09:41 AM MST on Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Cassandra Mazur / Special to azfamily.com

Summer vacation is just around the corner, and your children couldn’t be happier. Now is the time to start planning fun-filled adventures to keep your kids off the couch and away from the TV all summer long.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League is proud to be hosting its fourth annual summer activity, Camp Ruffin’ It. This exciting week-long summer camp is geared toward children ages 10 to 12.

Camp Ruffin’ It will have your children meeting all sorts of animals including ferrets, rats, hermit crabs, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, a millipede, Leopard gecko, desert tortoises, gerbils, chinchillas, Guinea pigs, a bearded dragon, rabbit, cats and dogs - your children will experience them all! Campers will also lend a helping hand to the AAWL shelter through various activities, such as splashing around in a kiddy pool while soaping up a lucky pooch! What a fun way to cool off from Arizona’s heat!

“The main goal of Camp Ruffin’ It is to teach our future generations how to be responsible pet guardians. When children learn how to care for even the smallest animals, that compassionate outlook can last a lifetime,” says Sam Spinelle, AAWL Education Programs Manager.

Camp Ruffin’ It will be offered a total of nine weeks beginning on May 29th. Each session lasts one week, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Camp costs $165 and includes a camp T-shirt, morning snack, and plenty of animal excitement.

Spots are filling up fast but don’t worry it is not too late to sign up! For more information visit www.aawl.org or contact AAWL’s Education Programs Manager, Sam Spinelle at (602) 273-6852, ext. 115.