Summer holiday fun in Hertfordshire

Summer fun while shopping
On Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 19, Secret Agent H will be getting in on the action when he challenges the entire family to get ready, set and go with a pentathlon task in The Harlequin centre. There will also be Punch and Judy shows on Sunday, August 12 and 19 at 11.30am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm and 2.45pm.
The Harlequin Centre, The Parade, Watford. 01923 250292, theharlequin.uk.com

Print and make
Artistic and scientific fun is on offer to ages eight-12 at Watford Museum. Activities include printing, mini-masterpiece making, T-shirt transforming and creating balloon powered cars and compressed air rockets.
For an application form go to: www.watfordmuseum.org.uk. Each session runs from 10.30am-12.30pm.
There is also a free Mask Making Workshop for ages six to ten on Thursday, August 30, 1pm-3pm run by artist Mario Lautier Vella (see Friday front).
Watford Museum, Lower High Street, Watford. 01923 232297

Put on a show
The hills are alive with The Sound Of Muzak as Blag Youth Theatre Summer School presents another spectacular stage spoof. Each year around 80 children aged from eight to 16 years get together for two weeks to put on a show under the leadership of Richard and Lynn Beaumont.
Rehearsals from July 30, 10am-6pm at Chorleywood Memorial Hall with performances at The Elgiva Theatre, Chesham, on August 10 at 7.30pm and August 11 at 2.30pm.
01923 772320, dramaclasses.biz
 

Footie fans
Get stronger, faster and fitter by joining in with the Fun Weeks run by Watford Football Club Community Sports and Education Trust. Children aged from five to 12 can choose to attend Euro Tournaments (football) and Mini Olympics (fencing, handball, athletics and more). Theres also Footy in the Park sessions every weekday from 4pm-5pm for ages four to 12.
watfordfccsetrust.com/funweeks

Puppet performance
Make a puppet play in a week from the design and construction stage, through to improvisation devising and performance. The workshop runs July 30-August 3, 10am-4pm with a performance on Friday at 4pm. Harrow Arts Centre is also running a Summer Youth Theatre, DJ Training and Herts Inclusive Theatre is running mask performance workshops for young people who have a learning difficulty or disability.
Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End. 020 8864 0684, harrowarts.com

Fire! Fire!
Revive that gung-ho wartime spirit with a visit to Blitz and Beyond, the new display at Frogmore Paper Mill, which showcases the industrial fire brigade from its early beginnings, through the war years and up to present day. During the summer holidays, there will also be craft activities running Monday-Friday, 11am-1pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Frogmore Paper Mill & Visitor Centre, Fourdrinier Way, Apsley. 01442 234600, www.thepapertrail.org.uk

Make an animation
Children aged 11 to 14 can attend Quirky Pictures’ amazing Light Animation Workshop and create a short animated film, from August 6-8, 10am-3pm. And ages seven to ten can join in with The 2012 Plasticine Olympics on August 9-10, 10am-3pm using motion plasticine animation to re-create a mini Olympics tournament – complete with awards ceremony.
The Old Town Hall Theatre, High Street, Hemel Hempstead. 01442 228091, oldtownhall.co.uk 

Songwriting
Have you a song in your heart that just has to come out? Young musicians in Hertfordshire can develop their songwriting skills with Songwriter 2012. Organised by Hertfordshire County Council’s music service, all children aged between five and 19 can learn to write and perform songs from acoustic to rock. The workshops are free or low cost and are open to all abilities.
More experienced songwriters can  attend a masterclass by Hertfordshire songwriter Boo Hewerdine on August 7.
Various dates from July 30 and August 29, in St Albans, Hatfield and Watford.
07879 222120, hertsmusicservice.org.uk

Adventure time
Find out what it was like to be a Victorian natural history collector in Daring Explorers - the latest exhibition at The Natural History Museum at Tring. Discover true stories of danger, death and disaster from the Victorian species seekers who risked their lives in remote places, collecting animals and plants in the name of science.
The free exhibition runs until November Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm.
Family activities throughout the summer including the Big Nature Day, where young visitors can take part in craft activities, meet local bee keepers.
Sunday, August 5 from 1pm-4pm 020 7942 6171, nhm.ac.uk/tring

Insect discovery
There’s a buzz at Butterfly World. Take part in their workshops. Highlights include the Ugly Bug Ball on Tuesday, July 31 from 10.30am-12.30pm and Become a Butterfly on Thursday, August 23 from 10.30am-12.30pm, which are open to children of all abilities aged from four to ten. Contact Herts Inclusive Theatre on 07857 986364.
Keep Sunday, August 26 free from 10am-5pm for the Butterfly World Family Fun Day. Other summer fun at the butterfly attraction includes storytelling and music sessions, wild animal workshops, mask-making and visits from local bee-keepers, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, National Geographic Kids and the Herts University Arts Team.
Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, off Noke Lane, Chiswell Green. 01727 869203, butterflyworldproject.com

