University of Washington050

Seattle's in-city campus offers a wealth of educational opportunities for families with kids, both in and out of the classroom. It's also a great place to walk around and explore, with lawns and climbable trees, open spaces to run around in, and vistas of Mount Rainier.

Good places on campus to take kids include the Burke Museum for fossils and dino bones; the vintage Campus Observatory for a view of the skies; the Waterfront Activities Center for canoe rental; and Red Square's huge brick plaza, good for running around. In the springtime, the Liberal Arts Quadrangle's old cherry trees burst into frothy pink bloom, making a perfect photo op (it's also a nice place to rest and run any time of year).

The Sylvan Theater, a natural amphitheater hidden from campus by a tall hedge of trees, is another fun place to explore. Drumheller Fountain, located near Sylvan Theater, is also popular with children, given its 100-foot jet of water and resident ducks. Bring your camera on clear days if you visit the fountain: you'll have a clear view of Mount Rainier. (See "Getting There", below, for instructions on finding locations on campus.)

If you'd like to tour campus, click on the link above, go to "About the UW", and then to "Campus Tours" for online tours.

Educational opportunities abound here, including summer day camps at the Arboretum for kids ages six-11; Middle School Academy, two-week summer programs in various disciplines; and opportunities for high schoolers to earn college credit. Go to the UW Summer Youth Programs website for more information. Additional UW summer programs are listed online as well. Also, browse the K-12 Resource Guide, a database that lists all educational opportunities on campus.

Students can also take SAT and GRE prep courses coordinated through the UW Women's Center at Cunningham Hall.

The Robinson Center for Young Scholars offers programs for academically accelerated middle- and high school students.