NW Kids Magazine May 2025

LIVE • PLAY • DO
magazine
2025
SUMMER
CAMP GUIDE
+ Swim Lessons & May Events
PART 3
of 3
nwkidsmagazine.com MAY 2025

2 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 3

Publisher’s Note
After 20 incredible years, including 14 as the proud
owner, I have made the bittersweet decision to pass the
torch and sell NW Kids Magazine. It has been an absolute
honor to serve this community, share your stories, and
provide a trusted resource for families across the region.
This magazine has been a labor of love, and I am deeply
grateful for the support, loyalty, and enthusiasm you’ve shown over the years.
While this marks the end of my journey as publisher, I am thrilled to share
that NW Kids Magazine is in excellent hands. The new owner, Active Media
Publishing Group, is passionate about continuing the legacy of quality and
community connection that we’ve built together. You can expect the same
trusted content you’ve come to love, along with a fresh perspective and exciting
new ideas that will bring even more value to your family’s experience.
I’m also delighted to share that Mary Brady will remain at the helm of NW Kids
Magazine. Her deep understanding of our mission, unwavering dedication, and
creative vision will ensure a seamless transition and a bright, inspiring future for
the publication.
Change can be both challenging and inspiring, and I am confident that this
transition will bring positive growth and innovation to NW Kids Magazine.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives and for trusting me to
deliver a publication that celebrates the joys and challenges of raising kids
in our beautiful corner of the world.From the bottom of my heart, thank you
for 20 amazing years. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for NW Kids
Magazine—and for all of you.
With gratitude and warmest wishes,
Michelle Snell
Publisher
4 | NW Kids Magazine

Contents
MAY 2025
8
2025 Summer Camp Guide
22
Swim Lessons
26
May Events
28
Best Summer Camps Contest
NW Kids Magazine | 5

magazine
Connect With Us:
• Phone: 503.282.2711
• email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids
• Instagram: @nwkidsmagazine
NW Kids is published monthly
by Miche Media, LLC.
Every effort is made to ensure accuracy;
sometimes we make errors. Please let us
know when we do and accept our apologies.
Printed locally; Please recycle.
Listings
Publisher
Michelle Snell
michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com
Editor/Account Manager
Mary Brady
mary@nwkidsmagazine.com
Graphic Designer
Robyn Taylor
robyn@folkloremedia.com
Advertising Inquiries:
503-282-2711, ext. 1
sales@nwkidsmagazine.com
Big Lake Youth Camp....................................... 3
British Swim School of
West Portland Suburbs.................................... 3
Camp Wahoo.................................................. 13
Club K............................................................... 7
Experiment PDX............................................. 13
Farber Swim School....................................... 21
Friends of Tryon Creek.................................... 12
German International School.......................... 2
Goldfish Swim School..................................... 7
Happy Hollow Children’s Center...................... 3
i9 Sports........................................................... 2
International School of Portland..................... 3
Kids Like Languages...................................... 25
Little Fruit Farm.............................................. 12
Neighborhood House....................................... 7
OCTC............................................................... 21
OES................................................................... 7
One With Heart.............................................. 12
Parkour Visions............................................... 12
Play Fit Fun..................................................... 13
Portland Waldorf School................................ 25
Skate Like a Girl.............................................. 13
The Portland Ballet........................................ 25
THPRD............................................................ 32
Tucker Maxon................................................. 12
USTA............................................................... 25
Willowbrook Arts Camp................................ 21
YMCA Camp Silver Creek............................... 25
6 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 7

2025
SUMMER
CAMP GUIDE
PART 3
of 3
Summer Camp season is around the corner and
it’s time to start planning your kids’ best summer yet!
From art to sports and everything in between,
you will find it here!
8 | NW Kids Magazine

ACADEMIC
Portland Jewish Academy
Explore your creativity, discover your talents,
nurture your curiosity, and broaden your
horizons at PJA’s Summer Discovery Program.
Learn coding, experiment with string arts,
construct elaborate Lego sculptures, and more!
Open to everyone ages 4-15!
pjaproud.org/summer
ARTS & CRAFTS
Grace Art Camp
Grace Art Camp creates awareness through
art and culture, for children ages 4-12.
“People, Salmon, Land, Big River” will focus
on local lifeways of people and tribes of the
Pacific Northwest. Native stories, materials,
animals, and foods will be celebrated through
artmaking and earth tending.
grace-institute.org
Tucker Arts Camp
Voted Best Arts Camp for 4 years running,
Tucker Arts Camp is back! Children in pre-k
(age 4+) through 5th grade explore the art of
storytelling with crafts, music, & visual arts.
The SE PDX campus offers a organic garden,
tree house studio, goats, and gym.
8:30-2:30 + aftercare avail until 5:30PM.
tuckermaxon.org/tuckerartscamp
Willowbrook Arts Camp
Willowbrook Arts Camp is a choice-based
arts day camp located in Tualatin. Campers
from ages 5-17 are able to learn from artists
with skills in drama production, music, fiber
arts, basket weaving, ceramics, creative
writing, and more!
willowbrookartscamp.org
NW Kids Magazine | 9

