U of M Golf Coach Brad James offers summer golf skills camps for kids ages eight and up of all levels of experience and ability.

Programs include weeklong full-day camps, overnight residential offerings, and a special intensive program for advanced high school players. Camps are offered at the University of Minnesota campus; for overnight programs, campers stay in U of M student housing.

Braemar - rated among the top 75 public golf courses by Golf Digest magazine - hosts state and national amateur competitions for men, women, and youth, as well as PGA events.

Two nine-hole executive courses, a pro shop, club house, driving range, and putting green are offered at Braemar, along with 27 regulation holes. Kids ages 10 and up are welcome on the executive courses; players must be 12 or older for the regulation course. Braemar also has an enormous indoor golf dome (7420 Braemar Boulevard; 952.826.6744) open November to April, which boasts 46 tee areas on two levels.

Golf lessons: Offered for ages 10 and up, from beginner to competition-level. In addition to seasonal lessons outdoors, Braemar offers winter break classes in the golf dome. Kids can also join junior leagues to compete.

Lost Creek Ranch's Camp Confidence offers weeklong overnight and day camp programs for horse crazy kids. Each child gets his or her "own" horse for the week, for safety and horse care classes, riding and arena lessons, and games. Groups are kept small, with a student/staff ratio of 3 to 1, and no more than 10 kids per session.

Traditional camp activities are also offered. Each session ends with a horse show and parade for family and friends.

Camp Rollerblade offers a five-hour camp (Sat 9am-3pm, with a one-hour break for lunch) that teaches the basics of inline skating skills. No experience is necessary! See the website for details and to register.

Minneapolis program is scheduled for May 31, 2008.

Eagan's Cascade Bay water park includes a main pool with zero-depth entry and a splash area for younger kids, as well as additional areas with deep water, slides, and a long "lazy river." The attached Captain's Course offers nine holes of miniature golf. Concessions are sold at the Captain's Galley.

Classes & Camps: Swimming lessons - including parent/child classes for infants - Red Cross training, and short-term water-themed morning camps are offered during the summer, before the pool opens to the public.

Season Passes: Individual, family, and evenings-only passes are available; Eagan residents pay discounted rates.

Students at Classsic TaeKwonDo Studios range in age from five to 74! The majority are adults, but all get a challenging workout, with the potential benefit of self-defense. Many children attend class with siblings and/or parents. Classic TaeKwonDo Studios emphasizes family involvement; children are not separated from adults, and women are not separated from men. Discipline and respect are stressed in training, though the atmosphere is non-militaristic.

All program fees include three months of unlimited participation, offering scheduling flexibility. Uniforms and semi-private lessons are also included.

Afterschool care: Children can be picked up at their schools and spend the afternoon in a safe and secure environment where they work on homework, have a wholesome (and usually organic) snack, enjoy games and activities, then spend an hour on TaeKwonDo before pick up.

Summer Camps: Weekly offerings for kids ages six to 12.

Kids and adults can learn to sail from April through October, with lessons offered from this small shack beside lovely Lake Calhoun. The school provides all boats and equipment.

The non-profit Lake Calhoun Sailing School offers reasonably-priced instruction for ages four and up in classes and camps. Start Sailing parent/child classes for ages four to six provide a fun introduction for families. Optimist dinghy classes (ages 7-11), and Club 420 classes (ages 11-16) teach all skill levels, including racing techniques. In the spring and fall, teams and competitions for high school students are also offered.

U of M coaches and players offer ice hockey instruction covering skating, stick-handling, scrimmages, and more on campus ice during full-day weeklong summer camps for Squirts, PeeWees, and Bantams.

Despite the pain inflicted by ongoing budget cuts, the city's Park Board offerings are a key component of the generally high quality of life in Minneapolis.

The Park Board administers over 150 picnic areas, beaches, and parks, including some four dozen neighborhood Recreation Centers which offer free and low-cost enrichment programming, sports leagues, community events, and Rec Plus year-round childcare for ages five to 12. Phat Summer keeps kids ages 12 to 18 busy with specialized and evening offerings when school's out. Daily live entertainment is offered throughout the summer at several locations, including Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet.

It also grooms skating rinks in the winter, and maintains the Parade Ice Garden, pastoral Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge, and other historical sites, and - in partnership with the Walker Art Center - the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with its signature Spoonbridge and Cherry. Permits to reserve picnic pavillions for private parties at select sites start at $35/half-day.

The Park Board website is easy to navigate and full of useful information. The Park Finder lets users specify which facilities they're looking for, and parking info breaks down the combination of free, meter, pass, and pay-station parking offered in the parks. A page of suggested itineraries offers something for every age and activity level.