Back to the Blitz
Recapture the spirit of wartime with The Forties Experience at the Lincolnsfields Children’s Centre. Go back in time to the 1940s house (as featured on Time Team and Ration Book Britain), learn about the period from volunteers who were there, visit the evacuee school, the military collection, experience the London Blitz in the public shelter, eat in the NAFFI café and visit the dig for victory garden.
The Lincolnsfields Children’s Centre, Bushey Hall Drive, Bushey open from 10.30am on July 29 and August 1. 01923 233841, fortiesexperience.co.uk

Get mucky
Build a den and try your hand at clay modelling, whittling and tool work with the Wild in the Woods Summer Playscheme. Sessions for ages three to 11 run July 30-31 July from 10am-3pm (or half day).
High Elms Manor, High Elms Lane, Watford and at Heartwood Forest, Langley Wood, Sandridge, St Albans on Monday, August 6. 07939 308981, downthewoods.org

Street Dance
Shine on stage with The Living the Dream Performing Arts Company. The award-winning group is bringing some of the top names in the dance industry to run its street workshops. Workshop leaders include Chris and Wes (winners of Sky 1’s Got to Dance), Turbo (finalist on Got to Dance) and Parallel. The workshops run from 1pm-4pm and are available for young people aged 12 to 25 from beginner level to advanced. Living the Dream is also running morning sessions from 9.30am-12.30pm for five to 11-year-olds in dance, acting and singing and will work towards a performance at the end of the week.
August 13-17, at Beaumont School, St Albans. www.livingthedreamcompany.co.uk

Feeling sporty
Summer Multi-Sports Camps are for children aged from four to 12 can choose to attend the camps for a morning or an afternoon session, a full-day or the whole week and will be taught the basics of a range of sports in an action-packed programme. Sports covered will include football, tennis, cricket, rugby, athletics, basketball and netball. All coaching staff are CRB checked and fully qualified.
July 30 to August 3 from 10am-4pm at Crabtree Junior School, Crabtree Lane, Harpenden 020 8954 8787, www.elmsholidayschemes.co.uk

Country Show
Enjoy a day out at The Knebworth Country Show. The programme includes a display from Horkesley Park’s Heavy Horse Demonstration Team, Birds of Prey encounters and Falconry display teams, ferret racing, Polly’s Parrots, traditional Punch and Judy shows and the Totally Terriers display team. For hands-on fun enjoy The Goat Show featuring milking and cheese-making, see all the animals down on the children’s farm and visit Totally Ponies where children can groom, tack up and walk miniature ponies. There will also be a medieval village and battle re-enactments by the Knights of Honour and Fighting Knights, plus on Sunday it’s the Companion Dog Show, so bring along a canine friend. Crafty types can also try out stick furniture making, greenwood and willow working, thatching, basket making and pole latheing among other rural demonstration skills.
Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12, 10am-5pm at The Knebworth Country Show at Knebworth  House www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

Movies at the Arena
Film-buffs can catch up with the hottest summer blockbusters at The Alban Arena with screenings including Prometheus, Men In Black 3, The Cabin in the Woods and Snow White and the Huntsman. The Arena is giving away a number of cinema tickets to its 5pm performances. See website for details. Over on the Arena stage the spotlight is on Angelina Ballerina The Mousical! a new magical show packed full of singing and dancing. Friday, August 24 at 6pm, Saturday, August 25 at 11am and 2.30pm and Sunday, August 26 at 2.30pm.
Details: 01727 844488, www.alban-arena.co.uk

Singing workshop
Unleash the power of song at the Sing Your Heart Out! Summer Family Workshop. As a part of their 2012 Grand Launch, iSing2Win is running community summer singing workshop. The workshop is open to anyone who wants to learn a different vocal style including gospel, classical and rock.
Monday, July 30 at Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans. 
Participants will be part of Sing your Heart Out! Choir, which will perform on Saturday, August 4 in Luton.
Details: www.iSing2Win.org.uk  

Giant maze
Green-fingered farmers at Willows Farm Village have been busy sowing seeds for the Summer Spectacular event, the Willows A-maize-ing Maze. The giant maze is roughly the side 75 tennis courts and the crops are expected to reach 6ft by the height of the season. Visitors can put their navigating skills to the test as they pit their wits against the twists, turns and dead ends of the maze and even take part in a family challenge along the way.
Burn off steam in the Willows Summer Sports Day Races and compete in a variety of ‘old-school’ races including the egg and spoon, space hopper and sack races. There are farmyard animals for children to meet, hold and feed, funfair rides.
Maze open until September 2. Details: 0870 129 9718, www.willowsfarmvillage.com

Fairy Tales with a difference
Familiar tales are given a delightful new twist in Fairy Tales of the Unexpected, which comes to the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City on Thursday, August 16 at 1pm and 3.30pm. Featuring big and bright costumes with a full set and crazy props, it is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it production. Lots of live action, lots of singing, and maybe even a custard pie or two!
Six stories, including Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, The Gingerbread Man and Little Red Riding Hoody are performed at a zippy pace by four highly talented and experienced performers.
To get you in the mood for the show there’s even a chance to meet some of the cast at Welwyn Garden City Library on Tuesday, August 7 from 2.30pm-3.30pm.
Details: 01707 357116, www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk