We all remember the camps we attended as kids, right?! Heber Valley summer kids camps are vibrant hubs of learning, laughter, and adventure, igniting the imaginations of young minds amidst the warm embrace of the season. These camps offer a kaleidoscope of activities tailored to inspire creativity, foster friendships, and nurture skills. From traditional outdoor adventures like hiking, swimming, and campfires to innovative workshops, arts and crafts, and performing arts programs, there’s something for every child’s interests. Guided by passionate counselors, kids explore nature, engage in team-building exercises, and discover new passions, all while forming lifelong memories. Summer camps provide a safe, supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive, creating cherished moments that echo through the years.
Wasatch County Parks & Recreation
Summer classes include: ballet, birdhouse painting, challenger sports foundational skills soccer camp, mini cheer, guitar class, intro to sports, soccer, power chess, art, basketball, science, speed and agility clinic, and tennis.
Summer Camps provide an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, learning, and lots of dancing! Classes offered: Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Clogging. Suitable for all levels, ages 1-9.
Summer camp for boys and girls of all abilities, ages 6-16. Ideal camp for Lacross, Golf, and Soccer players looking to improve their game, learn, challenge themselves and have fun!
Belong to a championship competition dance team that requires only 1-3 hours per week in the studio. Students aged 2-18 receive excellent affordable technical instruction by experienced and educated instructors.
Explore new skills, unleash your creativity, and make lasting memories with our exciting lineup of courses including: Cooking, Crochet, Horsemanship, and Sewing for ages 7-18.
Clogging is a type of folk dance that originated in the Appalachian Region of the United States that uses two metal plates on the toes and heals of the shoes (called jingle or hinged taps) that usually strike on the downbeats.
McKenna Flores started clogging as a toddler and hasn’t stopped stomping, striking, or smacking dance floors since. Clogging has been a family affair that began with her grandpa, who taught her mom and uncle, who later both taught her and her brother, Cameron. McKenna’s mom, LaNay King, taught her until the 3rd grade, which is when McKenna started taking clogging lessons from her uncle and aunt in Orem at Rocky Mountain Express. McKenna has carried on the teaching tradition and has been passionate about it since her junior year of high school when she opened her own studio in her parents’ basement. Five lucky neighborhood kids were her first students, and her teaching has been clicking, rocking, and stepping up ever since.
While she attended college at BYU, McKenna continued to teach, and subleased from another Heber dance studio. Also, during that time, she was on the BYU International Folk Dance team. She’s been director of the year four times, earned three national titles, and was inducted into the Clogging Hall of Fame in 2014 at the age of 19. McKenna was Miss Wasatch County 2013 and placed in the top 10 at Miss Utah. Four years ago, McKenna opened her dance studio: Stomp it Out Dance Studio. The studio offers classes for students ages 2-18 in Clogging, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Tumbling. As students progress, they have the opportunity to audition for Stomp it Out’s award-winning competition teams. McKenna also professionally choreographs for other individuals and teams, and offers private lessons. In addition to managing an expanding business, McKenna balances a growing young family with four children, ages 6,5,2,1.
Affirming Worth and Meaning
McKenna’s excitement and expertise for clogging is evident, but her passion for influencing younger generations is her number one priority. Besides being the only studio in the valley to offer clogging, there are two other things that demonstrate her uniqueness and commitment to the kids. She graciously explains, “Something that makes me unique is that in every single class, we do these affirmations that are on the wall: I am brave, I am kind, I am strong, I can do hard things, my body is amazing, I can do anything I set my mind to, I am awesome, I am a Stomp it Out dancer.” McKenna continues, “I don’t take lightly how much of an impact I can have on youth and how important it is for these girls and boys to have a positive role model, especially body positivity. So much is going on with teenagers with mental health and physical health and social media pressures that […] they’re dealing with a lot. In addition to teaching the kids how to dance, I hope that they leave the studio each day feeling a little bit more confident about themselves, like ‘you know what? I’m actually pretty awesome!’” McKenna shares what she strives to give each of her students, “In here, it’s just a real safe space. They can tell me anything. I try to be a soft spot for the kids if they need to tell me anything that they don’t feel they could tell another adult. I want to make sure that the kids know they have a place for that. ‘For me, that’s a huge focus. Another thing that makes me different is the touring that we do. Each summer, we go somewhere on tour.” McKenna’s teams have performed at Disneyworld, Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Disneyland, and Branson, MO.