Minnesota Baseball Instructional School (U of M Gopher Baseball Camps) provides a complete line-up of summer programs, from half- and full-day camps for rookies to weeklong overnight programs for elite players. Shorter programs are offered over winter break.

Participants get videotaped analysis of their defensive play and hitting. Overnight campers stay in U of M student housing.

Based in St. Paul, the Thunder men's pro soccer team plays most home games at James Griffin Stadium, also known as "The Jimmy." The recently-acquired women's team, the Minnesota Lightning plays most home games at Elizabeth Lyle robbie Stadium on the U of M/St. Paul campus. The teams also sometimes play at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

The team mascot is Thor, who, along with Thunder players, is available year-round to appear at off-site birthday parties and other events ($100/appearance; one-hour maximum).

Thunder season ticket prices start at $75 for adults ($50 for youth) for a seven-ticket half-season package; and $145 for adults ($96 for youth) for a 15-ticket full-season package. Discounts, special invitations, and other perks are included. Single tickets cost $12-$22 for adults and $8 for youth. Kids ages three and under attend free.

Lightning season ticket prices start at $27 for adults ($21 for youth) for a four-ticket half-season package; and $45 for adults ($35 for youth) for a seven-ticket full-season package. Discounts, special invitations, and other perks are included. Single tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Kids ages three and under attend free.

Birthday parties: Pre-game packages cost $160, and include general admission for up to ten kids and two adults, a t-shirt, birthday cake, and soda. Thor and the birthday child's favorite Thunder player appear to sign autographs. Call 651.917.3543 or email kory@mnthunder.com to book.

Summer Camps: Programming includes half-day, full-day, and residential camps for beginnners and experienced competitors ages five and up, including all-girls and invitation-only offerings. The camps take place at sites throughout the metro; the schedule has complete details. Each camper receives a ticket to a special Thunder game in late-August, to celebrate Camp Reunion Night, and a "camp kit" including a soccer ball, training shirts, shorts, socks, and a backpack. Half-day programs start as low as $130.

Volunteer: Fans ages 16 and up can volunteer on game days, helping out with set-ups, ticketing, promotions, parking, ushering, and hospitality. Volunteers receive $10/game and a Thunder staff shirt. Call 651.917.2828 or email trina@mnthunder.com for more information.

The major league Minnesota Twins play home games at the Metrodome.

A variety of merchandise, ticket discounts, contests, and family-friendly promotions are available through the Twins website, as well as comprehensive schedules, stats, and rosters.

Each January, the Twins host Twinsfest, a fundraiser for the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. The event includes appearances by past and present players, clubhouse tours, free youth clinics, exhibitions of memorabilia, and more.

Clinics: The Twins offer free baseball skills clinics throught the region for boys and girls ages six to 16. No advance registration is required, and all levels of player are welcome. Call 612.375.7523 for schedule and information.

Summer Camps: Kids ages eight to 18 can take part in full-day weeklong baseball and softball training camps at various sites. Online registration is available; fees start at $200/week. Call 651.353.3310 for more information.

The Movement Arts Center offers karate instruction for kids and adults, with weekly family classes. The center's new facility features sprung wood floors, locker rooms with showers, and free parking. Family rates are offered and no long-term contracts are required.

Summer Camps: Weeklong programs for kids ages six to 12 ($225/full-day; $130/half-day) incorporate karate, theater, yoga, art, and/or chess. Structured classes provide social time along with opportunities to build discipline and self-esteem...and an illustrated album of summer memories! Campers must bring their own lunches and snacks. Some financial aid is available.

Minnesota's most visited sports facility boasts 52 soccer fields on its 660-acre campus, along with four Olympic ice sheets, an 18-hole golf course, a stadium with a 400-meter track, an all-wood all-weather velodrome, and an event meeting center complete with dormitory and cafeteria.

The biggest event hosted by the site is the Schwan's USA Cup, the largest youth sporting event in the Western Hemisphere. Minnesota's Thunder and Lightning soccer teams also play some of their home games at NSC. In addition, the center offers year-round instruction, summer camps, some open access to facilities, party packages, sporting goods, and so much more it's exhausting just contemplating it.

Ice skating: A cafe and pro shop, public skating, and year-round skating and hockey instruction for kids ages four and up are offered at the Schwan Super Rink, including classes for special needs skaters taught by Olympic-certified coaches. Check the website for open skating hours - which vary from week to week - and information on current class offerings, or call 763.717.3880.

