No shortage of fun for kids this summer

Memorial Day marks the official countdown to summer, and many parents are scrambling to find activities to keep their children busy this summer.

Spokane Parks and Recreation is offering the Corbin Kids Summer Camp full of arts and crafts projects for kids ages 3 to 11 starting June 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave..

Whether your kids are interested in art, mystery, drama, nature, science or adventure, there will surely be something to interest them.

Registration is required. Class schedules are available at the Corbin Art Center by calling (509) 625-6677. To register, call the Parks and Recreation department at (509) 625-6200.

“ The Spokane Public Library and Spokane County Library District are firing up their “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” program to keep your kids reading this summer.

Kids can sign up at any Spokane area library or online at www.summerreadingspokane.org. After that, they can read or listen to 15 books and enter them into their summer reading log.

All completed logs turned into the library by Aug. 31 will earn kids a free book and their names will be recorded in the Summer Reading bulletin board.

For more information, call (509) 444-5300.

The Neill Public Library in Pullman is also hosting the “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” reading program for kids and teens. For more information, go to www.neill-lib.org or call (509) 338-3258.

“ Hastings Books Music and Videos has started its summer book club.

Kids can sign up at www.readhastings.com, or join at any Hastings location. Members will receive a card for 20 percent off of all kids’ books and can write book reviews on the Web site.

Participants’ names will be put into a drawing for gift cards on the third Saturday of every month. Kids don’t have to purchase books from Hastings, either. If they check out the books at the library and read them, they can still submit reviews. The whole point is to get them reading.

Hastings in Spokane Valley also has teamed up with Regal Cinemas to encourage kids to read books that have been made into movies in the Reading with Regal program.

“Pride and Prejudice,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Hoot” are just some of the books on this list that could earn them a year’s worth of movie tickets.

For information about the Reading with Regal program, call Hastings at (509) 924-0667. For information about the Hastings Summer Book Club, contact the Hasting nearest you.

ChalkArtWalk

The Hillyard Festival Association is presenting the ninth annual ChalkArtWalk on Saturday on the northeast corner of Market Street and Queen Avenue. This year’s theme will be “Magic,” and the whole family can participate.

Although there will be a basic selection of sidewalk chalk, participants are encouraged to bring their own.

The first 100 people to register will get a free T-shirt, and the winner of Best of Show will get $100 and a framed picture of their creation, which will be featured on next year’s T-shirt.

For more information, call Desi Bucknell at (509) 489-1122.