Hey Boo-boo - it's a great weekend for a picnic

Whoever said the camping season begins at the end of the school year has never visited Jellystone Park at this time of year.

"I love the recreation staff and the activities that they have for the children," said Amy Anderson, of Roseville, who is planning to spend Mother's Day with her husband, Jerry, and their two sons gathered around a bonfire roasting marshmallows at Jellystone Park in Freemont, Ind. It might be a bit chilly for a dip in the outdoor pool and water park, but this resort also has an indoor pool, game room, lighted basketball courts and kiddy train rides. 

Being the special weekend that it is, staff members at the park have organized an arts and crafts workshop so kids can make a gift for mom, a Moms-only gathering by the pool and a Sunday pancake breakfast served by the camp kids along with the help of park staff.

"It's just a wonderful way to spend time with family," Anderson said, adding that all of the moms get roses with their pancake breakfasts.

If Freemont is too far, there are several parks in Michigan including Frankenmuth Jellystone, Silver Lake Jellystone and Grayling Jellystone Most of the campsites feature rustic and modern sites for campers as well as cabins that can be rented. Cost: $20-$50 per night for sites; $70- $160 per cabin. There's also the option of experiencing Jellystone Park in states even further away than Indiana. The franchise park system, themed after the beloved children's bear characters of Yogi and Boo-boo, has been around since 1969 and now boasts 75 campgrounds with more than 15,000 campsites in 30 states and three Canadian provinces including Ontario.

Mother's Day for Anderson and her family is bound to be great, but Anderson admits her kids can't wait until Father's Day when Jellystone Park in Freemont puts on its annual Miss Jellystone contest. Nope it is not moms who walk the runway for this event, but dads dressed up as beauty queens.

For more information, visit Yogi Bear's Jellystone Parks

DAYTRIPPING

What else is there to do this weekend? Check out our weekly listing of events and exhibits going on in the Detroit area:

For moms

"Moms and Marshmallows" program includes songs, stories and marshmallow roasting with the family, 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center, Washington Township, Also at the Nature Center, "Mother's Day Walk-a-Mom," 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 8, kids can walk trail of their choice with mom. Registration required, (586) 781-9113. Fee for each program, $3 per person, free for moms. Flowers and wagon rides for moms, noon-3 p.m. May 8, at Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Center, Ray Township. $5 per person, moms free. Call (586) 752-5932.

Gala opening

Tara Maria's fashion boutique grand opening gala, noon-6 p.m. May 7, at the shop, 26717 Little Mack, St. Clair Shores, inside Ardmore Park Place. Refreshments served, entertainment; portion of sales' proceeds goes to Save Our South Channel Lights.

Second Chance Sale

Looking for unique items, new and used furniture? The Resale Connection is having a warehouse sale to benefit the philanthropic programs of the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, May 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The warehouse is located at 228 South Street, Rochester. For information visit: Assistance League of SE Michigan

Historical Society

Chesterfield Historical Society 15th annual pasta dinner benefit, 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 11, Chesterfield Senior Center, 47275 Sugarbush. Admission $10; call (586) 749-3713 or (586) 948-3810.

Farmers Market

Mount Clemens Farmers Market opens for the season May 7. Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 19, at 141 North River Road. Market features locally grown products, including flowers. Visit Mount Clemens Farmers Market

Pizza for PIME

Annual "PIME Day" benefit for PIME Missionaries, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. May 12 at Shield's pizza locations, 50750 Romeo Plank Road at 23 Mile Road, Macomb Township, and 1488 Rochester Road at Tienken, Rochester Hills. A percentage of food sales that day go to the missionaries. Call (313) 342-4066.

Theater productions

Sixth Street Entertainment presents an unusual take on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at 1515 Broadway. Performances tonight and Saturday begin 8 p.m. with a matinee showing on May 8, at 3 p.m. Tickets: $20 at the door.

Shores Players: St. Clair Shores Players present "Our Town," May 7 and May 13-14, at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 31601 Harper, St. Clair Shores. Doors open 7:30 p.m., curtain at 8. Tickets $10; call (586) 779-3122.

Clintondale Theatre: Clintondale Community Theatre presents "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," 7:30 p.m. May 7, May 12-14, at Clintondale Community auditorium on 15 Mile Road east of Little Mack between Gratiot and Groesbeck, Clinton Township. Tickets $8 advance, $10 at door; call (586) 791-6301 ext. 2409.

'Almost Maine'

Michigan Actors Studio presents "Almost Maine," 8 p.m. May 7, May 13-14, 20-21, 2 p.m. May 8, 15 and 21, at the Studio, 648 Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Tickets $15. Call (877) 636-3320.

'Sound of Music'

St. Clair Theatre Guild presents "The Sound of Music," 7:30 p.m. May 7 at East China Performing Arts Center on Meisner Road. Tickets $15 adults, $12 senior citizens and students. Call (810) 329-4498.

Rosedale Players

"The Dixie Swim Club" play by Rosedale Community Players, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 21, 2 p.m. May 15, at Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road, Southfield. Tickets $14; for reservations, (313) 532-4010 or www.rosedalecommunityplayers.com.

Show auditions

What's That Smell? Productions auditions May 16-17, for three shows: 5 p.m. for youth musical "Disney's Aladdin Jr.," for children in grades 4-8, and 7 p.m. for adults for musicals "RENT" and "bare." Auditions at The Box Theater, 51 N. Walnut, Mount Clemens. "Aladdin Jr." show dates July 15-24, "bare" Aug. 19-27, both at The Box Theater, and Aug. 4-6 "RENT" at the Emerald Theater in Mount Clemens.

