One of our favorite family spots in town, the Austin Nature & Science Center at Zilker Park, will offer Spring Break Camps this year, March 16-20, for ages 5-11.

Camp hours run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at a v. reasonable cost of $175-$185 for the week. Kids will be divided into groups by age, with the following themes: "Survivor 101" for ages 9-11, "Earth Comes Alive" for ages 7-8, and "Baby Animals" for ages 5-6. Groups will be no larger than 12 children each.

Looking for more camp options, for both spring break and summer '09? Be sure to attend Austin Family Magazine's FREE-admission "Camp Fair" this Saturday, January 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center on Barton Springs Rd. You'll find more camp options than you ever dreamed possible, for ages 3-18.

Never been to the the nostalgic, slightly retro Kiddie Acres, up north on W. Howard Lane? You need to check out Carolyn Lindell's review from the Statesman.

A great low-tech outing for the under-age-10 set, and especially ideal for ages two to seven. They're open all year long. And to sweeten the deal of a wintertime visit, Kiddie Acres is offering a coupon for discounted ride tickets through February 28, 2009. Just print from their homepage.

Here's your child's chance to become a local art celebrity: The fabulous Bookpeople is hosting a Bookkids Bookmark Contest, inviting children to create a colorful bookmark on the theme "Be independent!"

One winner will be selected from each of the following age groups: kindergarten, grades 1/2, grades 3/4, and grades 5/6. The four winning bookmarks will be professionally printed and distributed at Bookpeople's checkout counters.

Deadline to enter is February 28. Winners will be announced March 28 at a party hosted by Bookpeople.

Sundays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., downtown coffee hub Ruta Maya hosts free kids' shows with live music, dancing, and merriment for all ages - and an emphasis on eco-consciousness, world music, and cross-cultural performance.

Performers in this month's Sunday series include Laura Freeman, a drumming circle/dance event with Daniel Llanes, Jungle Jill & the Jaybirds (with puppets), and Steve Marcum of the Oliver Rajamani Band and the Austin Samba School.

Ruta Maya also offers a family yoga class every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m., free with a cafe purchase.

And they host the Single Parent Resource Network meetings on the second Sunday of every month at 11:30 a.m. This Austin-based nonprofit organization provides support to single-parent families with babysitting co-ops, clothing swaps, social events, potlucks, etc. A must-know resource for any parent raising kids solo.

Hail to the Chief! Borders bookstores in Austin will host Kids' Inauguration Parties this Saturday, the 17th at 2 p.m., with art activities, games, scavenger hunts, and even an mock swearing-in ceremony for the whole family.

Locations hosting the parties include Westgate Marketplace (4477 S. Lamar), Southpark (9500 South I-35 Service Rd.), and Esparanza Crossing (in 78758 zip).

Through their Armstrong School of Music, the first-ever school of its kind to be inaugurated by an opera company, the Austin Lyric Opera offers programs and classes for kids of all ages...including early childhood enrichment for toddlers and preschoolers, individual and group lessons (we especially like the concept behind their group piano classes for four- to six-year-olds), summer camps, and "opera outreach" for kindergarteners to teens. Summer camps, too!

This spring the Austin Lyric Opera will offer a performance for fourth- and fifth-grade students in conjunction with the Butler Opera Center at UT. It's a bilingual English-Spanish production of Robert Rodriguez's "La Curandera." Teachers and parents, also be sure to check out their lineup of "Opera on a Stick" performances for elementary schoolers!

Austin Lyric Opera is located near downtown, at 901 Barton Springs Rd.  For more info and registration, go to austinlyricopera.org and click "Music School."

Did you know? The fabulous Austin Children's Museum blog offers loads of creative ideas to jumpstart kids' imaginations...and keep them busy at play, no matter what the weather.

In addition to providing info about the museum, its exhibits and programs, the ACM staff uses the blog to share experiments, arts and crafts projects, explorations, fun facts, and links to good websites for kids and parents. Recent entries include a baking soda bubble experiment you can do at home, wild trivia about penguins, and instructions for making your own snow globe.

Visit the ACM's homepage to find out more about current exhibits and the many enrichment programs they offer for toddlers through school-agers.

What better way to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - and the historic presidential inauguration - with your kids than on the campus of the historic Huston-Tillotson University for their outdoor festival of live jazz, blues, and gospel music next Monday, January 19...Plus a rockin' good parade.

FREE admission. Parade at 9 a.m., festival starts at 10:30. Call 512.505.3006 for more info.

Thanks for stopping by to check out AustinKid.

This site will be under development in the weeks and months to come, so check back often for new content and features. We'll bring you a big ole bevvy of must-know info on Austin events, outings, and resources for kids of all ages and their parents.