for playdates.
Each drop-in program offers a different experience. The Community Center has two programs. One allows you to drop your child off so you can run errands or exercise. The other program is in the gym and offers a new and exciting inflatable playroom, in addition to other activities, for you and your child. The Boys & Girls Club offers its Rainy Day gym with trikes for zooming and other action toys, as well as a new arts and crafts program. Both of those programs require parent or caregiver supervision. All are for children aged two to six years.
MIPA works with community partners to create spaces and programming open to all young children, of all abilities, at a nominal fee. Keep the schedule below posted on your refrigerator for those inclement days when your children are looking to run, play, and socialize.
| Day |
Time |
Program (Place) |
Cost/Requirements |
Parent Stays |
| Monday |
9:00am - 12:00pm
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Preschool Drop-In Play (Community Center)
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$5/child/hour. No diaper changing available
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No |
| Tuesday |
2:30pm-5:00pm
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Indoor Playground (Community Center)
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$3/child
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Yes |
| Wednesday |
9:30am-12:00pm
9:00am-12:00pm
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Rainy Day Gym (Boys & Girls Club)
Preschool Drop-In Play (Community Center)
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$3/child
$5/child/hour. No diaper changing available
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Yes
No |
| Thursday |
9:30am-12:00pm |
Indoor Playground (Community Center) |
$3/child |
Yes |
| Friday |
9:00am - 12:00pm
2:30pm-5:30pm
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Preschool Drop-In Play (Community Center)
Indoor Playground (Community Center)
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$5/child/hour. No diaper changing available
$3/child
|
No
Yes |
| Saturday |
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| Sunday |
11:00am-2:00pm |
Indoor Playground (Community Center) |
$3/child |
Yes |
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MERCER ISLAND PARK AND RECREATION
The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department has a wide variety
of classes for children to join this fall! For more information, contact
Diane Mortenson, 236-3590 or look at their site
www.miparks.net. You can register online at
www.myparksandrecreation.com.
Call them for available classes.
COMMUNITY CENTER SURVEY: In
an effort to continue to service the Mercer Island community, the Mercer Island
Parks and Recreation Department would like some feedback from the residents to
help us develop our program delivery at the new Community Center at Mercer
View.
Please download (File, Save as ... )
this MS Word survey and send it to
www.jennifer.berner@ci.mercer-island.wa.us .
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PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS at the Boys and Girls Club
RAINY DAY GYM:
For preschoolers & their parents, this wonderful indoor playground offers toddlers or preschoolers the opportunities for lots of active play, as well as a time for parents to relax and socialize!
WEDNESDAYS from 9:30-12:30pm Oct. 3rd-May 1st
COST: $3 per visit!
Creation Station Workshops
At the Creation Station, you and your child will create a variety of fun arts and crafts with recycled products. Come dressed for a mess because there are no boundaries for how many pieces of art you & your preschooler can make! Cost: $7 per person OR $10 per family.
Dates:
February - 12th 9:30-11:00 “Red, Pink & White!!!”
April 24th - 9:30-11:00 “Earth Day Recycled Art”
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 COMMUNITY
CENTER AT MERCER VIEW
PRESCHOOL CLUBS
Here are some new preschool activities opening up at the Community
Center.
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Preschool Indoor Playground
Ages: up to
6 yrs.
Days:
Tuesday: 2:30pm ?5:30pm;
Thursday: 9:30am
?Noon,
Friday: 2:30pm ?5:30pm;
Sunday: 11:00am ?2:00pm
Ongoing from Sept 12,
2006
$3.00 per
child, daily drop-in
Passes
available:
$30.00 = 10
visits;
$60.00 = 20
visits;
$90.00 = 30
visits
Community Center, Gymnasium
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Preschool Club
Age: 3 yrs.
Jan. 10-
Feb. 16
Tues. &
Thurs.
9:30am-
11:30am
$145.00/6
wks.
Ages: 4- 6
yrs.
Jan. 10-
Feb. 16
Tues. &
Thurs.
Noon-
3:00pm
$217.00/6
wks.
Community
Center, Groveland Room
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Preschool Drop-In Play
Ages: 3- 6
yrs.
Days: Mon.,
Wed., Fri.
Jan. 9-
March 30
9:00am-
Noon
$5.00/hr.
or $40.00/8 hr.
Community
Center, Groveland Room
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We
are currently hiring Preschool Leaders for these programs! For
more information, please contact 206-236-3545.
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 Program for Early Parent Support
PEPS is a non-profit organization that brings parents of young children together in community-based discussion and support groups. PEPS' mission is to provide community-based programs that enable parents of infants and young children to meet the challenges of parenting through mutual support and shared information. PEPS offers newborn programs and a twins program for children ages birth to 4 months. For more information, check out www.pepsgroup.org
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 JCC Parenting Program
Designed for children ages birth to 3 years, the Stroum JCC Parenting Center provides a warm and nurturing environment for expectant parents and families with young children. They offer programs, classes, and support services designed to strengthen emotional bonds and promote optimal child development. For more information, check out www.sjcc.org/children/parenting
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 CREATIVE DRAMA CLASSES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Every weekday morning, Youth Theatre Northwest
Are you looking for a program that exercises your child’s imagination and gives flight to zany adventures? Every weekday morning, the Youth Theatre Northwest offers classes, including Fairy Tale Players, Stars on
Stage and Magical Adventures. Winter classes begin the week of January 8 and run through the third
week of March. Call to register 232-4145, extension 100.
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 Mothers of Preschoolers
MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. It is a place for mothers to get together for friendship and encouragement. Mothers with children, ages birth ¨C kindergarten are welcome! Our morning activities including breakfast, speakers, and crafts ¨C all while your children are cared for by loving teachers.
Come visit MOPS!
1st & 3rd Fridays, September-May
9:15am-11:30am
Mercer Island Covenant Church
For more information, visit www.micc.org and click on ¡°MOPS¡±
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 YMCA Parent/Child Programs
Hey Dads of preschoolers and
kindergartners! Mercer Island is home to
one of the most active YMCA parent/child
programs in the country. Join more than
450 dads who participate in the
Y-Tykes/Y-Guides/Y-Princesses community
with their Pre-K to 3rd grade sons and
daughters.
Small groups of friends meet monthly and
go on larger spring and fall campouts.
New groups for 2007/8
are beginning to form now.
Find out more at yguides.wikispaces.com
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 Are
you looking for ways to burn off your child's energy on a Northwest rainy
day? Click on the Beyond MIPA (Indoor Play)
for suggestions on Eastside or Seattle indoor activities!
For more activities around town, also check out
www.seattleschild.com and www.parentmap.com
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