I am brave, I am kind, I am strong, I can do hard things, my body is amazing, I can do anything I set my mind to, I am awesome, I am a Stomp it Out dancer.
Influencing Value and Purpose
As the studio has grown, McKenna invited three additional amazing teachers to join her. Tayler Newman, Kelsey Tippitts, and Lydia Pullan are incredibly talented women who share the same values and goals as McKenna. Each of them brings a unique perspective and adds to what makes Stomp it Out Dance Studio such a great place for students to learn, develop, and share their talents. Speaking of sharing talents, every year, the studio holds two recitals: one in the spring and another at Christmas time. All classes and competitive teams perform and share what they’ve learned with their family, friends, and the community.
The Christmas Recital is held as a benefit event for the Children’s Justice Center and The Heber Food Pantry. In 2020 Stomp It Out pre-recorded their recital and offered it virtually; the community donated via Venmo, and blankets were brought to the studio and delivered to the Children’s Justice Center. The Cloggers also held a silent auction in conjunction with the 2021 Christmas recital, and last year, they held a food drive for The Heber Food Pantry. McKenna shares, “I want Stomp it Out to be a place in the community that gives back. We always perform for the community somewhere, […] and we do all of our performances for free. I want the kids to donate their time back to the community that gives a lot to them, to donate back to organizations that benefit youth that maybe go to their school. The most important thing is that Stomp it Out is a place for everybody.”
Heber is blessed with multiple dance studio options, which is a good thing; according to McKenna, “I think all the dance studios in the valley offer awesome things for kids. One thing that’s so great is that, you know, maybe a student that doesn’t totally vibe with me vibes with another instructor at another dance studio, which is why I think it’s so great that there are multiple dance studios.”
McKenna’s passion for clogging and life is definitely an asset to the Heber Valley. As she continues to influence dancers in the Heber Valley, they will benefit from her approach to teaching and life.
“We want to help kids develop confidence on the inside that really reflects on the outside to help launch them for the rest of their lives.”
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” – Madeleine L’Engle
When Lezlie Evans was growing up she wanted to be a lot of things: an actress, a doctor, a criminal investigator, but a writer “was never on the list.” Lezlie chuckles as she recalls, “I was actually placed in a remedial English class when I was in the 7th grade. Writing has not always come easily for me. It took me hours to come up with an idea and even longer to get the words out of my head and onto the paper […] it wasn’t until I took several creative writing courses, while earning my degree in Broadcast Journalism at BYU, that I developed a passion for writing.”
Lezlie shares, “I chose to stay home with my children […] and when they were little we would go to the library and check out stacks of books and we would read together every night. I remember sitting on the couch one night and thinking I want to do this.” She laughs as she continues, “I finally knew what I wanted to do when I grew up!”
The idea of writing for children seemed to be a perfect fit for Lezlie. She shares, “I wanted to write picture books specifically for ages 4-8 years old because those years are when an amazing time of growth takes place in a child’s brain. Not only are they exposed to early language skills, especially when you take a child upon your lap and you read a story together; they are also exposed to all kinds of vocabulary. They develop curiosity and are able to build reasoning skills, predictive skills, and memory. If you think about it, children can always remember a story or a character from a book they read.” You can hear the passion in Lezlie’s voice as she continues, “I’m going to give you a few statistics here because I feel that they are really important, foundationally, for young parents and care givers to know. The greatest amount of brain growth occurs between the ages of birth and age five. In fact, by the time a child is three years old about 85% of the brains core structure is formed. Another really interesting statistic is: the single most important activity for building eventual success in reading and in school is reading out loud to your child every day. The experts say just twenty minutes a day will increase their success in academics by leaps and bounds.”
