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Family Ties: Summer Camp Preview
By Mike Sweeney
Before you know it, school will be out for summer and the kids will have free run of the house and the neighborhood until fall dawns once again. Whether your kids are seeking an exciting new experience or you’re looking to give them something to fill the hours, there are a host of great camps in and around the Las Vegas valley offering a wide range of super summer fun.
Academic Camps
Summertime isn’t all fun and games; some students need extra help for the school year ahead. Tutoring Club is here to help build the foundation needed for academic success with a series of 32-hour camps and 25-hour workshops between June 10th and August 22nd. The camps will cover subjects including reading, writing and math, while the workshops will help older students prep for the SAT and ACT. It’s the perfect way for students to sharpen their skills before diving into next year’s pool of textbooks and homework. Visit www.tutoringclub.com for more info.
Griffin Learning will also offer an academic day camp for children nine through twelve, held July 8th – 26th. Daily activities will consist of math problem solving, writing, science, art projects and beginner’s Mandarin. No need to worry about your kids getting lost in the shuffle as class size is a maximum of nine students to ensure individual attention. Limited spots for all courses and slots are given on a first come basis. Visit www.griffinlearning.com for more info.
Kids can spend part of their summer discovering the wonders of math and science at the 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) Day Camps, held at the Lifelong Learning Center. The first session will run from June 11th – 13th for ages seven to eleven with another held June 25th – 27th for ages ten to fourteen. Participants will engage in hands on experiences that foster exploration, discovery and passion for the sciences, encouraging them to excel and find success in their respective fields. Visit www.unce.unr.edu/4H for more info.
More summer fun in the scientific world awaits with Mad Science, teaching everything from crime scene investigation to rocket building to robotics. Kids will love joining in the crazy experiments as they explore all the fun facts and delights this educational camp has to offer. Programs are offered at various locations all through the summer, with Junior Mad Science Camps available for the pre-school set. Visit www.madsciencelv.com for more info.
Bright Child Learning Center offers exciting activities and a fun educational experience at their eleven-week summer program at their Nellis and Owens location for ages five to twelve. Camp begins on June 10th and allows kids to explore a new and interesting theme-oriented learning program each week, along with field trips to the Adventuredome, the Planetarium, California Pizza Kitchen, water parks and more. Visit www.brightchildlc.com for more info.
Day Camps
Henderson International School’s beautiful campus plays host to the Summit Ridge Day Camp from June 10th – August 2nd for children aged four to twelve. Campers are broken into co-ed groups based on age and/or grade level and experience a wide range of activities that change daily, including aquatics, dancing, arts and crafts, music and more. Special guests will be on hand for unique activities and Spirit Days, including a Talent Show, Pancake and Pajama Day, Color War and all-camp songs and games. Visit www.summitridgedaycamp.com for more info.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Henderson holds their Ultimate Vacation Camp from June 10th – August 9th on the campus of The Alexander Dawson School in Summerlin. Campers spend the day rotating through the gymnasium, games room, cultural art center, outdoor play area and more. Special events add to the exuberance with everything from slip and slide to safari visits to Mardi Gras parties. Lunch is prepared by the Alexander Dawson School culinary team and is included in the weekly registration fee. Call 565-6568 or visit www.bgchenderson.org for more info.
A long standing summer ritual, YMCA Day Camp offers traditional camps where kids can enjoy themed weeks that include swimming, arts and crafts, group games, gym time and more, all while developing a strong sense of character and fulfillment. Exciting field trips will also take kids all over town to Springs Preserve, Sky Zone, Shark Reef, the Discovery Museum and more. Camps are offered at various YMCA locations throughout the valley from June 10th – August 23rd, with campers broken down by age group. Visit www.lasvegasymca.org for more info.
If big thrills are your game, you’ll find them at the Springs Preserve Summer Adventure Camps. Where else can you face off with a Gila monster, get creative with eco-friendly crafts, head for a nature walk and explore amazing museums all in one place? Kids can even act out and get silly on stage and enjoy swimming at the nearby YMCA. Educational experts keep things fun and ensure that learning is a big part of the process. Sessions run Monday through Friday from June 10th – August 23rd for ages six to twelve. Visit www.springspreserve.org for more info.
Sleepaway Camps
When the weather turns warm, it’s the perfect time to head for the mountains. Camp Lee Canyon hosts Omni Discovery Camp, held July 14th – 19th for ages eight to twelve. Campers will participate in fun classes in art, science, nature, music, sculpture, geocaching and even a high ropes challenge course, along with traditional camp activities such as hikes, archery, campfires, sing-a-longs and more. Guest instructors include people from Sign Design Theatre and Airborne Raptors to Roos N More and Mad Science. Visit www.clarkcountynv.gov/parks for more info.