Broadway Onstage Live Theatre auditions for upcoming shows "The Sex Maniac," July 22-Aug. 20; "Love Song," Sept. 9-Oct. 8, and "Murder Me, Murder Me, My Darling, My Darling!", Oct. 21-Nov. 19. Auditions 7:30 p.m. May 16-17, at the Theatre, 21517 Kelly Road, Eastpointe. For information, (586) 771-6333 or bonstage@aol.com.

Rosedale Community Players "One Act Festival" auditions, 8 p.m. May 18, at Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road, Southfield. Call (248) 258-5368 or visit www.rosedalecommunityplayers.com.

Bike Rodeo

Free Bike Rodeo, 1-3 p.m. May 7, on Macomb Place at Main Street in downtown Mount Clemens, includes bike safety checks, helmet and bike giveaways, fingerprinting and child ID, bike parade, goodie bags. Call (586) 469-4168.

Craft show

Spring Craft Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 7, at Chippewa Valley High School, 18300 19 Mile Road, Clinton Township. Admission $2. No strollers. Proceeds benefit CVHS Band Boosters.

Shop, Sip & Spirits

Anton Art Center hosts Shop, Sip & Spirits, 6-8 p.m. May 11, includes shopping, spa services, tarot card readings; free admission at the Center, 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens. Call (586) 469-8666 or visit The Anton Art Center

Card party

Ashler Chapter No. 378 Order of the Eastern Star card party, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 9, lunch served at noon, at Roseville Masonic Center, 27151 Gratiot. Admission $7. Call (586) 772-6126.

Ice Show

Fraser Figure Skating Club's 40th Annual Ice Show, "Unstoppable!," 7:30 p.m. May 13-14 and 1 p.m. May 14, at the club, 34400 Utica road. Admission $9, ages 60 and older and 12 and younger $5, 12 and younger free.

Garage sale

Tree of Hope Foundation (for postpartum research and education) benefit garage sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 13-15, at 20861 10 Mile Road, between Harper and Little Mack, St. Clair Shores.

Bowling for Backpacks

Bowling for Backpacks benefit for the non-profit organization Blessings in a Backpack, 2-5 p.m. May 22 at Classic Lanes, 2145 Avon Industrial Drive, Rochester. Registration starts 1:30 p.m. Advance registration $20, $25 day of event if lanes available; admission includes three hours of bowling, shoe rental, music and refreshments. For tickets, (248) 318-6334.

Book sale

Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library used book sale, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 14, at Woods Branch, 20680 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods. Books, books on tape, CD and videos available.

Palette Club

Lakeside Palette Club meeting 64th Annual Spring Exhibit, through May 22 at Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens. Reception and awards 1-3 p.m. May 22. Visit www.lakesidepaletteclub.org.

Go Comedy!

"Ferndale 2-4-8" production at Go Comedy, 261 Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through May 26. Tickets $10 Thursdays, $15 Fridays. Call (248) 327-0575 or visit www.gocomedy.net.

Greenfield Village

"Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011," May 7, May 8, 14-15, at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Non-member tickets include Village admission and train ride: $11.75 ages 1-4 years, $27.75 ages 5-12, $33.75 ages 13-61, and $32.75 ages 62 and older. For tickets, (313) 982-6001 or www.thehenryford.org.

Madison Chorale

Spring concert of Madison Chorale, 8 p.m. May 7, at Congregational Church of Birmingham, 1000 Cranbrook Road, Bloomfield Hills. For advance tickets, $12, $10 ages 65 and older and students 18 and younger, call (248) 808-6238 May 7; $15 at the door.

Dinner theater

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Wednesdays-Sundays, through May 22, at Andiamo Novi Theatre, 42705 Grand River. Dinner packages available. Call (248) 348-4448 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Historical Guild

Detroit Historical Guild seeking volunteers interested in participating in historical activities, including flea markets at Old Ft. Wayne, tea parties, excursions to historic sites, etc. Call (586) 777-5898.

reservations, (313) 485-0217 or reservations@theabreact.com.

Toastmasters' Club

Toastmasters Speak Easy Club of Shelby meets 10-11:30 a.m. second and fourth Saturdays monthly at Shelby Community Center, 51670 Van Dyke, north of 23 Mile Road. Call (586) 623-9987 or (586) 531-1289.

Oakland Youth Orchestras

Auditions for Oakland Youth Orchestras, May 7, May 13-15, at Varner Hall on Oakland University campus; 3- to 4-minute solo showing technique and tone quality required. Call (248) 709-2877, or admin@oyomi.org.

Rochester museum

Exhibit of hand-hooked rugs through June 18 at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, a mile north of downtown Rochester. Romeo-based Great Lakes Rug Hooking Guild demonstrations 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, during museum hours. Call (248) 656-4663 or visit www.rochesterhills.org.

Chrysler Museum

Unique Vehicle Pairs Spotlight Series and Collector's Curb specialty exhibits throughout the year at Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. For a complete schedule, visit wpchryslermuseum.org. Admission $8 adults, $7 ages 62 and older, $4 ages 6-12.

Holocaust Center

It’s movie night at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts. As part of the Jewish Community Center’s 13^th Annual Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival, the Holocaust Center will be showing “Saviors in the Night,” May 19 starting at 5 p.m. The Berman Center is located on the Jewish Community Center Campus, 6600 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield. Tickets: $10. For information contact: david.moss@holocaustcenter.org (248) 553-2400, ext. 23.
Features editor Debbie Komar contributed to this listing

TODAY'S MUSE

My daughter just thinks all moms fly the space shuttle - American astronaut Eileen Collins