Cooking up Some Summer Fun
Many children are naturally artistic, though this may not necessarily mean with a paintbrush and easel. Outside of the visual and performing arts opportunities out there, culinary arts are taken quite seriously during the summer months all across the country. Aspiring chefs can try their hand at cooking, baking and creating edible masterpieces they’ll be proud of.
Children’s Culinary Creations in Los Altos Hills is run by Chef Sharon, who takes the time to patiently teach not only hands-on cooking, but also independence, self-reliance and other life skills essential for any future career.
Cucina Bambini in San Jose takes a cue from its name with an Italian cooking course for kids aged 6-10. Other opportunities over the summer include Cupcake and Cake Pop Craze, Lil’ Chefs Go to the Circus and much more! Hours and ages vary per session.
Over in Pennsylvania, Lavner Camps features a wide repertoire of enrichment courses, including Culinary Arts and similarly so does Penn Charter Summer Camps. These Philadephia area camps are great because they embrace a more traditional camp schedule, inspiring children to experience a diverse array of activities. Young chefs may develop in such an environment that is low pressure and intentionally only covers the basics.
Back in the Bay Area, Osher Marin JCC Camp Kehillah teaches children of all faiths a variety of activities including cake decorating and cooking. For around $300 per week, your child will also learn the fundamentals of Jewish culture and go on various nature adventures.
Camp Doodles focuses on a variety of interests including cooking, and older kids are able to take stove-top cooking classes as well as the more basic things youngsters learn at the San Francisco, San Rafael or Mill Valley locations. Similarly, Celsius and Beyond offers one-week rotating themes throughout the summer, including International Top Chef which teaches children the method and chemistry behind the various cooking techniques found around the world. If you’re in the San Francisco area, the Exploratorium also offers cooking-themed summer activities, as does the San Francisco Friends School Summer Camp.
Many summer camps also offer one-week isolated sessions focusing on a single cooking or baking method. Baking with Design, a session held through Upper Main Line YMCA in Pennsylvania, teaches children how to bake various sweet treats from scratch, as well as the art of decorating them.
Kids on Campus at Bucks County Community College also teaches children aged 10-13 the basics of kitchen careers with Kid Kuisine I. This week focuses on proper hygiene, safe food handling and both cooking & baking principles. They then are broken off into teams where they get to create their own dishes. Later the summer, rejoin Kinds on Campus for IncredIble, Edible Experiments and Kitchen Magic! Where kids learn how science works in the home everywhere from the sink’s soap dish to the ice cream they love to eat during the summer months.
Cooking camps are the way to go wherever you live if you are looking to teach your child some independence and a basic life skillset. It can also be a lot of fun and inspire them to dig deeper into a newfound hobby once school starts back up again.
Affordable Camps with Plenty of Diversity
Financial hardship is unfortunately one of the major reasons many children never enjoy a camp experience. While day camps have replaced the whole “away camp” tradition in many regions, it is still often pricey to send one child to these daily sessions, let alone siblings too. Fortunately, some camps have taken note of this and have managed to offer some camps that are under $200 per week. This is an incredible bargain, as day camps typically run about $400+ weekly in many locations. Take advantage of these great deals – your kids will be thrilled you did!
California Affordable Camps – Bay Area and Beyond
In the bay area, there are plenty of affordable camp options you may not have known about.
Peace Camp in Berkeley is only $200 per week, and they offer two separate sessions during the summer. Berkeley Day Camp, arranged through the city, costs $147 per week and accepts kids of all ages. Also in Berkeley is Explorers Camp, which features fun weekly themes. 2012’s themes include:
- Welcome to Summer
- Spirit Week
- All ABOUT Me
- James Kenney’s Got Talent
- So You Think You Can Cook
- Super Soak Slippery Splash Week
- Road to Olympics
- Back to the Future
If any of those caught your eye, sign your child up and enjoy a week of camp for only $98. Best of all, you can choose to come either to a single week or return all summer long.
Young sports enthusiasts will love the Sports & Games Camp also put on through the city of Berkeley. Those living throughout the bay area can also benefit from Legarza Basketball Camp, which costs around $195 per week and trains kids in the South Bay, Peninsula area and beyond.