On the Edge Camp, also at Camp Lee Canyon, runs from July 21st – 26th for ages thirteen to fifteen. Outdoor adventure is the name of the game here with recreation activities such as a high ropes challenge course, mountain biking, hiking, a one-night camp out under the stars and a dance with a live DJ spinning all the best tunes. As with Omni Discovery Camp, traditional camp activities will also be included, so campers need not worry about missing out on any of the fun around the campfire or on the hiking trail. Visit www.clarkcountynv.gov/parks for more info.
For something a bit different, Camp Lee Canyon will also host ICAN Leadership Camp from August 4th – 10th. Open to middle and high school kids, this camp helps teach drug prevention and leadership skills through guest speakers, group building activities, community action group planning and more, along with campfires, hikes, a talent show and a camp dance. Small group activities are led by older participants, creating a unique atmosphere where the “youth staff” help instruct and inspire younger campers. Call 451-ICAN or visit www.icanlv.org for more info.
Athletic Camps
UNLV has helped Las Vegas build a legacy of great basketball, and your kids can be a part of it with Advantage Basketball Camps at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy. Kids from six to eighteen learn ball handling and shooting drills, court awareness, how to play good defense and so much more. With sessions held from June 17th – June 21st and August 5th – August 7th, it’s sure to be a slam dunk for summer fun! Visit www.advantagebasketball.com for more info.
ASMT Cheer and Tumbling Summer Day Camps helps teach cheerleading fundamentals, including motions, dance and tumbling, all in a fun and safe environment. The company’s North Gym on West Cheyenne offers a three day camp from June 10th – 12th, while the East Gym in Henderson holds camp from June 24th – 28th. Dance camps will also be available during June and July, teaching hip hop, pom, jazz and more. Visit www.asmtacademy.com for more info.
Enjoy the fresh air at Four Views Equestrian Horse Camp, located near Tule Springs in the northwest, which offers riding lessons, bareback riding, horsemanship, grooming, arts and crafts, games and much more. Sessions run throughout the month of June with the “Lil Breeches Camp” for ages four to six and the “Long Stirrup Camp” for kids seven to fourteen. Catered lunches will be provided in the cool, air conditioned clubhouse. Visit www.4viewslv.com for more info.
For kids looking for summer fitness fun, Water Wings Swim School offers a Sports Summer Camp teaching swimming, children’s MMA and CrossFit to help campers stay active while having an energetic good time. Physical trainers will always be on site, ensuring that all participants have an exciting and safe experience. Two week sessions run Monday through Friday from June 10th – August 9th. Visit www.waterwingsswimschool.com for more info.
For a big dose of racket swinging fun, Darling Tennis Center Summer Camp provides an array of comprehensive programs for ages three and up at the Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex. With sessions running all the way from June through August, the professional coaching staff will help kids get fit, have fun and develop their tennis skills while also offering activities such as water sports, movies, arts and crafts and more. Visit www.darlingtenniscenter.net for more info.
Arts Camps
For kids with an interest in the world of couture, Fashion Camp LV presents a creative learning space centered on fashion at Market Center LV at Tivoli Village. Week-long sessions run throughout the summer and teach campers from age seven to seventeen about the design process, from sketching and creating new ideas to draping to hand and machine sewing. Even if you’re new to fashion, all skill levels are welcome! Visit www.fashioncamplv.com for more info.
A big dose of art-rageous fun comes to life at the specialty camps offered by Art Starts Here and Drama Kids at the Art Starts Here Studio on West Lake Mead. Drama Kids encourages participants to “act up” with a purpose and helps to build confidence, speaking skills and acting skills through a creative curriculum. Art Starts Here lets campers join the dynamic Debbie Levy to learn the fundamentals of art, music and art history while engaging in painting, sculpting and even prop and set design, all while boosting their creativity and self esteem. Multiple sessions run from June 10th – August 16th for ages six to ten. Visit www.artstartshere.com for info.
For those campers who want a summer full of righteous tunes, School of Rock Summer Camp helps kids of all different skill levels find their music mojo. Rock 101 offers sessions in July and August and helps students master the basics. Performance Camp runs July 15th – 19th and allows campers to meet and interact and perform on the last day for friends and family. Songwriting & Recording Camp is held July 22nd – August 2nd and teaches kids the creative and technical process behind creating original material. Visit www.lasvegaswest.schoolofrock.com for info.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts will once again offer Camp Broadway, which gives participants a chance to engage in creative expression, build confidence and immerse themselves in Broadway’s most cherished works of musical theater and drama. Trained Broadway professionals provide hands-on instruction steeped in the traditions of the Great White Way. “Shining Stars Camp” for ages six to nine runs from June 17th – 21st while the “Classic Camp” for ages ten to seventeen lasts from July 8th – 12th. Visit www.thesmithcenter.com for more info.
From traditional campfires and sing-a-longs to learning new academic skills to expanding their artistic and creative horizons, there is a summer camp out there for just about any kid looking to try something new and exciting or just spend some fun times making new friends. Set them up with one of these great experiences and it’s sure to be something they treasure for years to come.