In our world full of modern devices and technology so readily available, we are often battling with devices from an early age. Lezlie offers some great advice to parents and caregivers: “Start reading aloud from the time babies are in the womb to just days old. It’s that simple. Put down your devices for 20 minutes every day and help children fall in love with reading and books. Books can be pricey so go to the library often and check out as many books as you can.” Lezlie also shares a unique way to keep books readily available. “When my kids were young we had a basket in every room that we put books in. We’d read at lunch time, sometimes we’d even read in the bathroom when we had a captive audience in the tub. We read a lot! I believe that foundational reading, when they were young, helped my children to have very good verbal skills and success in their academic pursuits.”
When it came to writing for children, Lezlie wanted her books to help as many children as possible develop a love for reading and enjoy success. However, wanting to write children’s picture books is very different from actually writing a book and getting it published and in the hands of children. But, sometimes the stars align or in Lezlie’s case a thunder storm ushers in a dream come true. Lezlie shares, “One night there was a huge thunder storm; lightening was flashing and the trees were thrashing against the windowpanes. It woke me up and these words started coming to my mind — trees are thrashing — big boom bashing — I grabbed my writer’s journal to write them down because I knew I wouldn’t remember them in the morning. The only place I could go to not wake anyone up was my walk-in closet. I sat there on the floor and wrote what would become the text of my first children’s picture book Rain Song.” Her manuscript landed on the desk of an editor with Houghton Mifflin who loved it. “It was my second manuscript I sent out which is unbelievable, that doesn’t happen in this industry. The editor just happened to pick it out of the slush pile — she loved it and wanted to publish my story. The rest is history from then on. It was a little bit of a miracle. But, to give balance to that — it’s not been that easy ever since. It has taken a lot of “Nos” to get another “Yes” for my other picture books.”
Over the years Lezlie has published a plethora of children’s books and each one has had its own unique challenges and its own wonderful rewards. She shares, “I love to go into schools and present and share time with the kids and help them understand how important the skills of reading and writing are. Especially, since as a child I was a reluctant reader. Reading didn’t come very easy to me and it still doesn’t. I need to be captivated by a book in order to get through it. So, I really love that I can connect with children […] and help them want to build their reading and writing skills, and know that it’s not always going to come easy, but to keep persevering. I want them to know it will be worth it.” Her advice to all readers: find the kind of books you love. If you’re having a hard time, ask a librarian for some recommendations based off of your interests. “If kids don’t love to read yet, it’s probably because they haven’t found the kind of book that speaks to them or inspires them.”
Books are portals to the imagination and for writers it’s very much the same. Inspiration for stories can come from myriad life experiences, people, places, and others’ stories. Lezlie shared that when her children were younger their antics often inspired her tales; especially The Bunnies’ Picnic & The Bunnies’ Trip. Now, that her children are grown, Lezlie’s grandchildren provide a lot of ‘fodder’ for artistic creation. Her rambunctious four-year-old grandson was the inspiration for Lezlie’s newest book: Vroom! Vroom! Beep-Beep!: A Crash Course in Kindess. “My grandson would crash through and forget to say ‘excuse me’ or ‘please’ he was on a mission.” She laughs as she recalls, “I started visualizing him as a little off-roader, a little red jeep, and this phrase ‘Vroom! Vroom! Beep-Beep!’ came to my mind and that is where the whole concept for the story began.”
I had the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy (ARC) and it is an adorable story with a very good lesson. The fun illustrations by, Kate Chappell, feature a rural countryside complete with sheep, ducks, and a cow! One can easily imagine the scenes taking place right here in Wasatch County. In fact, Lezlie shares that living in Midway among the beautiful mountains, lakes, farms, and wildlife offers a huge scope for the imagination. “All I have to do is look out my window and I’m inspired!”
Lezlie’s goal is to continue inspiring young children to never give up and to develop a love for books and reading. Sometimes the road can be a bit bumpy. Just like little red jeep, Lezlie has experienced many obstacles along her journey to becoming a children’s picture book author, but she’s also learned a lot of lessons, and gained a community of friends along the way. “I love writing for children. I have a lot of passion to keep going and keep pursuing the next book. The opportunities I have to put my stories in the hands of little ones is such a blessing. I’m so grateful, and hopefully my books can help them to spend some time in their day on the happy positive side of life.”