A couple of hours Northeast in Sacramento, kids can explore performing and visual arts at Summer ARTastic! Day Camp in the suburb of Roseville. For only $200 for the entire summer, children learn dance, drama, painting/sketching, voice and more.
Pennsylvania Camps – Philadelphia and Beyond
In Pennsylvania, the Lehigh University Sports Camps teaches kids both basic and advanced moves in Basketball, and wrestling, while Malvern Preparatory School covers squash, baseball and basketball.
Kids on Campus at Bucks County Community College are offered a diverse array of activities each week, from learning how to use Dreamweaver and Flash, to baseball and Ultimate Frisbee. The diversity is awesome at this camp designed for kids of all ages.
Meanwhile, the Chester County Art Association inspires young artists through its various week-long sessions including acrylic & water color painting and clay sculpting. Over a dozen different art disciplines are taught at this camp.
Finally, Camp Teekna uses Christian values and foundational messages to teach young campers the importance of giving back to the community around them that they benefit from. It’s a great lesson and time to reflect upon moral issues for both young and older kids.
Camps Across the Nation
Around the country, there are many affordable opportunities available. First, the Actor’s Youth Theatre Summer Workshop in Gilbert, AZ gives kids aged 10 through 16 the opportunity to explore the various facets of making a movie with their week-long July session. At the Petroglyph Pathfinders Summer Camp in Phoenix, kids learn about archaeology at a real dig site for less than $150 per week.
In Miami, the Science Museum Summer Camp offers a wide variety of classes for all ages, with topics ranging from Kitchen Chemistry to Space-themed focuses. Massachusetts is home to Drama Kids Summer FUN!, where kids experience theatre arts. A similar program happens each summer at the Drama Kids International Summer Camp in North Carolina, New York and many other regions across the U.S.
In Ohio, Classroom Antics Summer Tech Camps happen in three major cities including Cleveland, Akron and Columbus. Kids learn all different genres of technology while having fun at the same time.
Active young Texans can enjoy Best Gymnastics Summer Camp, or Sokol Gym ‘n Swim Camp. CYT Houston Summer Camps plays host to a Christian creative arts camp with fun themes such as Disney and Young Destiny. In Virginia, the Abrakadoodle Summer Camp provides the youngest of campers with fun themes like Pirates, Princes and Princesses. Watch imaginations thrive with these varied and creative camp experiences guaranteed to be under $200 weekly.
Kids Look Forward to Learning with DaVinci Day Camp
When it comes to summertime, many parents worry that their child will regress in terms of their education. Whether he/she struggles academically, or simply does not retain information well, then an educational enrichment camp may be an ideal way to spend the summer. Kids will love the fun activities, while you appreciate the boost of learning they’ll receive.
Chris Waage, of the DaVinci Day Camp in the bay area recently chatted with SignUpForCamp to share with us a bit more about the camp that enriches, enlightens and engages children each summer.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you started the camp.
A: For the last 20 years we have been known for providing quality academic summer programs for grades 4-12 at Universities here in California as well as Boston. The one thing that was missing from our program was a community focused camp that served younger grade groups. Our goal to offer great programs that all age groups could benefit from was completed with DaVinci Day Camp for K-5th grade campers. DaVinci Day Camp brought together our organizations long standing values of immersive academic learning and more traditional recreational day camp.
Q: Are there any special lessons or experiences you are trying to provide during the camp?
A: Camps choose from 8 different themes workshops that fall into either public speaking, creative writing, or science and engineering. The lessons are taught through constant hands-on experiences that provide a variety of different approaches to reach each child’s different learning style.
Q: What surprises/delights the kids (or parents) most about your camp?
A: When parents and kids here “academic day camp” they are very surprised to find that camp resembles an artists workshop much more than a stuff classroom.
Campers lose themselves in the engaging activities so much that they forget that they are learning important skills that will be used for years to come.
To sign up for DaVinci Day Camp, choose a location and session that best suits your child, and prepare to see them beyond inspired during their school break.
There are some other community focused camps that are in Bay area like Osher Marin JCC Camp at San Rafael,Camp Mandarin Immersion at Berkeley and Camp Carden at San Jose .
Camps to Help the Right-Brained Child Thrive!
