activity and inspiration

Want to keep the kids active and inspired this summer?

PHOTO: MAD SCIENCE OF THE MARITIMES

Day Camp Playbook

By Talia Meade

t’s camp registration season once again and this summer,

Icamps are operating slightly differently. Fear not, from singing to coding, there are still a variety of activities to keep the kids busy whether the camp experience is virtual or in the community.

Although no one is sure how this summer will shape up, Nova Scotia Public Health released COVID-19 Day Camp Guidelines in February that camp organizers like Ryan Turner have been following.

Turner runs Mad Science of the Maritimes and says that this year camps will be smaller than usual. He also noted that if restrictions tighten, virtual day camps might be a possibility. Last summer Mad Science offered shorter, virtual sessions. If they’re in demand again this year, Turner says that might be something he thinks about running.

Communicating with parents about guidelines and updating them on plans when the time comes will be key since in-person camps are still dependent on case numbers staying low, Turner adds. Until then, there are plenty of at-home experiments to do on their website.

The Maritime Dance Academy facilitated in-person summer camps last year and are planning to do the same again this year. Janice MacNeil who is the general manager of the dance school says that everything ran smoothly last summer despite it being their first time running a camp in the pandemic.

This year, MacNeil says they’re on track with registration and will continue answering questions about safety as well as pivot if they need to.

Read on for Our Children's roundup of virtual and in-person (pandemic permitting) day camps on offer this summer.

EDUCATION AND STEAM

Discovery Centre: The Discovery Centre is putting on in-person one-day and week-long camps through July and August. They feature STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) themed camps such as Curiosity Camp, Summer Science and EcoDiscovery.

Mad Science of the Maritimes: Mad Science is offering two weeks of in-person camps this August. Camp themes in Halifax include, Flight Academy and Crazy Chemists where kids can experiment with aerodynamics and chemical reactions.

Stagecoach: Movie Musical and A Tribute to Disney’s Descendants are two musical theatre camps Stagecoach Halifax is putting on this summer in Bedford. Get ready for a full week of singing, dancing and, acting to your favourite movies.

Upstage Studios: Kids age eight and up can take part in one-week camps, and perform in either Grease or The Wizard of Oz. Grease will be put on in July and The Wizard of Oz in August. These camps will be held at the North Woodside Recreation in Dartmouth.

Maritime Dance Academy: The Maritime Dance Academy offers a range of camps from dance to theatre and musical theatre. They offer half-day, full-day, and week-long camps at their Bedford location.

CEED Juniorpreneur Camp: Juniorpreneur camp is facilitated by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development and offers Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Developing your Online Business youth camps. The Halifax camps are held in-person on Bayers Road.

Debate Camp (virtual and in-person): Debate Camp will have in-person camps held at the Armbrae Academy in Halifax where your kids can learn debate skills at all levels and practice and compete with other campers. Debate Camp is also putting on virtual camp workshops all summer long through June to August.

Artech (virtual): Artech is the Ultimate Creative Technology Camp specializing in Game Design, Animation and Computer Programming for youth audiences (ages seven to 19). The programs are now fully interactive and all virtual programs and teacher-led. Artech is based in Nova Scotia but is offered to kids virtually anywhere.

CEED JUNIORPRENEUR CAMP PHOTO:

Future entrepreneurs at CEED Juniorperneur Camp last summer.

ARTS

At Debate Camp kids learn the valuable skills of listening and presenting their ideas and opinions.

VARIETY

YMCA: YMCA day camps go on all summer in Dartmouth and Halifax. With a variety of fun-filled activities each day including daily swimming and field trips around the community.

Boys and Girls Club: From day camps to weeklong camps, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Halifax has you covered with camp themes ranging from mystery and spirit weeks to superhero and Olympic themes.

Sacred Heart School of Halifax: Sacred Heart offers a variety of in-person day camps from sports, to creative arts, music, languages and many more.

Halifax Parks and Recreation Programs:

Summer camps will be offered in up to 12 locations throughout the municipality. Many camp activities will primarily be in an outside location with some inside. Day camps and dryland programs along with Indoor and Outdoor Pool and Beach programs throughout the summer.

Summer Day camps are a great way for kids to unplug from technology, be active, make new friends and learn a little independence.

Sportball Atlantic designs programs that set kids up for a lifetime of active living, providing foundational skills in a variety of sports.

SPORTS

Sportball Atlantic (virtual and in-person): Sportball offers a range of non-competitive sports training for children 12 and under, with a variety of activities happening in parks and fields throughout the HRM this summer. They also stream online videos for children 16 months to 12 years old.

Breakthrough Basketball: Breakthrough Basketball is holding its first three-day shooting camp in Halifax this July. The camp is co-ed and is coached by former NBA player, Eddie Robinson and teaches players from the foundations. It will be held at the Canada Games Centre.

Waegwoltic Club: The Waegwoltic Club has sailing clubs for a variety of ages and skill levels, as well as day camps featuring aquatics and tennis. n

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