From creatures to magic and reading to acting, there are lots of activities for Breckenridge kids this summer
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
From reading to art to theater, there are several programs going on this summer for Breckenridge kids.
With school out for the summer, many families will be looking for some kid-friendly activities, and the several organizations in Breckenridge have plans to prevent boredom. Check out the list below.
Creatures and Books and Magic
The Breckenridge Library will offer a Summer Reading Program with story time and an activity. The “Adventure Begins at Your Library” program will take place at the Breckenridge Library, 209 N. Breckenridge Ave., at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays this summer (June 4, 11, 18 and 25, and July 2, 9 and 16) for children in third grade and younger.
Additionally, the library will offer two programs for all ages — “Magic in the Library” and “Creature Teacher.”
“Magic in the Library” with Bronson Chadwick will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, in the library. Chadwick is a full-time professional magician, illusionist and sleight-of-hand artist based out of Midland. According to his website, Chadwick uses magic tricks, humor and storytelling to teach key points of language arts skills. For more information, visit the website http://www.MagicInTheLibrary.org.
The Breckenridge Library and the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center have teamed up for the third year to present the “Creature Teacher” on Thursday, June 20. There are two shows scheduled — at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. — in the main gallery the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, located next door to the library at 207 N. Breckenridge Ave.
All of the library’s Summer Reading Program events will be free and open to the public.
Anyone who wants to visit the library to check out books, use the computers or do some research, the library is open each week from Monday through Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; the computers automatically shut down at 5 p.m. The library is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Summer Art Workshops
The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, 207 N. Breckenridge Ave., will offer a couple of art workshops for kids this summer.
The “Colorful World of Art” will be June 24-26 with three sessions by age group:
- Kindergarten and First grade – 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
- Second and Third grades – 10:45 a.m. – Noon (12 p.m.)
- Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grades – 1 – 2:30 p.m.
The cost will be $3 per student, and registration will open on June 4 at the BFAC.
In July, the BFAC will host Riley & Joy for an art camp for kids in first through sixth grade (for the 2024-25 school year). The art camp will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon July 15-17. Participants will try a variety of art formats, including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. On Wednesday July 17 at 11:30 a.m., there will be an art show for parents, family and friends to attend. The Riley & Joy art camp will cost $100 per student, and registration can be completed online at https://rileyandjoy.com/collections/art-camps/products/breckenridge-art-camp-summer-2024.
The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center is located at 207 N. Breckenridge Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Missoula Children’s Theatre
The National Theatre and the Friends of Historic Breckenridge will host the Missoula Children’s Theatre Camp, beginning next week. This year’s production will be “Treasure Island.”
The camp will be held June 17-21 with the performance for the public on June 22.
The theater camp will be open to kids in kindergarten through the 12th grade, and the cost will be $50 per child. A registration form can be downloaded from the Friends of Historic Breckenridge website.
In previous years, the National Theatre’s Missoula Theatre Camp has presented “The Frog Prince,” “Gulliver’s Travels,” “The Snow Queen” and “King Arthur’s Quest.”
For more information on this year’s theater camp, visit the FOHB website or the National Theatre’s Facebook page.
Additionally, the National Theatre will offer a free movie to local families on Saturday, June 1. The movie, “Arthur the King,” is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the doors to the theater opening at 6:30 p.m. The movie will be free, but attendees might want to bring some cash (or a card, no checks) for snacks and drinks that will be for sale.
According to the National Theatre’s Facebook page, the movie is based on a true story and tells the tale of Michael Light, who convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team gets pushed to the outer limits of endurance, a dog named Arthur comes along for the ride, redefining what victory, loyalty, and friendship truly mean. The movie is rated PG-13 for some strong language.
