Summer Camps

[Kimmer]

I wish that I could find a theater camp around here. My oldest daughter would love it. I really think that my other kids would too.

[Lifestar]

We actually have several theater camps in our area. One is held at the local community college. It's inexpensive and runs for about 2 weeks. That's the one I hope to enroll my younger DD in.. Kids learn improv and physical acting. It's for fun more that a really intensive acting class. Another is run in a theater in Nyack by equity actors, and is serious and intense, with the kids performing in a real theater at the end of the eight-week program. The tuition is a little steep, but it is a serious program for serious little actors. The third is a program run by a performing arts center. They offer theater and music classes year-round, and is very costly.

[Deidra]

I have a suggestion, always get reference names and numbers of campers who previously attended a camp that you are thinking about sending your kids too. Or make sure they are registered with one of the camping associations (who really do checks on the camps). I work with 4-H and most kids love 4-H camp. We have a week long overnight camp for kids aged 8-13, we even have cloverbud camp for kids from 5-18- it is only two nights. At 4-H camp they do a variety of activities, from electric, sailing, crafts, cooking, sports, canoeing, rafting, hiking, shooting sports, to our speciality camp (Drama, Science, Horses, Adventure (ropes couse- roughing it). Very well run camps. And all our camps are nationally accredited well at least they are in NC, I am pretty sure they are that price everywhere, our basic 4-H camp costs $250 and that includes everything, plus a t-shirt and snacks (some store money). My camping experience was so awesome that I stayed in 4-H, am a volunteer leader and just recently accepted a paid position to share my love of 4-H with other kids.

We also run Summer Fun day camps, with just day long some 1/2 day classes/tours programs on a variety of topics from making a lamp, touring a pizza joint, touring county government behind the scenes, cooking classes, computer trainings, etc.... We do a survey every year from kids who attend that year, asking them for topic ideas that they would be interested in seeing next year. And we do not require you to be a 4-H member to attend any of these camps. Try it you will like it. Now I have had a few kids who were extremely homesick (they are usually the ones who have never been away from camp- but our camp counselors are very well trained and they always get the kid to enjoy camp and they usually forget that they are homesick. But out of like 90 campers we may have like 2 that is homesick. So that is great. Check out your local 4-H camps for an awesome camping Experience (I know NC's is AWESOME!!!)

Deidra

[Sammi1961]

My dks have gone to sleep over summer camp since they were old enough. At age 7 they went to a mini-camp (3 days, two nights) with themes like Nature Detective or Mammal Mania where they learned about nature or took care of animals like bunnies, chickens, llamas, goats, etc. Once they were old enough (9+) they went for a whole week. Because we have a cottage on an island and they want to take the boats out, they always attended swim camp which is swim lessons twice a day for a week but also lots of other activities like crafts, games, canoeing, campfires etc. Swim camp only goes up to 8th grade so after that they attended senior high camps. Dd did pottery camp one year and learned to use a pottery wheel and made pottery. This is a Methodist camp they attend so is church based though all different kinds of religions attend it. They made a lot of friends and have always looked forward to going. The only time they weren't as thrilled was when the camp had a director who was just annoying. Now that they have a better director, they are thrilled again. Ds2 is actually working at the camp this coming week as a volunteer and ds2 leaves to go as a camper (for swim camp) this Sunday. He is so excited he is packed already. I have been lucky that none of my dks have ever gotten homesick but that is because often their cousins are there as campers too.