Photos by James Glover II / Star staff Sonali Mayar, 8, of Camarillo throws a paper airplane she made in the More Science Fun class, part of the 42nd annual Creative Arts Workshop in Camarillo.

Back in May on a Saturday morning, dozens of parents lined up at the Camarillo Community Center to receive numbers handed out lottery-style.

They were securing their coveted chance to register children in the 42nd annual Creative Arts Workshop, which is under way this month with young participants from across Ventura County and beyond.

"Every day is different, and the kids are excited when they come in because they are happy to be here," said Tammy Wilson of Camarillo, who has been teaching in the summer program for eight years.

The event is organized each year by the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. This year's workshop, which started July 7, is being held on weekday mornings until July 25 at Tierra Linda Elementary School in Camarillo.

The program expands every year, said Karen Allen, its director for the past 11 years. Close to 400 children are enrolled this year, ranging from those about to start kindergarten to others who will enter seventh grade. There are also 49 teen helpers who assist Allen's staff of 20 teachers.

The workshop is unlike other summer programs for children because of its diversity of class offerings and reasonable cost, according to parents and teachers.

"Everyone is here for fun," Allen said. "We try to offer programs children would not get elsewhere at a reasonable cost. For example, we offer a magic class — there are few places where you can get 15 magic lessons for $25."

Wide range of classes

The 65 children enrolled in the kindergarten program are divided into groups and rotate through three classrooms with activities like story time, water play and exploration centers. Music, science, art and dance are part of their activity themes, designed to promote kindergarten readiness.

Students in first grade and up attend four 45-minute class periods. Some of the perennial favorites include "Incredible Edibles," a class in which children make themed snacks like ladybug cupcakes, spider-shaped crackers and peanut butter snails. Children in this class are also creating a cookbook of snacks they can make at home.

Other time-honored favorites include science fun, puppetry, and latch hook, cross stitch and crochet.

An open house will be held Thursday for children and their parents to visit classrooms and enjoy student presentations.

For some families, the Creative Arts Workshop is a destination program. Camarillo resident Nancy Jaeger's grandchildren, Macy Jaeger, 10, and Carly Jaeger, 7, come to the program from Manhattan Beach.

"I like Creative Arts because the people that teach are nice. I also think the classes are really fun," said Macy Jaeger. "I also get to do things like arts and crafts that I can't do at home."

Somis resident Lisa Nguyen's children Xuan Gedney, 6, and Quynh Gedney, 4, are participating in the workshop for the first time. Quynh is in the kindergarten program, and Nguyen describes it as "a good transition from preschool to kindergarten."

"It's a little part of our day in the morning and we have the rest of the day to do other things like go to the beach and swimming and still enjoy other summer activities," she said.

Experts in their fields

The teachers in the program are volunteers, and many of them are professional educators or experts in their fields.

Since all of the teachers participate in the program on a volunteer basis, the cost of the program is low in comparison to other summer offerings for children. Including registration fees, the average cost for a child to participate in the workshop is $110, not including nominal lab fees that vary per class.

The fees are used to cover the cost of using the facility and supplies.

The initial impetus for the first Creative Arts Workshop was the cancellation of the Pleasant Valley School District-sponsored summer school. For students in the district, that is again the case this year.