Children who are right-brained tend to be artistic, emotional and full of life. While this can be either a blessing or a curse to a parent depending upon the particular circumstance, most parents revel in watching their youngster express their inherent creativity and colorful imagination. As the school year begins to wind down and a blank calendar just waiting to be filled with summer fun looms, there are plenty of camps available to kids who thrive in an environment that calls upon them to be a performer, artist or anything else that places them happily center stage!
Young At Art – South Bay kids who love to express themselves through visual art will adore the summer schedule at Cupertino’s Young at Art. Focuses include acrylic painting, Arts of the Silk Road, Portrait drawing, and even fashion & jewelry design. Best of all, that just covers a portion of June – there are many more opportunities to learn everything from paper crafting to comic book design with Young at Art.
Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) – For kids local to the Mountain View area, CSMA features over 50 specialized summer camps for those aged 5-20. CSMA camp can truly become an annual tradition in your family – especially since your youngest child will receive 10% off of every camp they enroll in. From Bugs & Butterflies to advanced cello classes, there is truly something for everyone.
Drama Kids Summer Camp – Children who can’t help but “act up” when the weather warms, this Texas summer camp chain invites them to come learn theatrical techniques including improve, dialogue development and plenty of games for the stage! Enjoy $25 off the second session, and watch your child indulge in special events like dress-up days.
Kids ‘N Dance ‘N Theater Arts: Theater or Dance – Back over in California, kids in Lafayette will experience the magic of dance through a 1-week program that includes costume and prop design, and plenty of story dances to learn and perform. Little Musical Theater is geared toward 4-9 year olds, while Musical Theater is geared toward 1st-8th graders who are more serious about the craft. A secondary location is in Oakland.
The other camp that is worth mentioning is Sticky Art Lab at Berkeley which offers a quite unique approach in teaching arts to children.Be sure to check out.
These are just a few of the great creative camps in the area for your little thespian, artist or musician. The sky’s the limit this summer for kids who love to fill their days with art and new friendships.
Atherton Lacrosse Teaches Love for the Sport.
Lacrosse continues to grow in popularity as a sport that many youth continue through college and beyond. A summer camp focusing on the improvement of one’s game and overall athletic skills is a great way to get a head start for those next team tryouts. In the Pennisula, Atherton Lacrosse gets kids prepared and ready for their time on the competitive field. We recently chatted with Josh Rottman of Atherton Lacrosse, who was able to give us an inside look at this camp’s goals and program.
Q: What is the most important lesson you want your students to come away with?
A: The most important thing we hope to instill in our players is a lasting love for this sport. For the coaches at Atherton, we’ve been playing this sport for a long time because we’ve come to love playing it. We hope that our camps and free clinics are the beginning of that passion for our players.
Q: What would you suggest parents do to prepare their kids for camp?
A: We would suggest familiarizing your player with what lacrosse looks like. Have them look at a Youtube video of a game, or bring them out to a youth or high school game in their area. The better they understand what they’re trying to achieve, the more likely they’ll have success.
Q: What are some of the favorite parts of camp for the kids?
A: The younger kids really enjoy a game we play called Sharks and Minnows. The players act as the minnows, running from sideline to sideline while cradling the ball. The coaches act as the sharks, trying to get them to drop the ball. If they drop it, they become seaweed and act as obstacles for the remaining players.
Atherton Lacrosse Camp has locations all throughout the region, so your child can improve their lacrosse game or experience this unique sport for the first time, wherever they are located.
In today’s world, Earth Day gets almost as much attention as Valentine’s Day or other annual traditions we enjoy. Many will agree environmentalism is a very important value to teach our children, and one of the best times to encourage them to save our earth and live a sustainable, conscientious life is during the summer months. With school out of the way for most, kids can learn to play and cherish Mother Earth at the same time.
GreenPlay Sustainable Summer Camp
Sustainable Summer Camp, based in Mill Valley, is a 1-week camp for those entering Kindergarten through the 5th grade. With hiking, natural history lessons and storytelling, kids learn how to make the woods their playground. These are just a few activities campers will enjoy, as many restoration and conservation projects are led by the Marin County Open Space rangers and similar organizations.
