Groups anticipate walkout, expand children’s services

In preparation of a possible teacher walkout on April 2, area attractions and Oklahoma City recreational centers have announced expanded services for children.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will host daily drop-in activities for children in the event of a teacher walkout. These activities will begin April 2 and continue throughout the duration of the walkout.

The activities, which will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will encourage hands-on participation and gallery exploration through the museum’s new temporary exhibitions. Activities are designed for children of all ages who are accompanied by an adult and are free with museum admission while supplies last.

Daily admission for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63 St., is $12.50 for adults, $9.75 for seniors 62 and older and students with valid ID, and $5.75 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger will be admitted for free. For more information, go to nationalcowboymuseum.org/ kids, or call 478-2250.

Oklahoma Science Museum

In the event of a teacher walkout, Science Museum Oklahoma will host day camps for children from Pre-K to sixth grade beginning April 2 at the museum, 2020 Remington Place. Camps will continue on weekdays for the duration of the walkout.

Pre-K and kindergarten camps will be from 9 a.m. to noon and will cost $20 per day for museum members and $25 for nonmembers. Children should bring a snack. Camps for first through sixth grades will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will cost $45 per day for museum members and $50 for nonmembers. Children should bring a snack and a lunch. Drop off for camp begins at 8:45 a.m.

Registration for each camp is now open and closes at 5 p.m. the previous day or when full. Children may be registered for individual days or the entire week. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Refunds will be offered in the event the walkout does not take place or ends before an already reserved day.

Camps are designed and taught by museum educators.

For more information or to register, call Science Museum Oklahoma at 602-3760 or go to http:// ecommerce.science museumok.org.

Science Museum Oklahoma is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Daily general admission is $15.95 for ages 13 to 64 and $12.95 for children ages 3 to 12 and seniors 65 and older. Annual memberships begin at $95.

Oklahoma City Parks — Recreation centers

OKC Parks will extend operating hours at nine recreation centers from April 2 until the walkout is over, and the zoo will host all-day camps. Access to the recreation centers is free.

From April 2 until the walkout is over, these nine recreation centers will be open for schoolchildren from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays:

• Douglass Recreation Center, 900 N Frederick Douglass Ave., 297-1416 (EMBARK Route 022 to Martin Luther King Avenue and Douglass Boulevard plus 3 blocks)

• Macklanburg Recreation Center, 2234 NW 117, 2971428 (EMBARK Route 005 to NW 188 and Pennsylvania Avenue)

• Melrose Recreation Center, 7800 W Melrose Lane, 2971431 (EMBARK Route 038 to Council Road and Melrose Lane plus 3 blocks)

• Minnis Lakeview Recreation Center, 12520 NE 36, 297-1432 (EMBARK Route 019 to NE 36 and Smith Drive)

• Pilot Recreation Center, 1435 NW 2, 297-1438 (EMBARK Route 009 to Main Street and McKinley Avenue plus 2 blocks)

• Pitts Recreation Center, 1920 N Kate Ave., 297-1440 (EMBARK Route 002 to NE 20 and Lottie Avenue plus 2 blocks)

• Schilling Recreation Center, 539 SE 25, 297-1442 (EMBARK Route 011 to SE 25 and Central Avenue plus 2 blocks)

• Sellers Recreation Center, 8301 S Villa Ave., 297-1445 (EMBARK Route 016 to SW 82 and Pennsylvania Avenue plus 6 blocks)

• Southern Oaks Recreation Center, 400 SW 66, 297-1449 (EMBARK Route 040 to SW 67 and Walker Avenue plus 3 blocks)

Go to okc.gov/parks for details and registration for summer programs and activities.

Zoo camps, other activities

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s Education Department will be hosting daily full-day camps on weekdays in April in the event of a walkout.

These camps will offer unique and wild adventures to interest children ages 4-11. Snacks are provided, but campers must bring their lunch.

Advanced registration and payment are required. All campers are required to bring a copy of their immunizations.

Full-day camps will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with drop-off at the zoo’s Education Center from 8:20 to 8:30 a.m.

Cost is $45 per child per day. For more information or to register, call 425-0218 or go to okc zoo.org.

The zoo also will be open for regular admission during its normal operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

Regular admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children 2 and younger are admitted free.

The zoo, 2101 NE 50, is accessible by EMBARK Route 022.

EMBARK bus options

EMBARK’s Haul Pass program provides free bus passes to high school juniors and seniors, and $10 monthly bus passes for students from middle school through 10th grade. All students in the EMBARK service area are eligible. For more information and to download registration forms, go to embarkok.com.