Salmonberry School is offering summer programs for kids that exemplify Salmonberry’s commitment to hands-on, arts rich, child-centered learning, in a safe and secure, dynamic and fun setting.

Early Childhood Nature Camp for three to six year old children is a developmentally appropriate introduction to a variety of nature related arts. It will run for four weeks; Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until noon, June 29 to July 22.

Art and Nature Camp for six to nine year old children, will feature two separate weeks of experiences with local teachers and environmental educators, Jamie Mulligan-Smith and Whitney Hartzell from June 29 to July 3 and July 6 to 10. Mulligan-Smith and Hartzell will lead activities including fun with arts, crafts, gardening and nature exploration using paper mache, watercolor, origami, outdoor games, and nature walks.

Local science educator Anne Harmann will offer two separate three-day Marine Science Camps for children six to nine years of age. The June 24 to 26 camp will be an introduction to the marine invertebrates of Fishing Bay. The camp on July 20, 22, and 23, will include an in-depth study of eel grass. Both classes will take advantage of low tides and spend much of their time at Indian Island.

Additional summer camp experiences at Salmonberry are being offered through Orcas Recreation.

For more information about all the classes, visit salmonberryschool.org. To register call Andria at 376-5111 or e-mail info@salmonberryschool.org.

Salmonberry, Orcas Island’s only early childhood through elementary grades school, is currently enrolling for the 2009 to 2010 school year. The school, which is in its eighth year of operation, is under the leadership of Program Director Paul Freedman. Salmonberry, which currently offers a holistic approach to early childhood and elementary school education through the fourth grade, plans to expand programs through the sixth grade in the 2010 to 2011 school year.