DANCE, GYMNASTICS & ACTIVE PLAY
DolFUN Dynamics
DolFUN Dynamics: Swim-Move-Play-Learn
Their Dynamic camps provide kids with
an active day of Sports & FUN including
Gymnastics, Ninja, Swim, Crafts, & More!
Summer: June 16-Aug 28. Early-Bird pricing by
April 1. Exciting themes each week.(beautiful
air-conditioned facility, located right off I-205)
dolfundynamics.com
Parkour Visions
Kids are thrilled to explore the PNW’s
greatest parks with Parkour Visions! * Mt.
Tabor Park *Westmoreland Park * Irving
Park * Grant Park * PWS - Elk Rock Island
Adventure * Embark on one of the PNW’s
greatest movement adventures for kids!
parkourvisions.org/summer-camps
The Portland Ballet
Dance with TPB this summer! At TPB, they
foster not just exceptional dancers but life
skills for success. In a nurturing yet rigorous
environment, they impart the lineage of
ballet, helping young dancers reach their
highest potential. Explore TPB today!
theportlandballet.org
DISABILITIES
ABI: Bike First!
Riders blossom and beam with pride over
their new-found skill, volunteers cheer, and
parents tear up to see their child take flight,
alone, for the first time. Bike First! is open to
children eight years and up; meaning there is
no cap on the end age.
nwdisabilitysupport.org/about-bike-first
10 | NW Kids Magazine

Camp Meadowood Springs
A summer camp experience for children with
communication challenges, including speech
sound disorder. Activities include: Confidence
Courses, canoeing, arts & crafts, nature hikes,
bug catching, and much more!
meadowoodsprings.org
Camp Yakety Yak
Camp Yakety Yak is an inclusive social skills
day camp supporting friendship development
for children with special needs, ages 5-15, &
social skills in the workplace instruction for
young adults ages 16-22.
campyaketyyak.org
GENERAL
Catlin Gabel School
Catlin Gabel’s 67-acre campus offers a
variety of weekly camps from July 7-Aug.
8 (preschool-high school). Options include
sports, arts and crafts, photography, LEGO
robotics, model rockets, writing, DJing, day
camps, and more. Extended care available.
catlin.edu/summer
Childpeace Montessori School
Join Childpeace Montessori School for a
summer of enriching, creative, and skill-building
camps. Their camps are open to all! There
are camps for nature lovers, creative minds,
storytellers, dancers, and so much more.
childpeace.org/summer-camps
NW Kids Magazine | 11

12 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 13

Club K Summer Camp
Give your campers an unforgettable summer
at Club K’s Dream Big, Achieve More
Summer Camp! This day camp offers handson
activities and exciting career-themed
adventures with daily and weekly themes all
summer long. Check them out!
clubkafterschool.com/summer-camp
Happy Hollow Children’s Center
They are an inclusive Summer Day Camp
for children 2.5-5 and School Age Groups
(Kindergarten to 2nd Grade - 5-8 Years). They
offer weekly enrollment full-day camp or halfday
camp and drop-in day options as well!!
happy-hollow.net
Mittleman Jewish Community
Center
Have an AWESOME summer at MJCC Summer
Day Camp! Enjoy quality, age-appropriate
programs that are super fun including
swimming, cooking, Jewish culture, drama,
nature, sports, and more! Flexible options
8am – 5:30 pm. Open to everyone ages 3-15.
oregonjcc.org/daycamp
Neighborhood House
Neighborhood House gives children a safe,
fun, and nurturing home away from home.
Parents get the peace of mind that comes
with quality, affordable child care. Offering 8
themed weeks of fun-filled child care offered
onsite at Sabin and Boise-Eliot schools. Early
drop-off option available.
nhpdx.org/school-age-2
14 | NW Kids Magazine

