Plan ahead

Open now. Closes Oct 31

AYSO soccer, Desert Hot Springs: last day to sign up

AYSO Region 588. Ages 3-15. Desert Hot Springs

Last day to register for AYSO soccer in Desert Hot Springs, including the Playground program for ages 3-5.

Cost: $145; $95 for ages 3-5. Closes 11:59 p.m. Oct 31. Some divisions are wait list only.

Open now. Starts Nov 23

Thanksgiving break camp, Palm Desert

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-14. Palm Desert

A three-day camp with sports, crafts and games over the Thanksgiving break.

Cost: $87.55 resident. Nov 23-25 at the Palm Desert Community Center.

Open now. Starts Dec 7

YMCA winter basketball

Family YMCA of the Desert. Ages TK-8th grade. Palm Desert

A winter youth basketball league with weekday practices and Saturday games. Girls-only league for grades 3-6.

Cost: $150. Season Dec 7 - March 20. Financial help available.

Open now. Starts Jan 29

NFL flag football league

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-14. Palm Desert

A co-ed, non-contact flag football league where teams wear real NFL team jerseys.

Cost: $190.55 resident. Friday games at Freedom Park, Jan 29 - March 5.

Open now. Starts Apr 5

Spring break camp, Indio

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-12. Indio

Full-day spring break camp with games, sports, crafts and a pool field trip.

Cost: $140 a week or $30 a day. April 5-9, 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Breakfast and snack provided; send a lunch.

Open now. Starts Apr 5

Spring break camp, Palm Desert

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-11. Palm Desert

Full-day spring break camp with games, sports and crafts.

Cost: $140 a week or $30 a day. April 5-9 at the Palm Desert Community Center.

Sign-ups open around Nov 17

McCallum Theatre Open Call talent show entries

McCallum Theatre. Ages 8+. Palm Desert

A free talent competition for local singers, dancers and musicians. Send a video, get invited to audition, and finalists perform on the McCallum stage.

Cost: Free. You must live within 45 miles of the theatre.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Nov 23

YMCA Thanksgiving break camp

Family YMCA of the Desert. Ages School-age. Palm Desert

Day camp with games and crafts while school is out for Thanksgiving.

Nov 23-25. A teen camp runs the same days.

Starts Nov 23

Living Desert Fall ZooCamp

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Ages K-6th grade. Palm Desert

Three mornings of animal encounters, nature exploring and crafts over Thanksgiving break.

Nov 23-25, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Sign up ahead.

Sign-ups open around Dec 1

La Quinta youth baseball and softball, spring sign-ups

La Quinta Youth Sports Association. Ages 3-14. La Quinta

Sign-ups for the spring baseball, softball and T-ball season in La Quinta.

Cost: About $150-$180. Last year sign-ups ran Dec 1 - Jan 31, or until spots filled. Includes a uniform, medal and photos.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Sign-ups open Dec 4

Desert Sands schools: transfer, magnet and academy applications

Desert Sands Unified School District. Ages TK-12. Across the valley

Apply here if you want your child at a Desert Sands school other than your neighborhood school next year, including magnet schools and academies.

Cost: Free. Opens 8 a.m. Dec 4 and closes 4:30 p.m. Feb 27. Apply online at k12transfers.com. A lottery is used when a school has more requests than seats. 5th and 8th graders already on a transfer must reapply when moving up.

Starts Dec 4

Free NFL flag football try-it night

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-14. Palm Desert

A free one-evening clinic to try flag football before the winter league starts.

Cost: Free. Dec 4 or Dec 11 at Freedom Park. Sign-up required. Bring a mouthpiece.

Starts Dec 21

Living Desert Winter ZooCamp

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Ages K-6th grade. Palm Desert

Half-day zoo camp over winter break with up-close animal encounters.

Two sessions: Dec 21-23 and Dec 28-30. Sign up ahead.

Starts Dec 21

Winter break camp, Palm Desert

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-11. Palm Desert

All-day camp with sports, games and special events over winter break.

Cost: $87.55 a week resident. Dec 21-23 and Dec 28-30. Sign up for each week.

Starts Dec 21

Winter break camp, Indio

Desert Recreation District. Ages 5-11. Indio

All-day camp with sports, games and special events over winter break.

Cost: $86.52 a week resident. Dec 21-23 and Dec 28-30 at the Indio Community Center.

Sign-ups open around Jan 4

Palm Springs schools: school-of-choice transfer window

Palm Springs Unified School District. Ages TK-12. Across the valley

The main window to ask for your child to attend a Palm Springs Unified school other than your zoned school next year.

Cost: Free. Last year it ran Jan 5 - March 6. Requests are only accepted during the window, and only for schools taking transfers.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Jan 9

YMCA Y Rookies winter T-ball

Family YMCA of the Desert. Ages 3-5. Palm Desert

A beginner T-ball class for preschoolers, Saturday mornings.

Cost: $130. Saturdays Jan 9 - Feb 27.

Starts Jan 11

Game Changers girls sports camp

Desert Recreation District. Ages 9-14. Indio

A free one-day sports and leadership camp for girls.

Cost: Free. At the Indio Community Center Park. Sign-up required.

Starts around Mar 1

YMCA spring flag football

Family YMCA of the Desert. Ages TK-8th grade. Palm Desert

A co-ed, non-contact flag football league with Friday night games.

Cost: $150. Expect a similar early-March start.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Mar 2

East Valley youth soccer, spring

Desert Recreation District. Ages 7-12. Mecca, Thermal, Coachella

A low-cost spring soccer league for kids in the eastern Coachella Valley.

Cost: $61.80 resident. Games at Mecca Sports Park through May 21.

Sign-ups open around Mar 15

Coachella Valley Unified TK and kindergarten pre-registration

Coachella Valley Unified School District. Ages 4-5. Across the valley

Pre-register online for TK or kindergarten at your neighborhood school so the district can plan classes for fall.

Cost: Free. The district says it starts in mid-March. Done online through Aeries. You'll need a birth certificate, immunization record, physical exam and proof of address.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts around Mar 31

Desert Sands TK and kindergarten enrollment fair

Desert Sands Unified School District. Ages 4-5. Across the valley

An afternoon fair at the district office to learn about TK and kindergarten and get help enrolling.

Cost: Free. Last year it was April 1, 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the District Education Center, 47-950 Dune Palms Rd, La Quinta. TK is for kids turning 4 by Sept 1; kindergarten for kids turning 5 by Sept 1.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Apr 5

Spring multi-sports camp, Palm Desert

Desert Recreation District. Ages 7-14. Palm Desert

Spring break mornings trying a new sport each day: soccer, basketball, Tae Kwon Do, golf and tennis.

Cost: $66.95 resident. April 5-9, mornings.

Sign-ups open around Apr 26

Desert Sands TK and kindergarten registration

Desert Sands Unified School District. Ages 4-5. Across the valley

Pick up and turn in a registration packet at your neighborhood elementary school to enroll your child in TK or kindergarten for fall.

Cost: Free. Last year packets came out April 27. Bring a birth certificate, proof of address and immunization records. Kindergartners need a dental check.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Sign-ups open around May 3

Palm Springs schools: second transfer window (elementary)

Palm Springs Unified School District. Ages TK-5. Across the valley

A one-week second chance to ask for an elementary school transfer.

Cost: Free. Last year it was May 4-8, elementary schools only.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Sign-ups open around Jun 1

Coachella Valley Unified transfer window opens

Coachella Valley Unified School District. Ages TK-12. Across the valley

Families who want to transfer into or out of the district can start sending transfer requests for next school year.

Cost: Free. Requests are reviewed on set dates through the year. Confirm with the district's Student Support Services.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts around Jun 7

Camp Palm Springs summer day camp

City of Palm Springs. Ages Grades 1-5. Palm Springs

The city's all-summer day camp with games, crafts, drama, field trips and daily swimming.

Last year it ran June 8 - July 31 at the Palm Springs Pavilion. A separate camp is offered for grades 6-8.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Sign-ups open around Jun 7

Library Summer Reading Adventure

Riverside County Library. Ages All ages. Across the valley

A free summer reading challenge: kids log their reading and earn prizes at the library.

Cost: Free. Last year it ran June 8 - July 17. Sign up at rivlib.beanstack.org.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts around Jun 14

Palm Springs Air Museum rocket camp

Palm Springs Air Museum. Ages 11-14. Palm Springs

A week of mornings learning flight and rocket science, building and launching real model rockets.

Cost: $250 last year. Only 12 campers per week, so weeks fill up.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Aug 11

Palm Springs schools first day of school

Palm Springs Unified School District. Ages TK-12. Across the valley

Classes begin for the 2027-28 school year.

TK is for kids turning 4 by Sept 1; kindergarten for kids turning 5 by Sept 1. Register through the district's online registration.

Starts around Aug 14

Palm Desert Swim Club tryouts

Palm Desert Swim Club. Ages 6-16. Palm Desert

Tryouts to join the valley's USA Swimming club team.

Last year tryouts were Aug 15. Contact the club for location and fees.

This year's date isn't posted yet, so this is when it was last year. Check before you go.

Starts Aug 18

Desert Sands first day of school

Desert Sands Unified School District. Ages TK-12. Across the valley

Classes begin for the 2027-28 school year.

From the board-adopted 2027-28 calendar.