Sarah’s Science, located in Berkeley, Oakland and San Ramon has a simple mission statement “No child left indoors!” Kids discover the beauty and value of nature while also participating in regular camp activities. This year’s theme, “This Land is Your Land”, focuses on environmentalism and the importance of sustainability. If your kids love it, Sarah’s Science also offers a Thanksgiving Camp!
Finally, for “big kids” (ages 8+), Camp Chrysalis in Berkeley offers a nature education perfectly suited for young minds. Learn respect and responsibility for ecology, while each week of overnight camp features a different theme related to California nature – Big Sur, Mendocino, Sierras and even backpacking.
Coastal Camp at Nature Bridge allows kids to combine marine biology and coastal ecology with hands on activities, arts, and group activities. They are located in Sausalito.If you are looking for a marine science camp near Redwood City, Marine Science Institute is the place to go. Crissy Field Center Summer Camp allows kids to explore the urban outdoors and ecology in San Francisco.
These are just a few of the great environmentally-friendly camps available in the bay area. On the East Coast, Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne, PA gives kids a chance to catch bugs, stomp in the river, and explore the outdoors. Haddonfield Friends School Summer Camp in Haddonfield, NJ is another great option to give kids some outdoor fun time.
If you live in a different part of the nation, chances are there are plenty of opportunities for your kids to learn about the great outdoors as well. Check out all of Signupforcamp’s listings to get your little campers plugged into nature this summer.
Tennis is quickly becoming a popular sport that rivals soccer and baseball. Whether your child is getting ready to go out for the tennis team or you just want them to learn a skill them gets them outdoors and exercising, tennis is a great choice. David Schilling of Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps recently shared some information on their summer camp that’s ideal for all ages and skill level.
Q: What is the Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camp?
A: The Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps is a brand new partnership between Wilson Sporting Goods, Co and Premier Sports Camps, although we have been running tennis camps for more than 20 years (under the name All-American Tennis Camps), this is our first year with Wilson Tennis.
Q: Why the partnership now?
A: It was the goal of the partnership to pair young tennis players with the top college coaches on the nation’s finest college campuses in an effort to not only help with the development of young campers tennis games, but to also build an interest and passion in attending college and gearing towards playing college tennis someday.
Q: Is this camp only for those who want to play tennis in college and beyond?
A: Not all of our campers want to go on and play college tennis, and that is not a requirement. Many just want to learn the game, improve their game or prepare for middle or high school teams. The Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps can help with that. We work with boys and girls ages 8-18 of all skill levels. We want to put kids in a positive learning environment, and we feel working with the nation’s best coaches, on beautiful, safe college campuses will help nurture this learning. We call it “Higher learning for your game”.
Q: What makes your camp stand out from others?
A: The hallmarks of our camps is personalized attention. We put our kids into small instructional groups with students of similar age and ability and tailor our instruction to their needs. Many camps have a “cookie-cutter” approach to their camps. We want to use the latest cutting-edge instructional techniques, and our camp directors are leaders in the industry in this manner. College coaches are the most well-rounded, attuned and educated coaches in the United States and there is no better group to work with these young players. These coaches are full-time, year round teachers who are hand-picked for their ability to relate to young players of this age and ability level.
Q: Do the campers do anything besides play tennis?
A: While we specialize in our on court tennis instruction, we want to offer a well-rounded camp experience. Our philosophy is that “camp is not a place – camp is an experience” and in order to provide the most positive experience we offer a full day of actives. In addition to 5.5-6 hours of camp each day, the Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps offers daily social and recreational activities to enhance the camp. We realize that for many of our students, this may be their first time away from home (overnight camps) and we want to help with transition and help build confidence and self-assurance.
Q: You offer a unique way to get parents involved. Tell us about that.
A: One of the unique aspects of Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps that surprises and delights many our parents is our “CAMP LIVE” program. This is our social media effort during the camps. We want the parents, family and friends to participate in the camp experience and to communicate the happenings at camp. We use social media such as photos galleries and blogs, in a very timely and daily manner, to
share the experience. Blogs detailing the days’ activities and learnings, high quality professional photo galleries that express the fun and enthusiasm of camp, and Facebook and Twitter updates in real time help us reach out to the parents and family when their loved ones are at camp.