Oregon Episcopal School
Summer at OES offers students in pre-K
through grade five a variety of fun, inquirybased
summer enrichment programs, plus
special workshops for grades 6-11. From rock
climbing to creative arts, river running to STEM,
your child will find their passion at OES.
oes.edu/summer
Portland Waldorf School
Spend the summer unplugged and outdoors
on their 7-acre campus! Themes for ages
3-12: pollinators, recycled textiles, nature art,
kitchen science, wolves & more. For MS & HS:
theater, babysitter training, parkour, & art!
Rest time for campers age 3-5.
portlandwaldorf.org/camps
Tualatin Hills Parks and
Recreation District
Full and half day camps available.
General camp, sports, nature, art, and more.
#1 Summer camp provider on the Westside.
Open to ages 3-17.
thprd.org
YMCA Camp Greider
YMCA Camp Greider is a day camp located
on 80 beautiful acres in the West Salem Hills,
offering programs for campers ages 6-15.
Throughout a week at Camp Greider, campers
will create life-long memories, develop new
friendships, and build life skills.
theyonline.org/camps/ymca-camp-greider
NW Kids Magazine | 15

HORSES & FARM
Camp Wahoo!
Camp Wahoo! Is a week-long summer camp
for kids ages 9-16 who love horses and the
outdoors. Campers experience true adventure,
riding daily and living in a rustic pioneer camp.
campwahoo.com
Ekone Ranch Summer Camp
At Ekone, days are spent outside, doing projects,
and exploring the forests & canyons, and
building community with humans & animals.
Kids come home feeling confident, supported,
and ready to tackle new things! Programs
offered in horses, art, cooking, music, leadership,
and hands-on skill-building.
ekone.org
INDOOR SPORTS & ROCK CLIMBING
Femme Rising LLC
Femme Rising’s Girls on the Rise camps
empower girls ages 6–11 & 11-17 through
self-defense, creativity, and teamwork.
Each week builds confidence, strength, and
resilience in a fun, supportive space where
girls grow into their power.
femmerising.studio
Rock Haven Climbing
Rock Haven summer camps are the best
in Gresham. Get your child bouldering this
summer and they’ll soon be scaling new
heights! Campers enjoy rock climbing, art
projects, games, Legos and outdoor play with
experienced climbing coaches.
rockhavenclimbing.com/camps
16 | NW Kids Magazine

LANGUAGE
German International School
Join GIS this summer for their German or
Mandarin language immersion summer camps.
They offer students from preschool – 8th
grade the opportunity to experience hands-on
learning through a variety of exciting, innovative
and entertaining themes.
gspdx.org
International School of Portland
Language Immersion Summer
Camp
It’s a world of fun at the International School
of Portland’s award-winning summer camp!
Chinese, Spanish, or Japanese language and
culture come to life through hands-on projects,
games, outdoor fun, and more! Learn a new
language or practice one that you know!
intlschool.org/summer
Kids Like Languages
Kids like Languages offers language
immersion camps (Spanish, Mandarin and
French) for grades Pre-K through 6th.
kidslikelanguages.com
NATURE
Friends of Tryon Creek
Grow, learn, and have fun outdoors! Observe
the forest hiking tree-lined trails and crossing
bridges over Tryon Creek. Hone your nature
science knowledge. Express your creativity
through arts and crafts. Play games, build
forts, and make friends.
tryonfriends.org/forest-adventures
NW Kids Magazine | 17

OUTDOOR SPORTS
i9 Sports
Nike Kids Camps powered by i9 Sports
provides an unforgettable summer camp
experience! All skill levels are welcome and
every young athlete grows and glows. The
earlier you register, the more money you save!
i9sports.com
One With Heart
Join at Woodstock Park for One With Heart’s
summer camps! Kids will learn martial arts
with skilled instructors from the OWH
community. Their camps are packed with
adventure & excitement and suitable for
martial artists of all skill levels.
onewithheartfightingarts.com/summercamps
RecTennis powered by
USTA PNW
Stay active and engaged this summer for just
$150/week! Camps packed with games and
learning are filling up fast at parks and schools
near you. Participants enjoy team-based
activities and movement exercises to develop
skills and build confidence.
rectennis.com
Skate Like a Girl Portland
Join Skate Like a Girl’s All-Gender Skate Camp
for kids ages 5-13! Our camps provide a safe,
inclusive space to build confidence, make
friends, and level up their skills. Campers gain
confidence, teamwork, and perseverance in a
fun, supportive environment.
Full-day camps: 9 AM - 4 PM
skatelikeagirl.com/pdx
18 | NW Kids Magazine

