“Burden” will feature pieces by 6^th Day Dance Company’s Artistic Director, Lynda Breece, and choreographers Angela Smith, Debbie Franz, Amy Weaver and other company members. Guest choreographer Susan Bienczycka, formerly of 7Dance in Philadelphia, will present “Burden,” for which the performance is named, for the first time to a Seattle audience.

“’Burden’ is sure to spark questions and perhaps even prompt a bit of controversy and become a topic of conversation regarding the purpose of life,” according to a press release.

Founded in 2001, 6^th Day Dance Company “strives for creative excellence through the use of dance in fulfilling its threefold mission of performing professional dance works, providing outreach to underserved populations, and providing professional dance training to the community.”

For the production of “Burden,” 6^th Day Dance has donated 15 tickets to Sound Mental Health, an organization that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health issues.

Tickets for “Burden” are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors over 65 and children under 12, although 6^th Day Dance Company says the production may not be suitable for children under 6.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online at www.sixthdaydance.org or by phone at (206) 406-5465. For more information on tickets, e-mail 6^th Day Dance at info@sixthdaydance.org.


Huckabee, Perkins to speak at FPIW banquet
SEATTLE — The Family Policy Institute of Washington and the Family Research Council will present a joint Friends of the Family Banquet at the Hilton Seattle Airport on May 21.

Former presidential candidate and governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, are the featured speakers for the event. According to the FPIW, both speakers will talk about their concerns for families in Washington State and in America. A similar banquet will take place in Spokane on May 20.

The FPIW works with “others of like mind to facilitate cooperation in shaping public debate in Washington State.” The group seeks to introduce and influence state laws and public policy to “support life and the institutions of marriage and the family” and “to mobilize like-minded citizens into the public and political process.”

To learn more about the FPIW and the Friends of the Family Banquet, visit www.fpiw.org.


Warm Beach Camp gearing up for summer programs
STANWOOD — From June to August, Warm Beach Camp hosts 25 horsemanship camps, day camps and ranch camps. Between programmed summer camps and guest groups, over 35,000 people will be served during the summer season.

WBC will host a Memorial Day Working Weekend May 23-26 to prepare for summer ministry. Projects are available for all ages and include jobs such as painting, wood-splitting and gardening.

WBC will offer a Dad and Son Weekend, May 30 to June 1, and a Dad and Daughter Weekend, June 6-8. Retreat activities include swimming, archery, horseback trail rides, mountain boards, a climbing tower, a high ropes course, model rockets and more.

Men and women contemplating marriage are invited to attend the Engaged Encounter at WBC June 6-8. Engaged Encounter is a “quiet, relaxed, non-threatening weekend” designed to equip couples with the necessary tools to ensure their marriage lasts a lifetime, according to a press release.

WBC will offer weekly Horsemanship Camps beginning June 22. Horsemanship Camps include instruction, trail rides, chapel, campfires, showmanship and vaulting.

Beginning June 29, WBC will also offer Summer Youth Camps for fourth through sixth graders, and seventh through ninth graders.

To learn more about any of Warm Beach Camp’s summer offerings, visit www.warmbeach.com or call (800) 228-6724.


BIG SPLASH ’08 youth event features Superchick
FEDERAL WAY — The annual BIG SPLASH youth event at Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way will take place May 31.

The 2008 event includes a contest called Big Splash Little Rocker in which participants can submit a video of themselves playing music and explaining why they should be chosen as winner of the American Idol style contest. The winner will receive 4 tickets to BIG SPLASH ’08 and a chance to perform on the main stage.

BIG SPLASH is a region-wide youth event that brings teenagers and youth groups together for a day of theme park rides, waterslides and multiple Christian music and entertainment acts. The purpose of the event is to reach out to teens who might not normally attend church.

Those attending the event spend the day enjoying the recreational activities offered at the theme park. The day ends with a concert lineup featuring top local and national Christian bands and speakers.

Main stage artists for the 2008 event include Superchick, The Afters, Falling Up, Ruth, and speaker Nate Day.

BIG SPLASH is presented by Youth for Christ, Campus Life and ReachONE International.

Tickets purchased before May 20 are $29. After May 20, the entry ticket price will be $35. For every 15 tickets purchased, groups will receive an additional free ticket.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the BIG SPLASH ’08, visit www.bigsplash.org.


Homeschool organization hosts 23^rd annual convention
PUYALLUP — The Washington Homeschool Organization will host their 23^rd annual convention June 13-14 at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup.

The “family-friendly” convention features over 200 exhibitor booths, 20+ workshops and a host of family activities including a Student Expo, remote control boats, a model train display and a giant chess set with games being played throughout the day.

Special guest speakers at the convention will include: Susan Wise Bauer, author of “The Well-Educated Mind”; Andrew Pudwea of the Institute for Excellence in Writing; Jim Weiss of Greathall Productions; and Stephen Guffanti of Rocket Phonics.

WHO convention workshops cover a wide variety of topics such as “Intro to Homeschooling” and “Homeschooling the High Schooler.”

The WHO convention hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $15 per person, per day and family rates are available.

For more convention information, workshop schedules and an exhibitor list, visit www.washhomeschool.org.


Mission Aviation Training Academy offers Aviation Summer Camp
ARLINGTON — Located at the Arlington Airport, the Mission Aviation Training Academy helps those interested in mission aviation get their FAA licenses and receive qualifications needed to apply to a sending mission agency. MATA is offering an Aviation Summer Camp for teens age 14-18 to provide an opportunity to explore mission aviation and expose them to flying.

Campers will experience flight at the controls of a single engine airplane under the supervision of a certified flight instructor. They will also take part in ground school training covering the fundamentals of flight.

At the MATA summer camp field-experienced missionary pilots provide Christian mentoring that includes daily devotionals, personal sharing and videos. Other fun activities such as Frisbee, foosball and trips to swimming pools and local flight museums are worked in around the flight schedule.

“Campers will get enough hands-on flight experience for them to ‘catch the bug’ or to spark an interest if flying is something that they would really enjoy exploring further,” said Gary Elliot, chief flight instructor for MATA.

During the six-day camp, participants bunk in separate boys and girls “dorms” at a local church, with adult male and female chaperones. All meals are provided during the camp session.

The 2008 Aviation Summer Camp will take place at the MATA Hangar at Arlington Municipal Airport July 27 to Aug. 2. The cost is $450 per camper. For more information, visit www.mata-usa.org or call (425) 231-5855.