Vroom! Vroom! Beep-Beep!: A Crash Course in Kindness
Released on March 21, 2023. Come and celebrate with Lezlie at the Wasatch County Library’s Author Family Fun Night, Friday, April 14, at 6:30pm. Enjoy treats as Lezlie talks about the book and then reads aloud. You can check Lezlie’s books out from the library or purchase her books in advance at Kringle’s in Midway or at the event.
Advice to Young Readers Who Want to Write:
Writing takes a lot of patience, a lot of perseverance, and probably some luck too, but don’t give up.
Everybody has a story to tell and we need stories.
Write – even if it’s just for yourself – you’ll never know what adventures await if you don’t.
Keep a writing journal by your bedside and write down the ideas that come to you at night.
If writing is difficult then just jot down a few words at a time.
Your stories will make a difference in someone’s life so go for it!
Record your ideas and thoughts on your phone or hand-held recorder.
Writing is personal – your writing doesn’t and shouldn’t be like everyone else – don’t compare – just have fun and write what you want.
When families come to the Heber Valley, it’s usually to take advantage of the many outdoor recreational activities our beautiful valley boasts: mountain biking, hiking, snowmobiling, and more!
Our valley is ideally situated at the base of the Uintah Mountain range – the birthplace of many rivers that not only supply water to our valley, but much of the Utah and Salt Lake valleys, as well. Bass, pike, and trout are abundant. Anglers come from all over to try their hand at a boast-worthy catch. Since it is likely that you’ll catch at least one fish per trip; it’s an ideal place to teach young people.
As with all good things in life, fishing with kids takes some forethought. I’ve listed a few tips that will help you get started and provide a good framework for a successful trip. However, you know your children (or grandchildren) best, so take what you like, leave the rest, and have fun!
Fishing Permits
First things first. As the adult you’ll need a state-licensed fishing permit. Children under the age of twelve fish for free in the state of Utah. That means if you’re fishing with children ages 12-18, you’ll need to purchase a permit for them. However, the fee is less than an adult permit.
Licenses are easy to obtain and can often be purchased the day-of at licensed sellers like: outdoor and sporting goods stores; grocery stores; and most fishing and fly shops. You can also purchase your license online through Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources (wildlife.utah.gov) or download and purchase it through their app. One of the advantages to purchasing it through the DWR app is that your permits are easily accessible on your phone. Current year license prices and fees for both residents and non-residents are listed on both the website and app.
Get your fishing permits at: Walmart, Sportman’s Warehouse, Smith’s, or Lee’s Marketplace. Check out Fish Heads Fly Shop on Main Street for all your fishing needs.
Where To Go
Once you’ve secured your permits, you’re good to go. Utah has majestic rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, as well as an abundance of smaller ponds and fishing holes. In the Heber Valley, the easiest and most obvious spots to get to are the Deer Creek and Jordanelle Reservoirs. They both have easy-access day use areas with shaded pavilions and space to swim if the kids tire of fishing. Deer Creek Reservoir has at least eight varieties of fish to catch, including trout, perch, walleye, and sunfish, so chances are good you’ll get a bite. There is ample space for shoreline fishing, and a lot less competition for anglers if you get out there in the spring, before the summer temperatures hit. As soon as the daytime temps hit the mid-60s, you’ll be sharing the waters with more boaters, skiers, and windsurfers.
If crowds aren’t your thing, consider the rivers and creeks. You’ll find plenty of space to spread out on the Provo River, Lake Creek, Rock Creek and all the tributaries in between — maybe you’ll discover a new favorite spot. Don’t be afraid to test different waters. Enjoying a fresh view is half the fun.
Why Fish with Kids?
Children are spending more time indoors than ever before. The research is clear; time outdoors in nature boosts mood, increases concentration, and slows activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (our brain’s main processing center) which reduces stress and anxiety. The benefits of time outdoors are myriad and well-researched. Spending time outside is good for everyone’s brains. Introducing new environments to your children can increase conversations; allowing for both the time and space to talk. Having a shared interest, or just taking the time to do something special with a child shows you care and are invested in them. This can have long lasting effects on your relationship. The younger you start, the better.