OVERNIGHT
Big Lake Youth Camp
Youth camps (ages 7-17) are 6 days of
adventure, learning, and new friends! Activities:
archery, canoeing, art, horsemanship, wake
sports, ceramics/pottery, robots, rockets, & more.
Family camps are 4 days, open to all ages!
biglake.org
PERFORMING ARTS
Northwest Children’s Theater
Hang with Hagrid, swim with Nemo and
defy gravity with Elphaba! Half-day and
full-day camps are offered all summer long
across 5 locations in Portland, Beaverton and
Sherwood. Choose from 30+ camp titles, like
Peter Pan, Tangled and more! Ages 4-14.
nwcts.org/summer-camp-25
Oregon Children’s Theatre
Summer Camps at OCT encourage
students to imagine, learn, and grow
both as performers and individuals.
They offer a wide variety of camps for
kids 3–18 and at every experience level.
Spend your summer building confidence
and collaboration skills, becoming better
performers, and having fun!
octc.org/camps
STEAM
Brainbox Science
Brainbox Science STEAM camps offer a
user’s guide for the human mind. Kids play
games, design experiments, solve mysteries,
and tackle inventive challenges that inspire
creativity. Dive into discovery in NE PDX.
Extended care, AC, and easy parking!
brainboxscience.com
NW Kids Magazine | 19

Experiment PDX
Morning Camp is LEGO Robotics,
afternoon camp is STEAM - including
interactive science, art and reading;
combine both for a full day and they
provide a supervised lunch hour in their
Hands-On Museum.
experimentpdx.com
Journey to STEAM
This isn’t your average summer camp.
It’s LEGO®, robots, and STEAM-fueled
adventures where kids build wild ideas,
code cool stuff, and level up real-world
skills. Spots are disappearing fast—grab
your child’s seat before it’s gone!
journeytosteam.com/summer-camps
Check out our
full camp guide at
nwkidsmagazine.com
20 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 21

SWIMMING & FUN
FOR EVERYONE!
2025
Swim Lessons Guide
Portland Metro has no shortage of
fantastic options for swim lessons,
but we’ve rounded up some of the best!
From newborns to adults, check out our
list and find the best fit for your family!
22 | NW Kids Magazine

FARBER SWIM SCHOOL
Children of the Sea
childrenofthesea.com
British Swim School of West
Portland Suburbs
Make this the best summer ever with
British Swim School! Their small lesson
sizes and gentle instruction help kids build
confidence, learn water safety, and have
fun. Get ready for pool parties, beach trips,
and more! Ages 3+ months
Locations:
24 Hour Fitness - Tanasbourne Super
Sport - 1265 NW Waterhouse Ave,
Beaverton
Aloft Hillsboro - Beaverton -
1705 NE Amberglen Pkwy, Hillsboro
24 Hour Fitness - Hillsboro -
6095 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy, Hillsboro
24 Hour Fitness - Murray Scholls -
11100 SW Murray Scholls Pl, Beaverton
britishswimschool.com/west-portlandsuburbs
DolFUN Dynamics
DolFUN SWIM Academy programs
ensure the leading edge in
technique and holistic approaches.
They offer year-round, indoor swim
lessons in warm 88-90 degree
therapeutic water. Jump into their
swim program and watch your
child thrive!
Ages 2 months-Adult
dolfundynamics.com
Emler Swim School
emlerswimschool.com
Farber Swim School
Farber Swim School offers lessons
for ages 4 months through adults
at their Beaverton and Portland
locations. Make a splash in their 90
degree, salt-water pools today!
farberswimschool.com
BRITISH
SWIM SCHOOL
DOLFUN DYNAMICS
NW Kids Magazine | 23

GOLDFISH
MJCC
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School (with locations in
West Linn, Vancouver and Sherwood
) provides indoor, year-round swim
instruction in a safe, fun, and familyfriendly
setting with highly trained
instructors, small class sizes and a
shiver-free 90-degree pools. Ages 4
months - 12 years
Locations:
West Linn: 2070 8th Ave, West Linn
Vancouver: 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr
#191, Vancouver, WA
Sherwood: 21558 SW Langer Farms
PKWY Sherwood
goldfishswimschool.com
Kids Club Fun & Fitness
kidsclub4fun.com
Mittleman Jewish Community
Center
The MJCC offers private, semi-private,
and group swim lessons designed to
meet the needs of every swimmer.
Lessons are taught by experienced
instructors. Swimmers enjoy learning
in a supportive environment that
promotes confidence and safety in the
water. Ages 6 months- Adult
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland
oregonjcc.org
Portland Parks & Recreation
portland.gov/parks/recreation/pools
SafeSplash Swim School
safesplash.com
Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation
Center (SHARC)
hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city/
departments/parks-recreation/
facilities-rentals/shute-parkaquatic-recreation-center
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation
Department (THPRD)
Make a Splash with THPRD! Join them
for swim lessons, recreational swim, lap
lanes, pool party rentals and more! Fun
and fitness for all ages! Ages 3-Adult
Multiple Locations
thprd.org/activities/aquatics
Villa Sport
villasport.com/beaverton
North Clackamas Parks
& Recreation
ncprd.com
THPRD
24 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 25

