Welcome to this week's "Gish Picks", where I highlight family-oriented cultural events, products or services. Please note that I "highlight" these events, but I don't know if they are appropriate for your particular children, so choose wisely based on age, maturity and interests.

I know many of you go to events based on GISH PICKS recommendations; PLEASE remember to tell the organization that you are there because of us. Word-of-mouth like yours helps our business to grow. In the same spirit, please also feel free to share GISH PICKS with friends and families.

Do you have something you would like to promote on Gish Picks? Advertisers can promote family-friendly events, products or services to Houstonians all over the city and the surrounding area who are active parents, involved citizens and great shoppers. We love doing this community service and want to keep it free for our readers but in order to justify the hours spent researching, writing and designing this newsletter, we need advertising support. If you'd like to learn more, please click below.

Now, GO FIND FUN!

EXPRESS THEATRE IS GETTING GRUFF.

Express Children's Theatre presents a rollicking musical version of the classic tale "Three Billy Goats Gruff" in a final performance this Saturday, May 23 at 2pm at their Northwest Mall Theatre. All the three billy goats want to do is get across the bridge so they can eat the grass on the other side, but there’s a grumbly, grouchy, bully of a Troll under the bridge who is determined not to let them pass. The determined goats finally get across and even make a new friend in the process (no fair guessing!). Express Children’s Theatre is Houston’s oldest and largest performing and arts education organization dedicated specifically to children and families. They are celebrating their 18th season of creating and presenting professional, culturally diverse performing arts designed to entertain and educate.

HERE'S A GREAT WAY TO SEE HISTORIC HOUSTON.

I’m a fan of history and preservation as well as an advocate for healthy lifestyles, so the first annual “Tour De Hood-Houston” is right up my alley (or bikeway!). This Sunday, May 24, starting at 7am, Tour De Hood, Inc. is sponsoring a 26-mile adventure for people of all ages through Houston's historic six wards. Designated rest stops along the way will feature each neighborhood’s history and attractions and is a great way to learn about some of our city’s lesser known but very historic areas. Tour De Hood, Inc. is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that promotes healthy lifestyles through physical fitness. The objectives of the organization are: (1) to increase awareness of the connection of healthy living with bicycling, (2) to inspire people of all ages and abilities to ride for recreation, and (3) to develop healthy values and life skills essential for productive citizenship. Tour De Hood offers Bike-A-Thons, a Mend-A-Bike Program, and Awareness to Health classes.

SETAA GETS DANCIN'.

The Southeast Texas After School Association is hosting a pre-party this Friday, May 22, 6:30-8pm, before Miller Outdoor Theatre’s production of “Dancin’ in the Street...Motown and More Revue”. “Dancin’ in the Street” features many of Houston’s most talented vocalists and dancers accompanied by the BACEMENT Soul Orchestra. Returning BACE performers including Clarence Whitmore (co-artistic director), Eve Tates, Amin Moore, Gretchen Jean (choreographer), Rachel Ecroth, Steven and many more are joined by many new additions to the BACE Ensemble. The 2009 production of this show will open on Thursday, May 21 and run through Sunday, May 24, with shows at 8:15pm nightly. SETAA is the local branch of Texas Afterschool Association (TAA) and is a professional association with a membership that includes practitioners, policy makers, and administrators representing all public, private, and community-based sectors of afterschool and out-of-school time programs.

ATTRACTION: HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER

This week I’m recommending the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, one of our coolest outdoor sites in the summer. The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is a 155-acre non-profit nature sanctuary located on the western edge of Memorial Park. There are plenty of activities for families, including annual events celebrating Arbor Day, Earth Day, and Halloween -- and in the summer, they offer excellent camps.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER’S “NATURE’S TREKKERS” SUMMER CAMPS run from June–August and are a great deal! Kids don’t have to leave Houston to enjoy nature and the outdoors this summer and parents will save money while the kids have a great time at camp.

Knot tying, orienteering, bug collecting (and releasing!) and natural art and crafts are just a few of the activities kids will experience during the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s Nature Trekkers Summer Camps. Week-long classes offer hands-on learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12 under the guidance of staff naturalists and include both indoor and outdoor activities.

Camps topics include: "Winged Hunters" – kids will learn about hawks, owls, falcons and more and even get the chance to see some predatory birds, live up close!; "Lifelines" – kids will explore designs in nature and use nature as inspiration for art and craft projects of all kinds; "Outdoor Adventures" - kids will learn about orienteering, knot tying, camp crafts and more; "Bug Basics" - kids will make their own entomologist field kit and learn to capture (and release!) insects in the forest, ponds and meadow of the Arboretum; and "Wild Science" – kids will become “junior wildlife biologists” for the week and make some tools of the trade and develop their tracking skills.

Half day and full day options are available. And, new this year, there are after camp classes that provide enriching activities for children from 3-5pm. Classes include “Creative Movement Camp” that will lead children in non-competitive activities including yoga, dance, tumbling, and games, as well as nature inspired “Art Camp” classes taught by City ArtWorks.

For more information visit www.houstonarboretum.org or call 713.366.0421.

ENJOY COOL ROBOTICS CAMPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.

The UH College of Technology is offering 3 "Discovery Camps 2009" focusing on robotics fun for kids. Classes fill quickly so register early! The deadline to register is June 15.

• NXT Robotics
  Cost: $250
  Grades: 4th-8th
  Help scientists ready the surface of Mars for colonization! Using LEGO NXT© robotics kits, design, build and program your own robot to help terraform the surface of Mars. What does it mean to terraform? Join and find out! Campers will work in teams. This camp is for youth entering 4th through 8th grades.
  
  
• Stop-Motion Animation
  Cost: $250
  Grades: 4th-8th
  Do you want to make your own movie? This is your opportunity to write and direct your very own movie. Using LEGO© miniature figures as your actors, build your own sets and shoot your own movie one frame at a time. It takes 24 frames to make 1 second of a movie – how long will yours be? This camp is for youth entering 4th through 8th grades.
  
  
• Automata Mechanical Sculpture
  Cost: $250
  Grades: 4th-8th
  You have to see it to believe it! When you join this camp you will use everything from craft foam and sticks to pickles and bananas to explore basic engineering concepts. Build and take home Automata, simple mechanical sculptures composed of cams, levers, cranks, and pulleys. And that’s not all – when you are finished you will have a moving work of art! This camp is for youth entering 4th through 8th grades.

Camps will meet Monday through Friday of each camp week from 9am-4pm. There is early drop-off at 8:30am and late pick up by 4:30pm and an easy pick-up station for your convenience.

Sarah Gish
Gish Creative
1940-A Fountainview, PMB 116
Houston, Texas 77057
phone/fax: 713.532.1173

email: sarah@gishcreative.com
web: www.gishcreative.com
and: www.thesummerbook.com
and: www.saveourlandmarks.org

© 2009 Sarah Gish

Designed by West of the World