It's summer and the lavender buds have all been clipped, the Irrigation Festival is a distant memory and the start of school is still two months away.

What are you going to do with the children?

Here are some "things to do" for parents, relatives or others looking after youths until school kicks off, whether it's one or a pack. Better yet, if you are one of the younger variety bored out of your mind, here are a few suggestions to get out of the house.



U-pick, U-eat

Opening in late June or July, Sequim's berry-pickin' farms are ripe for fun for all ages.

Graysmarsh Farm, Heintz Berry Farm, Cameron's Strawberry Farm and Blueberry Hill (Carlsborg) are popular U-pick business.

Local farms offer strawberries in June, raspberries, lavender and loganberries in July, and blueberries and blackberries in August and September.

• Blueberry Hill Herb Farm, 1556 Atterberry Road. Contact: 683-8055

• Cameron Berry Farm, Woodcock at Wheeler roads. Contact: 683-5483

• Graysmarsh Farm,: 6187 Woodcock Road. Contact: 683-5563, 683-0624; online: www.graysmarsh.com

• Heintz Berry Farm, 152 Windy Way. Contact: 461-3570.



Release the hounds!

The city of Sequim's own off-leash dog park is perfect for canine lovers of all ages to let their furry friends free. The park is located at the multi-use Carrie Blake facility and offers plenty of other interests for families with several youngsters.

The dog park isn't for toddlers or small children, however; youngsters should be able to handle or avoid overly curious or potentially over-aggressive dogs. The park is self-supervised, so accidents can occur.

Canines must be vaccinated, licensed and older than 4 months.

See the park's Web site for rules and guidelines.

The dog park has two fenced-in areas, one for big dogs and another for small dogs.

If the dog park is too much for your youngster, try the swing sets, jungle gym or duck ponds. Teens can spend hours at the nearby BMX track and skate park.

Address: 202 N. Blake Ave. Contact: 681-2371 (Sequim Dog Park Pals president David Hannon); 683-4908 (city of Sequim Public Works Dept.; online: www.sequimdogparks.org, www.ci.sequim.wa.us/pubworks/parks.cfm.



Robin Hill hike

One of Clallam County's treasures, Robin Hill Farm Park offers 195 acres of forest, meadow and wetland. The area is perfect for a hike through the shaded canopy of evergreens, by foot on 3.4 miles worth of pedestrian paths or by hooves on the park's 2.5 miles of equestrian trails.

Address: Dryke Road (west entrance); or Pinnell Road (north entrance). Contact: 417-2291; online: www.clallam.net/CountyParks/html/parks_robinhill.htm.



Hangin' at the club

Sequim's Boys & Girls Club offers plenty of activities for youths at its downtown area facility, the Carroll C. Kendall unit.

The facility is open from 2-6 p.m. each weekday throughout the summer.

Membership costs $30 per year and includes a snack each day.

The club has programs for youths of all ages, including a teens-only room for middle school- and high school-aged youths.

Address: 400 W. Fir St. Contact: 683-8095; online: www.positiveplaceforkids.net.



Walk the trail

With more than 30 miles worth of trail stretching from Blyn to Sequim to Port Angeles and beyond, the Olympic Discovery Trail is perfect for getting the little ones out for a run, a brisk walk or bike ride.

Point-to-point walks/hikes/rides are a wise bet. A jaunt from Carrie Blake park eastward to Sequim Bay State Park or westward to Railroad Bridge Park keeps trail users within the city.

From Sequim, the trail continues west to Robin Hill Park, Siebert Creek, Bagley Creek, Morse Creek and finally downtown Port Angeles and Ediz Hook, either through tree-lined, paved paths or along the waterfront. The westward trail has several steep sections and may not be suitable for young cyclists or walkers.

To the east, the trail offers views of Sequim Bay as it descends east toward Blyn. The trail is marked as it jogs a bit through Sequim Bay State Park. A good spot to park is Railroad Bridge Park; it offers picnic tables, a great view of the Dungeness River and plenty of shade for those rare, hot Sequim summer days.

Address: 2151 W. Hendrickson Road (Railroad Bridge Park); online: www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com.



Summer camp

at the river

Speaking of Railroad Bridge Park ...

The Dungeness River Audubon Center offers summer science camps for boys and girls ages 8-11, helping these youths explore the outdoors and learn while they're at it. Youths survey Railroad Bridge Park and investigate the Dungeness River's variety of plants, animals and insects. They learn about floodplains, ecology, geology and river dynamics.

Three remaining camps are scheduled for July 20-22, Aug. 3-5 and Aug. 17-19.

Address: 2151 W. Hendrickson Road (Railroad Bridge Park). Contact: 681-4076; online: www.dungenessriver center.org.



Hike the spit

Nothing keeps the kids moving better than the promise of a new adventure over the next driftwood log or sand dune.

The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge offers more than just the 5.5-mile-long spit. Visitors can picnic on the bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and catch glimpses of Mount Baker. A mile-long scenic trail follows the bluff along the park's northwestern border.

The refuge also features equestrian trails, a 100-acre bird-hunting area and several campsites perfect for a not-so-far-away getaway spot. Campsites are open through the end of September and half of them are available for reservation ($16 per night for county residents, $18 for noncounty residents; only $5 for hiker/biker sites).

Then there's the spit - the longest natural sand spit in the United States. It offers more than five miles of semi-sandy beach packed with dozens of species of birds and mammals on land and at sea.

For those with enough energy to make the long hike - it may take six hours or more - the 152-year-old New Dungeness Lighthouse awaits.

Cost of visiting the spit is $3 per family per day.

Address: 554 Voice of America Road. Contact: 683-5847; online: www.

clallam.net/CountyParks/html/parks_dungeness.htm, www.fws.gov/washington maritime/dungeness/.



Splash, dance, putt

Sequim's summers are filled with other possibilities. For those looking to get some exercise without breaking a sweat, try taking a dip at the local pool. The Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (610 N. Fifth Ave., www.sarcfitness.com, 683-3344) offers several hours each day for all ages, plus a fun water slide and rope swing for the young and adventurous, and plenty of room for the adults, too. Lessons are available as well. Daily fees are $2.25 for youths 3-7, $4.50 for juniors (8-15) and $7.50 for adults, with monthly, semi-annual and annual passes available as well as punch cards.

Aspire Academy (160 Harrison Road, 681-3979, www.aspireacademy.us) offers a number of dance programs for youths and adults, plus piano lessons, Kindermusik, performance choirs, drama camps and more. See the Web site for rates and schedule.

The Wiker family offers an 18-hole mini golf course (151 Hooker Road, 683-6400, wiker minigolf.com) in Carlsborg. Summer hours are noon-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday through Sept. 6. The facility also has a pool, air hockey, ping pong and foosball tables. Cost is $5.50 per round for 13-year-olds and older, $4.50 for the younger ones.

Plus, there are plenty of athletic camps and volunteer opportunities for youths and adults alike. See sequim

gazette.com and our print edition each Wednesday.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.