The Wake-Up Call: Stir-Crazy Edition

With school out and many summer camps not yet begun, this is the time of year when my parent friends stop referring to their 'kids' and start talking about 'rugrats' and 'little monsters.' If you desperately need to get your beautiful offspring out of the house today before they clobber each other (or you), here are a few options.

In the Patch:

Zumba: not just for adults. You've heard of sports camp. Zumba camp is kinda like that, minus the grassy fields and with a little merengue and spandex thrown in. Bottom line: this kids-only dance workout at Fusion Fitness and Dance will get your children moving, for only $5 a session. Classes begin today at 10:15 a.m. for ages 4 to 7 and 11:00 am. for ages 8 to 12, and run every Monday and Wednesday through mid-July.

Slither on down to the reptile museum. Yup, we have one in Elk Grove, according to a feature story in Friday's Elk Grove Citizen. At the recently-opened Serpentarium, at 9160 East Stockton Blvd, your kids can check out all kinds of cold-blooded critters, from chameleons to tortoises. You can even buy a slimy new friend to take home, if you dare.

Outside the Patch:

Take your car-crazy teens to see 'American Muscle.' It wasn't always about big wheels and tinted windows. This exhibit at the California Auto Museum in Sacramento celebrates the ancient era when Detroit was king, and Camaros and Pontiacs were the hottest cars around. Open now through July 10.