Comstock Town Offers Free Kids? Arts and Science Activities

Silver City, Nevada ? Every summer the historic community of Silver City offers a free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program for children and and their parents in the region. The annual program began in 2003 and has been offered each summer since, with varying themes, but always involving key STEAM concepts.

The 2015 program will take place from 10am to noon in the town?s shady park and adjacent community center, which is known as the School House (385 High Street, Silver City NV 89428).  Activities this year include separate events for pre-K, elementary, and teen age youths. Parents are asked to stay and join in the fun and assist with clean up. See below for dates.

Location:?Silver City is about 12 miles from Carson City, about 5 miles?from Virginia City, and 7 miles from Dayton. The park and community center (School House) are at 385 High Street.

Silver City is located within a National Historic Landmark on the Comstock

Art Lessons for Teens and Adults: Beginners? art lessons for teens and adults will be taught by professional artist Karen Kreyeski on Tuesday June 9th and Tuesday June 16th from 10am until roughly 1pm. Space is limited for these in-demand classes with Ms Kreyeski, who is an award-winning artist and educator. Please reserve your spot by emailing Quest at quest@theodata.com. The first class will be ?Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Drawing Objects the Way You See Them.? The second class will be ?Painting with the Spirit of Nature: Free Form Techniques Using Water, Sand and Salt.?

Fun Fair for Parents and Kids Ages 3 to 6: The always popular ?Tune into Kids? arts and science fun fair hosted by United Way is back again this summer. The fair is for parents and their children ages 3 to 6, and takes place on Tuesday, June 23rd from 10am to noon in the park. Participants will receive free books through United Way. Space is limited. Please reserve your child?s spot by emailing Quest at quest@theodata.com or calling 287-7598.

Bike Safety Rodeo for Kids 5 to 12: On Tuesday, June 30th from 10am to noon at the park and basketball court, parents and their children ages 5-12 are invited to attend a bike safety ?rodeo? with Western Safe Routes to Schools where kids will learn road rules and safety, participate in bike maneuvers and exercises, and receive new bike helmets. Parents are asked to sign Safe Routes permission slips for this activity.

Engineering: Some of Nevada?s sharpest engineering minds will lead hands-on activities that encourage innovation and problem solving. Guest teachers from the Society of Women Engineers will teach a class for ages 5 to 12 on Tuesday July 7th from 10am to noon at the community center (School House).

Science: Jim Barcellos of 4-H and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is back by popular demand with his very enjoyable science experiments for ages 8 to 12 on WEDNESDAY July 15 and WEDNESDAY July 22 from 10am to noon at the Silver City Community Center/School House.

Resident Artist: In addition, the youth program this year will include lessons with visiting artist Brian Schorn, a remarkable visual artist, poet and musician who has taught at Brown University, Michigan University, and Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding school for grades 9-12.  As part of a new resident artist program in Silver City,  Schorn will offer three free workshops for adults and teens at the Silver City Community Center/School House at 385 High Street. Schorn noted that ?no special skills are necessary; anyone can come and enjoy the workshops.? The three workshops are:

Surrealist Art Techniques, Tuesday July 14th from 10am ? noon.

Poetry Reading and the Creative Writing Exercises, Tuesday July 21st from 10am-noon.

Sound Ecology Workshop, Including Listening Exercises and Sound Mapping, Tuesday July 28th from 10am ? noon (please wear comfortable shoes and clothing and bring sun screen, etc. as this workshop will include some walking). Schorn explains that ?Sound Ecology helps develop an awareness for sounds existing in your environment, whether natural or man made.?

Shakespeare: The summer program will conclude with a family-friendly field trip to see Shakespeare on the beach at Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe on August 4th at 10am. The play this year is Romeo and Juliet.

Summer Reading Program:?As usual, there will also be a local reading program through the Silver City Volunteer Library. The theme of the summer reading program is ?Every STEAM Hero Has a Story,? with an emphasis on people who have achieved in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

The annual summer program in Silver City offers fun STEAM activities (science, technology, arts, math)

Support: The yearly youth summer program is made possible, in part, by Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey, plus guest teachers from many regional groups, and local fundraisers, donations and volunteer work from dozens of Silver City residents and groups. The community of Silver City, which is located in one of Nevada?s National Historic Landmarks , launched the popular children?s summer program in 2003.

For additional information or to reserve your child?s spot, contact Quest Lakes at (775) 287-7598.