LEGO themed building day camps near Tacoma and around the South Sound for 2021

Yes! There are summer camps happening this year. In fact, we have a whole guide to them that will be up this week, but I know you’ll want to know now that there are open spots in some of our favorite Tacoma area day camps for kids from Bricks 4 Kidz.

If you have a kid who can’t get enough of Lego or other building toys, they will LOVE these high quality camps that provide real instruction and plenty of building time around cool themes.

Choose from a wide range of new and favorite LEGO building camps inspired by Disney’s Jungle Cruise, sports, video game characters, Star Wars, and Minecraft, or computer-based camps including stop motion animation movie making, robotics, coding, and video game design!  Camps are available for children ages 6-12 or Junior Builders age 4-6.

My own children have done Bricks 4 Kidz camps, and I was super impressed every time. The instructors are awesome, and my kids had a blast. They even learned some things (you don’t have to tell your kids that part if you don’t want to)!

Bricks 4 Kidz partners with various parks and recreation organizations to hold camps in community centers across the South Sound including locations in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo, Puyallup, Lakewood, Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, so I can almost guarantee there is a camp near you!

All camps are Monday through Friday half days 9am to noon or 1pm to 4 pm. Full day options are offered at most locations either all day with Bricks 4 Kidz or extended with the parks and rec host’s day camp.

Now, summer camps are filling REALLY fast this year, so if you want in on one I do suggest you register ASAP. They’re also super fun for kids to do with pals.

Head here for summer camp with Bricks 4 Kidz Tacoma and Pierce County 

Head here for summer camp with Bricks 4 Kidz serving Lacey and Thurston County

Head here for summer camp with Bricks for Kidz Kitsap! 

Btw, If you’re one of my teacher readers or a PTA peep, it’s not too soon to be thinking about programming for next year! Head to their home page or drop by their Fb or Instagram for more scoop on all their awesome year round programs!

All the area Bricks 4 Kidz are run by Tim and Kristi Walker, and I can’t say enough about their heart for bringing high quality programs and camps to kids in our community!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The opinions are my own. Photos were provide by the client. Please do let them know you saw them on Sounds Fun Mom!

It’s time to hit the trail to spot Peter Cotton Tail, and maybe win one of  a bunch of really, great prizes for your bunny finding skills!

I’ve been telling you about this awesome, safe event for a while because your kids are going to love it! If you missed those posts, don’t worry. All the info. is below, and it’s as easy as printing out your scorecard and putting on your shoes!

This is a real, DIY style event (not virtual!) You and all your favorite peeps get to hunt for bunnies at Auburn area parks and trails (We’ve got the list of parks below). The photo above shows what you’re looking for.

Before you start your search, you’ll need to print a ‘Bunny Scorecard’ (one scorecard for each participant, please)

.Each bunny will have a unique number. When you find a bunny, write the corresponding number on your scorecard.

Please don’t take or move the bunnies from their hiding spot. The hunt needs to be fun for every bunny! 

When you finish your scorecard, email it to events@auburnwa.gov by noon on March 31 to be entered into the random drawing for prizes. Winners will be selected at random and announced on April 1.

Need more info? Head here! 

Here for the list of parks? It’s here!

1. Auburndale Park, 31802 108^th SE

2. Brannan Park, 1019 28^th Street NE

3. Cedar Lanes, 1002 25^th Street SE

4. Dorothy Bothell Park, 1087 Evergreen Way SE

5. Dykstra Park, 1487 22^nd Street NE – be sure to check the trail from Dykstra Park to Isaac Evans Park!

6. ***Game Farm Park, 3030 R Street SE

7. Isaac Evans Park, 29827 Green River Road SE – be sure to check the trail connecting this park and Dykstra Park!

8. Lea Hill Park, 31693 124^th Ave SE

9. ***Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth Street SE

10. Lewis Lake Nature Park, 899 W Street NW

11. Mill Pond, 4582 Mill Pond Drive SE

12. Roegner Park, 601 Oravetz Road SE

13. Sunset Park, 1420 69^th Street SE

14. Veterans Memorial Park, 405 E Street NE

15. White River Trail – bunnies will be hiding all the way from Roegner Park to the end of the trail past Game Farm Wilderness Park

***Game Farm Park and Les Gove Park will have ‘accessible’ bunnies in view of the trail to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and wagons.

Save the date! It’s almost time for the bunny hunt in Auburn from our friends with Auburn parks!

This is a safe, fun event for the whole family that will get you outside (not on another Zoom call)! and exploring some of Auburn’s amazing parks and trails.

Plus, you could win some very cool prizes!

Need more details? Our post with ALL you need to know is here! 

Or visit the Peter Cotton Trail Fb page or site!  Remember: The fun starts March 26th, so plan an adventure with your favorite some-bunnies today!

Bunny locations to be announced on Friday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.

Bunny locations will be posted to:

• City of Auburn Website at: auburnwa.gov/events
• Facebook: Auburn Arts & Events and Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Facebook pages and within Auburn’s Peter Cotton Trail Facebook event
• Eblast subscribers: Released via e-blast to Auburn at Play e-mail subscribers

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Oh, friends! I’m so excited to be able to share real, in person things you can go do with the kids again!

This weekend, the super fun Washington State Toy Show is on at the Fairgrounds in Puyallup. It’s a must for collectors or nostalgia fans, and really so much fun for all ages to look and browse at comics, Star Wars collectibles, and so much more. Plus, SFM readers can get their kids in FREE! Here’s all the details straight from our pals with the Washington State Toy Show!

Free Washington State Toy Show kids’ tickets for Sounds Fun Mom readers!

Join us on March 13st and 14th for the return of the Washington State Toy Show. Vintage and Modern Toys and Comics sold with a variety of Vendors. Toys, Action Figures, Die-Cast, LEGO, Collectibles, Video Games, Comic Books, and so much more will be available.