The wonder of catching a fish, demonstrating respect for nature and natural processes of life, and connecting through shared success or dejection are skills that can’t be taught in front of a screen. So do the little bit of legwork required and take your children outdoors.
Preparation
Make sure you, yourself, are prepared. Children will be more at ease if they know you’re confident in what you’re doing. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert angler, it simply means that you’ll be able to explain what the child might expect (the slippery texture of a fish, why it’s muscles reflexively move). Being able to talk through new experiences, introduce a few fishing vocabulary words, such as ‘lure’, ‘bait’, and ‘cast’, will make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone. This is where knowing your child’s preferences and attention span are key. It should go without saying that you’ll need to be more flexible when fishing with small children than you would on a solo venture.
Keep the trips shorter to begin with. It’s more important to make the trip fun and engaging than to spend endless hours trying to catch something bigger or better. If a child is getting restless or bored, be willing to let them pick a new spot, switch activities, offer snacks, or even pack up and go. You can always try again tomorrow, or next week.
What To Bring
You’ll obviously need an appropriately sized fishing rod or two, as well as hooks, bait, and any other fishing gear you’ve found helpful over the years, but these other items are essential when it comes to fishing with children.
Sun-protection. Sunscreen, hats, UV-blocking shirts, etc. All the same precautions you’d take for yourself.
A camera or phone camera. You’ll want to capture all those fun memories you’re making!
A small cooler. If you plan on taking your catch home, you’ll want a way to transport it safely.
Extra fishing line, hooks, and a pocketknife or utility tool. Developing coordination and casting skills mean you may be tying more knots than you planned.
A fish identification booklet or phone app. It’s wonderful to know what you’ve caught, especially if you’re new to fishing. Research the types of local fish in your area before you go and look at pictures with your children. It will get you both excited to get out on the water.
Snacks and drinks! Plan to bring more than you think you’ll need and be respectful of your environment. Teach children to practice the “leave no trace” rule of thumb; if you packed it in, pack it back out. Help the next generation learn to respect our beautiful natural places.
More important than any technique or great catch is the joy and fun you bring to the experience. Children reflect what they see. Be willing to be silly. Even if you go home with an empty cooler, the great memories you’ve made mean you won’t be going home empty handed.
Additional Resources
If you’re looking to give your kids a head-start and some great instruction, both Heber and Park City offer youth fishing programs.
In Heber, the program is offered through the Wasatch State Park Community Fisheries program. Classes will take place over six Thursdays in June & July. The program is only $20, and kids aged 6-12 will learn basic knot tying, how to catch, hold, and gut their own fish. They are always looking for adult volunteers, so if you’re thinking of enrolling your child, consider tagging along and helping! You may just learn some new tricks yourself. Contact Kathy Donnell to get on the mailing list and receive more information for sign-ups ([email protected]).
In Park City, lessons are taught in partnership at the Deer Valley Ponds. The club is offered through the Park City Municipal Athletic and Rec. Center (1200 Little Kate Rd, Park City, UT 84060). They also offer a flyfishing program in partnership with High Country Fly Fisher, for more advanced youth anglers. Go online to parkcityrecreation.org for further information.
Registration for both programs usually open in March or April and fill up quickly, so get on the list as soon as you can.
During this holiday season, Homestead is welcoming guests and community members to The Sunroom and Milk House at Homestead for dining and pictures with Santa. The Sunroom and Milk House are first-come, first-served open seating. Be sure to also check out the new dining globes at Homestead.
This year we will be hosting Children’s Swiss Christmas at Zermatt Utah on December 18th from 12pm-4pm. Come join us for the children’s activities and gingerbread house creations!
Children’s Activities
Holiday Craft
Sugar Cookie Decorating
Visit with Santa Claus
Plus a Special Surprise
Prices:
$17.75 per person – includes 7.50% sales tax
$56.75 for a family of four – includes 7.50% sales tax
*Adults are welcome to watch for free when accompanied by a paying child!
Gingerbread House Creations
Let your little ones bring their own special touch to their Gingerbread creation. We supply all the tools and furnishings. All you need to bring is your imagination. All Gingerbread Houses must be pre-purchased to guarantee availability.
Coats for Kids Program
