Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Vacation Bible school at Grace Fellowship Church, Chantilly, June 25-29, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Open to all children 3 years old to fifth-grade. Registration requested by June 20. Contact Stephanie Pigg at www.gfcvbs.at.myvbs.com or 703-327-5000.
Loudoun Academy of the Arts in Leesburg will hold summer art camp for children age 5-16, June 25-Aug. 17. Line up of camps includes painting projects, clay creations, cartooning, paper mosaics, fiber, digital photography, batik, printmaking and paper mache. Call 703-777-8043 or www.loudounacademy.org.
Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, will be holding Avalanche Ranch 2007 vacation Bible school, June 25-29, from 9 a.m.-noon. A special family program is planned for June 28, 7-8 p.m., also at the church. Includes Bible-learning activities for children age 3-fifth grade. Registration begins April 1. Fee: $30 per child with a family maximum of $75 and includes crafts, snacks and T-shirt. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
Ashburn Presbyterian Church presents "Avalanche Ranch," vacation Bible school will be held June 25-29, from 9 a.m.-noon, for ages 4-fifth grade. Includes Bible Point crafts and games, Bible stories, snacks and music.
Community registration begins May 6. The cost is $30 per child with a $60 maximum per family. Register online at www.ashburnpresbyterian.org or call 703-729-2012. Payments may be made at the church, 20962 Ashburn Road.
The Loudoun Museum announces its 12th Annual Children’s Needlework Seminar, at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., Leesburg, June 25-29, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Course projects are designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced stitchers. Cost: $100 per child, discounted for museum members; snacks and materials are provided. Call the Loudoun Museum at 703-777-7427 or e-mail education@loudounmuseum.org.
The Loudoun Academy of the Arts, 222 South King St., Leesburg, is offering summer art camp for children 5-16, June 25-Aug. 17. Call 703-777-8043 or www.loudounacademy.org.
Loudoun County 4-H is offering the following day camps.
* Cloverbuds: The World of 4-H, June 25-29, Leesburg, for 5- to 8-year-olds.
* 4-H: More Than You Ever Imagined, July 9-13, Algonkian Park, Sterling, for 9- to 13-year-olds.
* 4-H Arts and Theater: Aug. 13-17, Franklin Park, Purcellville, for 9- to 13-year-olds.
To enroll in any of the camps, call the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office at 703-777-0373 for a packet. Each camp costs $150 and covers materials and a daily snack. A brochure with more details about the camps is available online at www.loudoun.gov/extension.
The Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg is offering Abrakadoodle Camp-Twoosy Doodlers for ages 20 months-3 years. Acquire new skills using paints, textures, papers, glue and modeling compounds in developmentally appropriate lessons. Cost: $36, plus $9. Call 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Camps are: Tuesday-Thursday, June 26-28, 12:30-1:15 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, July 17-19, 12:30-1:15 p.m.; and Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 7-9, 12:30 -1:15 p.m.
The Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg is offering Abrakadoodle Camp-Doodlers for ages 6-13 years. Acquire new skills using paints, water colors, pastels and other materials. Cost: $36, plus $9 supply fee. Call 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Camps are: Tuesday-Thursday, June 26-28, 1:30-2:15 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, July 17-19, 1:30-2:15 p.m.; and Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 7-9, 1:30 -21:15 p.m.
Shenandoah University’s Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business entrepreneurship program summer boot camp for high-school students. The entrepreneurship boot camp, July 8-14, is designed to help young entrepreneurs assess their technical and business skills and evaluate whether they might be ready and able to start their own ventures. Contact Miles Davis at mdavi3@su.edu or 540-545-7314.
Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, is offering Avalanche Ranch vacation Bible school, July 9-13, from 9 a.m.-noon, for ages 3 years old through fifth-graders, must be 3 years old by Sept. 30, 2006. Includes music, crafts and games. Cost: $35 for the first child and $30 for each sibling. Registration forms and additional information available at www.Galileeumc.org; at the church office; or contact Kim, 703-430-2203 or by e-mail at KByrum@Galileeumc.net. Registration deadline is June 29.
The Extreme Journey Through Hallowed Ground summer camp will take place July 9-20, for rising seventh- and eighth-graders. Includes hands-on lessons in American heritage and leadership, and a variety of outdoor activities. Co-sponsored by the nonprofit The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership. Cost: $500. To register, contact the Loudoun County Office of Middle School Education at 571-252-1090.
The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will hold a summer nature camp, July 9-12 and July 16-19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Woods Road, for children entering grades third-sixth. Cost is $100 for one session; $180 for both sessions; registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Phil Daley at 540 338-6528 or send an e-mail to pedaley@verizon.net. Visit www.loudounwildlife.org/Nature_Camp.htm.
The Audubon Naturalist Society’s Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg will offer summer nature camps for children ages 4-11 years old, July 16-Aug. 17. The camps focus on nature and are designed to foster environmental awareness and expand natural and cultural knowledge; featuring hands-on activities, hikes, games, crafts and explorations. Call 703-669-0000 or visit www.audubonnaturalist.org.
The Loudoun Museum's Loudoun heritage camp for girls at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, July 16-20, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For ages 8-12. Snacks and materials provided; bring a sack lunch. Cost: $300. Reservations required, 703-777-7427 or e-mail education@loudounmuseum.org.
Galilee United Methodist Church, 45245 Winding Road, Sterling, is offering a performing arts day camp for rising third- through eighth-graders, July 30-Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be a final performance at 7 p.m., Friday evening, Aug. 3. Directed by The Leavening Agency, a Christian organization specializing in creative children’s programming. There are no auditions, every participant is encouraged to choose what he or she wants to do. Cost: $150 per child. Registration forms and additional information available at www.Galileeumc.org; at the church office; or contact Kim, 703-430-2203 or by e-mail at KByrum@Galileeumc.net. Registration deadline is July 29.
The Loudoun County 4-H junior camp takes place Aug. 5-9, at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal.
Operated by the Loudoun County Extension 4-H Program, summer youth camp is open to all youth ages 9-13 years. Campers experience a five-day, four-night camp full of activities and learning including swimming, canoeing, hiking, arts and crafts, archery, volleyball, cooking. The cost is $185 per child. Contact the Extension Office at 703-777-0373 or by e-mail at kred@vt.edu.
The Loudoun Museum's Loudoun heritage camp for boys at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Aug. 20-24, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For ages 8-12. Snacks and materials provided; bring a sack lunch. Cost: $300. Reservations required, 703-777-7427 or e-mail education@loudounmuseum.org.
The Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is accepting registration for the fall session of My First Preschool. Children must be 2 years old by Sept. 4. Classes are Mondays and Wednesdays, 9-10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration required, call 703-430-6673.