Due to the occupancy limits, all heads need to be counted including kids. So for the last two hours of each day, we are offering 50 free kid tickets during the last two hours of each day. Use the code “soundsfun” at checkout and we will add 2 kid tickets for free. Coupon is good for Saturday 3pm to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 4pm and is limited to 2 kid tickets for every adult ticket. Head here for tickets and more info! 

The Washington State Toy Show will be held in the 20,000 sq. ft. Expo Hall and the 6,000 sq. ft. VIP Tent at the Washington State Fair and Events Center. Entry will be through the Gold Gate and free parking in the Gold Lot.

All Washington State, Pierce County, and Washington State Fair COVID protocols will be enforced and used in preparation for this event for the safety of our sellers, attendees, and staff. Masks must be worn at all times. Occupancy limits will be enforced.

For more info and tickets head here! 

Need to know more about the event? Here’s their Facebook page, too! 

Big news! If you’ve been looking for a place to take the kids sledding or to see or play in the snow, you’ll be glad to know that the Snowplay area at Mt. Rainier is finally open! 

This area is the only location to sled at Mt. Rainier.

Read on for all the information for 2021 Sledding/Snowplay at Paradise at Mt. Rainier. You can also use the links to find out information on snowshoeing.

For more sledding and snow fun options, check the list I’ve linked to at the bottom of this post!

Note that this information is straight from the park.

Sledding/Snowplay Status: OPEN
The official Snowplay Area is the safest and only location that sledding is permitted in Mount Rainier National Park.

Know Before You Go:  Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the designated snow play area at Paradise, located immediately north of the upper parking lot. Trees, tree wells, and cliffs make other areas dangerous. For everyone’s safety, use “soft” sliding devices-flexible sleds, inner tubes, and saucers. No hard toboggans or runner sleds (SFM note-you bring your own). Note: Check the status of road and avalanche conditions before leaving home. Remember all vehicles are required to carry tire chains when traveling in the park in winter.

You can read the complete press release for more information on the SnowPlay area at Mt. Rainier here.

For more options for area snow play and sledding, see the list here! 

Are you looking for Tacoma area light shows or places where you can safely walk around or drive thru Christmas Lights?

I’m excited to have some new options for you!

First up: LeMay Lights!

This is a new light show at the LeMay Collection at MaryMount (NOT the same as the ACM by the Tacoma Dome).

This is a new event, so the info is straight from their fb post and Eventbrite page.

We’re excited to let you know that many of the museums in Tacoma are reopening. These are great indoor places to take kids during the rainy season!

Unfortunately, the popular Children’s Museum of Tacoma is NOT yet open, but many of the other Tacoma area museums have lots for curious kids to enjoy.

As ever, I ask that you choose outings and experiences for your family. I’m not in charge of any of the rules and regulations, and I definitely want you to continue to choose what is right for your circumstances. Stay safe!

Here is a rundown of Tacoma are museum opening dates:

Museum of Glass: Opening Sept. 25; operating hours Friday through Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum: Opening Sept. 25; operating hours Friday through Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Washington State Historical Society: Opening September 29th. Operating hours will be Tuesday through Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with seniors-only hours Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.-noon (ages 65+). Initially, the Great Hall of Washington History (third floor) will be open and fifth floor galleries will remain closed for installation of new exhibitions; admission will be half price during this time. Tickets may be purchased online or using credit/debit card at the museum (cash will not be accepted). Read more here.

Tacoma Art Museum: Opening Oct. 9; operating hours Friday through Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Foss Waterway Seaport: Opening Oct. 16; operating hours Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Tacoma: Will remain closed until 2021 due to the hands-on, interactive nature of the galleries. Greentrike, the museum’s parent company, will continue to provide Distance Learning Camps and licensed child care for our community’s youngest children.

We’re excited to share that the history museum in Tacoma is opening again!

This is a surprisingly kid friendly space with lots for school aged children to explore. It would be a particularly good outing for those of you doing your own homeschooling this year, or for those of you with some independent time built in your distance learning day.

Here’s more from our friends with the history museum:

Washington State History Museum re-opens Tuesday, September 29

Tacoma, Wash ─ Your Washington State History Museum is re-opening on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, after having been closed since mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The History Museum’s visitor hours will be Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the first two hours on Tuesdays (10:00 AM-noon) reserved for ages 65+. The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays.

What to know about coming back to the museum:

• Half-price admission through October 23 while select spaces are open. The Great Hall of Washington History (3rd floor) will be open along with a special pop-up exhibition – the Northwest Collage Society’s Suffrage Celebration Show. The 5th floor galleries will remain closed for installation of new exhibitions.
• On October 24, the museum’s 5^th floor galleries will reopen with new exhibitions to enjoy along with the Great Hall of Washington History. Admission will return to regular price.
• Visitors will be required to wear face masks in the building and to observe social distancing. COVID self-screening will be posted at the entrances.
• The museum’s safety measures also include hand sanitizer stations throughout the building, one-way gallery paths, reduced building occupancy, and enhanced cleaning protocols.

• Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance via the museum’s website. E-tickets support touchless entry. See the yellow “Buy tickets” button on the home page of the website www.WashingtonHistory.org. Visitors who would like to purchase admission at the museum can pay with credit or debit cards only; cash will not be accepted.

There’s a lot to see at the Washington State History Museum. Explore the Great Hall and see the pop-up Northwest Collage Society exhibition. Coming October 24, Votes for Women: 100 Years and Counting and Columbia and Cascade: A River and a Range, followed in November by Just the Ticket: Railroads in Washington. This winter, the new Remembrance gallery will open. The History Museum staff look forward to seeing you soon!