Summerland: Celebrate the start of summer vacation with these kid-friendly activities

~ Follow the rainbow path to summer fun for your children:

Through July

* Arts Council of Southeast Missouri summer art camps begin May 30. Camps run through July 28 and feature a variety of medias for children ages birth to 18.

June 2

* WildHeart in concert at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, featuring wildlife-inspired music with Emmy award-winning musicians Jan and George Syrigos. Call 290-5218 to register.

* Tunes at Twilight with The Laws, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo on Lorimier Street.

* Perry County Community Rodeo with barrel racing and bull riding June 2 and 3 at the East Perry County Fairgrounds in Altenburg, Mo.

June 3

* Youth Catch and Release Day at Capaha Park Pond.

June 5

* Youth programs at Cape Girardeau Public Library begin June 5 for ages toddler to teens. Contact the library for a complete list of activities.

* Horizons summer youth enrichment programs begin June 5 at Southeast Missouri State University.

* Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department's summer recreation and aquatic classes begin June 5. Contact the department for more information about this year's offerings.

June 6

* Discovery Playhouse for children opens at West Park Mall. Visit www.discoveryplayhouse.org for details.

June 11

* Mudpuppies program for children ages 3 to 6, at Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Program focuses on fishing and includes practice reeling in the center's classroom pond. Call 290-5218 to register.

* Concert at Bollinger Miller State Historic Site, 4:30 p.m., with traditional acoustic folk music.

June 12

* Redhawks Kids Camp, beginning June 12, a summer recreational day camp hosted by Recreational Sports at Southeast Missouri State University. Program runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register by calling 651-2878.

June 17

* Local craftspeople create arts and crafts on the porch of the Red House Interpretive Center in downtown Cape Girardeau.

* Racers program, for ages 12 to 17, discussing fishing lures and actually fishing with Fred Meystedt at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Call 290-5218 to register.