Golf: The newest addition to the NSC complex is the National Youth Golf Center, specifically designed to offer kids and families a non-threatening, affordable introduction to the sport. It features a club house and pro shop, oversized driving range, multiple tee boxes, an 18-hole events course, and an 18-hole bent grass putting course. Several levels of classes are offered from May to October for kids ages four and up, along with summer programming. Parent-child clinics, private lessons (starting at $25/half hour), and group lessons (starting at $15/person) are available, too. Call 763.792.7345 to schedule.

Soccer: NSC's Soccer Academy offers both day and residential summer camps, along with a wide array of general and specialized classes and training off-season and on. Check the website for offerings, or call 763.792.3999 for more information.

Other youth programming: Bikers ages 12 and up can enroll in development training at the Velodrome; All-Sport Camps for ages six to 16 provide exposure to numerous sports in a single program; and the Track and Field Club offers specialized training for high school athletes. There's even more - check the website for details.

Birthday parties: The Schwan Super Rink offers party packages during open skate times, as well as during private rentals. Fees include skate rental, use of a party area, invitations, pizza and soda, and decorations. Rates start at $135 for ten people. Catering can also be arranged through the Hat Trick Cafe on the upper level. Call 763.717.3880 to book a party or find out more.

U of M Women's Basketball Coach Pam Borton offers basketball-themed summer overnight and day camps for girls ages eight and up. Camps are offered at the University of Minnesota campus; for overnight programs, campers stay in U of M student housing.

Phalen Lake is ringed by a 3.2-mile trail great for strolling and biking, and offers fishing, boating, a beach and swim area, a sand volleyball court, concessions, covered picnic areas, a playground, an 18-hole golf course, and an amphitheater. The Phalen Recreation Center is on the west side of the lake.

The beach is open weekends after Memorial Day, and daily from mid-June through August (12n-7:30pm). Canoes, paddleboats, sailboats, and fishing boats are available for rental from the Lakeside Center during the season (Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5:30pm).

Picnic tables and grills dot the park; larger groups can rent a picnic shelter or pavilion; call 651.632.5111 for permit and fee information. The amphitheater, which hosts live entertainment during the summer, can also be rented.

Sailing Lessons: Offered through the American Red Cross. Call 651.291.3860 for more information.

Camps: Kids ages eight to 14 can sign up for full-day weeklong adventure camps with an emphasis on water safety and boating - including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboating techniques! Activities also include crafts and archery. St. Paul residents get a discount on camp fees; before and after care is available for $4 per hour.

Roseville Skating Center includes an indoor ice arena, outdoor ice and inline skating facilities, and a rink for boards, bikes, and skaters.

Roseville Ice Arena hosts hockey and figure skating, with open skating and hockey sessions - and lessons - offered year-round. See the website for a current schedule of open skate times; call 651.792.7007 for information on ice skating and hockey clinics.

The arena has a concession stand and locker rooms, and is ringed by a rubber surface walking track for public use at no charge.

The John Rose Oval has an aggressive skating rink where kids can take BMX biking classes. Inline skate lessons are offered by Robichon's (ages four and up); skateboard camps are taught by 3rd Lair. Helmet and knee pads are required; full protective gear is recommended. The skating center provides gear for use free of charge.

The St. Paul Saints minor league baseball team - known for affordable seats, goofy promotions, and baseball-for-the-people fun - play home games at Midway Stadium. The team's "ushertainers" and mascots - Mudonna the pig, and her live swine pigpals - amuse fans at games.

Tickets can be purchased at the Midway box office, online, or by phone; a $1/ticket surcharge is levied on phone orders. Package options include mini-season passes (for as few as six games) and full-season tickets for all 48 home games.

Birthday Parties: For $13 per child and $14 per adult (with a ten-guest minimum), each partygoer gets a general admission ticket to a Saints home game; a voucher for a hot dog, popcorn, peanuts, and soda; and two vouchers for Kid Zone games. The birthday child also gets a Saints t-shirt and special pre-game welcome on the video board.

Summer Camps: The Saints offer three-day programs (with an optional fourth-day add-on) for kids ages six to 13. Call 651.644.6659 for more information. Camps run about four hours a day, and start at $150.

The only complaint we ever hear about Southwest's fantabulous Super Summer programming - offered by the Community Education department of the Minneapolis Public Schools - is that it's not offered all summer!

The informal, inexpensive half-day mini-camps are offered Monday through Thursday at Southwest High School for six weeks each summer - mid-June through July - and include sports, arts, academics, computers, cooking, and much more. Each camp has a specified age range, with a plethora of offerings for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Combine a morning (9:30am-12n) and afternoon session (1pm-3:30pm), send your camper in with a bag lunch, and you're set for the whole day; there's no additional charge for the supervised lunch/play hour between sessions!

