Spring Break in Austin is just around the corner, and I’ll bet many of you are still hoping to find something a little different for your kids that week. The good news is that you need look no farther than the Alt Ed Austin community to find fun, unique, even life-changing camps for the week of March 12–16. Here are three.
(UPDATED 3/1/2012: Now there are four!)

Austin Tinkering School: Working Big!
A spring break art camp inspired by the book Working Big, by John Lidstone. One full week of exploring art in a big way: Big materials, Big spaces, Big movement, and Big ideas!
Kids served: ages 3–8
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm
Cost: $200

Eco Friends Austin: Desert Wildlife
Eco Friends’ journey will begin on the Rio Grande, learning about the Chihuahuan Desert, and continue on to the Sahara, Gobi, and Patagonian deserts. Unique desert wildlife will be highlighted, and campers will compare cool coastal, subtropical, and cold winter deserts. The week will culminate with a diorama project depicting the desert of each child's choice.
Kids served: K–3rd grade
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm
Cost: $50 per day, or $200 for all 5 days

Farm Camp
At Green Gate Farms’ weeklong camp, children learn firsthand where their food comes from. Activities include planting and harvesting, taking care of animals, presentations from area experts, cooking classes, swap blanket, soccer and air hockey, and free time to relax and enjoy the farm.
Kids served: ages 6–14
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–3:30pm
(pre/after care available for $10/hour)
Cost: $325; $25 discount for farm CSA members

Urban Explorer Camp
Watch your child gain an independence and confidence you didn’t think possible. Campers choose their destinations, map their routes, and then go to town—literally—every single day, using public transportation.
Kids served: ages 10–16
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
Cost: $60 per day, or $300 for all 5 days

Coming soon: Summer camps, Alt•Ed Austin style!

This week is brimming with public events at local alternative schools. Each is a great chance to check out the school’s facilities, learn about its programs, and meet staff, students, and parents.

The Austin EcoSchool will open its doors on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for a Barefoot Books fair, with sales benefitting the school.
On Tuesday evening you can attend an information session at Clearview Sudbury School and get answers to all your questions about the Sudbury model of education.
Also taking place at Clearview this week is the school’s first movie night. Everyone is welcome to join the local Sudbury folks on Thursday evening for a showing and discussion of Voices from the New American Schoolhouse, a documentary about the well-established Fairhaven Sudbury School in Maryland.
Friday is the Inside Outside School’s Expo Day, where kids will present the projects they’ve worked on all semester. You can also buy cool stuff handmade by the Apothecary Class.
Later on Friday, head to the Whole Life Learning Center’s open house to learn about its unique programs, including “Freedom Fridays,” which feature enrichment classes that are open to the homeschooling community.

For more details, go to the Alt Ed Austin Calendar, where you can click on any event to find the time, location, and other specifics. If you can’t make it to these special happenings, no worries: contact any of the schools listed in the Directory to arrange a visit of your own.