Get Out & Play!
May Events
May 24
Current/Classic
at The Portland Ballet
Current/Classic blends classical
and contemporary dance
with four captivating works:
George Balanchine’s dynamic
masterpiece Concerto Barocco,
John Clifford’s whimsical Young
Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,
Dennis Spaight’s colorful
Crayola, and Nick Le-Jurica’s
new work exploring time and
perspective. Experience beauty
and imagination in a performance
for all ages. 1pm & 5pm, PSU
Lincoln Performance Hall.
See website for ticketing info.
theportlandballet.org
FEATURED EVENTS
May 3-18
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
at NWCT
You are cordially invited to join the
Hatter for tea. Travel through the
looking glass to enjoy an interactive
extravaganza filled with music, magic,
and just a touch of madness. Enjoy
tea and treats as the Hatter takes you
through interactive stories, songs,
and a magic show! Costumes/tea
party attire encouraged! Youth tickets
include tea and a variety of treats;
Adult tickets include tea and coffee!
Weekends, 10am, 12:30pm and 3pm.
See website for ticketing info.
nwcts.org/shows/mad-hatter
Please confirm calendar events and performances as scheduling changes may occur.
26 | NW Kids Magazine

May 4
Star Wars Bike Ride
with Kidical Mass PDX
Ride bikes around NE Portland with
Kidical Mass PDX! Bring your lightsaber,
Jedi cloak or Mandolorian helmet to
celebrate Star Wars Day with a familyfriendly
bike ride. Meet at Wilshire Park
Playground at 1pm, ride at 1:15pm
sharp. 1-3pm, Free
shift2bikes.org/calendar/event-21034
The Spy Who Trebled Me!
(A Choose-Your-Own-
Adventure musical tale!)
at Blueprint
Finishing their 2025 spring
performances, Blueprint brings a
unique concept within the choral and
theatrical arena: letting the audience
choose what comes next! With provided
handheld digital devices, the audience
will get opportunities to select/vote —
at numerous junctures in this original
spy thriller — which path the main
characters will take next! 5:55-7:30pm,
“Pay what you want”
blueprintarts.org
May 17
Portland Youth Philharmonic
at Walters Cultural Arts Center
Classical music and the sounds of Persia
combine when the PYP returns to the
Walters. Presenting a performance from
their Sound Garden series and featuring
its chamber orchestra, Camerata PYP, the
program will showcase newly composed
works by Farhad Poupel, Kamyar
Mohaher, and Bobak Salehi for traditional
Persian instruments and orchestra.
2-4pm, $8-10
cityofhillsboro.ticketspice.com/portlandyouth-philharmonic
May 25
Forest Crafts w/ RAD Creative
at the Discovery Museum
This event is family-friendly, and
crafts are geared toward kids who
can independently use scissors, glue
sticks, and basic school supplies or
with parental assistance. All crafts
vary in presentation. Adult supervision
at all times is required. Craft supplies,
tools, and guidance are included with
museum admission and do not require
pre-registration. 1-3pm, See website
for pricing
worldforestry.org
May 31
Portland Rose Festival
CareOregon Starlight Parade
This s the one of the Rose Festival’s
most popular events, offering electrified
funky fun for everyone. From traditional
marching bands and flood-lit floats,
to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and
unique hand-built entries, you’ll see
representation from Portland’s diverse
community groups (and the surrounding
Pacific Northwest region), creating a vibe
like no other on Portland’s downtown
streets. 8:15-10:15pm, Free
rosefestival.org/events/2025/
starlightparade
Looking for more? Check out our online calendar: nwkidsmagazine.com/events
NW Kids Magazine | 27

2025
Best Summer Camps
Contest
SPONSORED
BY
Last month we launched our 2025 Best Summer Camps Contest,
sponsored by i9 Sports! From April 15th through April 30th,
our readers were able to nominate their favorite camps across
12 categories. The three camps in each category with the most
nominations became finalists. Now it’s time to vote!
From May 1st through May 15th, head to nwkidsmagazine.com
and vote for your favorite camp in each category. Each vote enters
you for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
ACADEMIC
ARTS
28 | NW Kids Magazine

DISABILITIES
GREAT
OUTDOORS
LANGUAGE
MOVEMENT
MUSIC
continued on next page
NW Kids Magazine | 29

OVERNIGHT
PERFORMANCE
SPORTS
STEAM
TRADITIONAL
30 | NW Kids Magazine

NW Kids Magazine | 31