The program's horseback riding camps may be the best deal in town: $66-$68 includes two days of learning about horses, and two days visiting a ranch - one to practice grooming and saddling, and one to ride. There are also reasonably priced mini-camps for other higher-end activities such as photography and Red Cross babysitter training classes. Full-day Trek programs for ages 12 to 14 include canoeing, rock-climbing, and biking, as well as an environmental education component.

Expect to pay about $40 per camp per week and register early to avoid disappointment - the camps are open to all kids (not just Minneapolis residents), and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis starting in April. Most camps are limited to 10 children.

Register by mail or in-person; contact the program office to receive a brochure, or find out more about registration and cancellation policies. Extended-day care is not available "officially," but ask in the office for referrals to high school and college students who might be available.

Summer Opportunities: Most of the camp leaders and helpers are Southwest High School students - many of whom probably participated in the program when they were younger! Teens looking for summer jobs should contact program director Tom Neiman.

The only complaint we ever hear about Southwest's fantabulous Super Summer programming - offered by the Community Education department of the Minneapolis Public Schools - is that it's not offered all summer!

The informal, inexpensive half-day mini-camps are offered Monday through Thursday at Southwest High School for six weeks each summer - mid-June through July - and include sports, arts, academics, computers, cooking, and much more. Each camp has a specified age range, with a plethora of offerings for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Combine a morning (9:30am-12n) and afternoon session (1pm-3:30pm), send your camper in with a bag lunch, and you're set for the whole day; there's no additional charge for the supervised lunch/play hour between sessions!

The program's horseback riding camps may be the best deal in town: $66-$68 includes two days of learning about horses, and two days visiting a ranch - one to practice grooming and saddling, and one to ride. There are also reasonably priced mini-camps for other higher-end activities such as photography and Red Cross babysitter training classes. Full-day Trek programs for ages 12 to 14 include canoeing, rock-climbing, and biking, as well as an environmental education component.

Expect to pay about $40 per camp per week and register early to avoid disappointment - the camps are open to all kids (not just Minneapolis residents), and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis starting in April. Most camps are limited to 10 children.

Register by mail or in-person; contact the program office to receive a brochure, or find out more about registration and cancellation policies. Extended-day care is not available "officially," but ask in the office for referrals to high school and college students who might be available.

Summer Opportunities: Most of the camp leaders and helpers are Southwest High School students - many of whom probably participated in the program when they were younger! Teens looking for summer jobs should contact program director Tom Neiman.

St. Agnes is an accredited K-12 Catholic school, comprising a grade school, middle school, and a high school.

For grades K-8, the school offers aftercare ($5/day), and baseball, softball, and track teams. High schoolers can participate in a full array of athletic activities, including swimming and golf. Several tuition assistance programs help families in need offset the cost of tuition.

Summer camps: St. Agnes offers a variety of low-cost four-day sports camps for fifth through ninth graders at fields in St. Paul.

Minnesota's men's and women's pro basketball teams, the Timberwolves and Lynx, offer summer camps at locations throughout the metro area for kids who want to work on hoops skills in a fun environment.

Most of the weeklong camps are co-ed and run Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, but single-sex and half-day options are offered, as are camps for those with more advanced skills. No extended care is available. The camps are taught by high school and college coaches.

Camp fees include tickets to Timberwolves and Lynx games, and a mesh jersey, basketball, and end-of-week award.

University of Minnesota Coach Tubby Smith offers basketball-themed overnight and day camps for boys ages eight and up during the summer. Camps are offered at the U of M campus (but are not affiliated with the U) and in Eden Prairie. For overnight programs, campers stay in U of M student housing.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

Children can learn discipline and focus through martial arts, self-defense, and cardio kickboxing classes at World Taekwondo Academy coaching centers.

Mixed-age classes encourage the whole family to study together; summer camps and competitions offer additional opportunities for practice. WTA students participate in Olympic-style tournament sparring to progress from white to black belts, and get a free uniform when they enroll.

The Midway YMCA offers all the great stuff families would expect, including programming for kids and teens, youth sport leagues, swimming lessons, childcare and extended day care for kids ages 16 months and up, parent-child yoga classes, and much more.

Summer camps: On-site summer care is offered with a different theme and field trip each week. For a more traditional summer camp experience the Midway YMCA feeds Camp St. Croix, a wooded site with a lake located 30 miles east of the Twin Cities. Day camp activities include archery, canoeing, cookouts, horseback riding, crafts, and teen adventures. The camp also offers two special experiences: Pioneer Village, featuring games and activities from the past; and the pirate-themed Oasis Waterplay Area. Teen Quest camps aim to impart life skills alongside traditional camp activities, and feature one camping overnight. Extended care, bag lunches, and bus transportion are available for an additional fee. Check the website for details on current offerings.