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Day Camps Sleep-Away Camps Specialty Camps and More, For Planning Your Child’s Fabulous Summer!
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Day Camp Kick-Off
IT’S TIME TO
Saturday, March 6 We’ll waive the registration fee!
Limited capacity, use of face masks and other risk reducing policies will be in place. Camp dates available on MyY.org/camp
THINK SUMMER
MyY.org
See Camp YMCA Camp Ernst
Overnight Camp and Day Camp Week-long camp for kids ages 6-15. Dates and safety plans on MyYcamp.org
Now Hiring for Summer Apply at MyY.org/jobs
Lifeguards ages 16+ Camp Counselors ages 18+
Transforming Lives
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TABLE OF FIRST-TIME CONTENTS:
DAYCAMPER’S GUIDE 12 8 SUMMER CAMP 2021 WARM UP
HEADING OFF TO SLEEP-AWAY 17 CAMP 24
GUIDE TO FIRST-TIME DAY CAMPERS
CAMP LISTINGS & AFTERSCHOOL nashvilleparent.com PROGRAMS
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Campers canoeing at Riverview Camp for Girls in Mentone, AL
WHY KIDS NEED CAMP MORE THAN EVER 29
CAMP, MORE THAN EVER
CAMPS: LETTING GO HELPS KIDS february 2021 3 GROW
Camps Give Kids Back Their Childhoods PUBLISHER Stewart Day stewart@daycommedia.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF Susan Swindell Day susan@daycommedia.com
EDITOR Amanda Hayward amandahayward@daycommedia.com
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ummer is coming soon. And after all of the openings and closings and happenings, but sorry, not happening that kids have had to deal with (hello, COVID-19), the call of warmer months and longer days is here at last. After too many movies and too many online games, it’s high time for kids to be able to do a whole lot of something new. Cincinnati Family is excited to present our 2021 Digital Camp Guide. In these pages, you’ll find ample opportunities for giving your kids back the childhood they deserve: adventuresome, social and delightful. Day camps, sleep-away camps, tips and advice are here at the ready. Summer camps are getting prepped with current health and safety guidelines in order to fuel your child’s energies in new directions way beyond three-legged races and popsicle sticks — but including those, too. So get ready, dig in and bring on summer camps!
— Susan Day
PRODUCTION Tim Henard timhenard@daycommedia.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS Theresa Cicchinelli
Although every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of published material, DAYCOM
theresa@daycommedia.com
MEDIA cannot be held responsible for opinions
Kathi Listo
expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Editorial and business offices are located at
kathi@daycommedia.com
10945 Reed Hartman Hwy., Ste 323, Cincinnati, OH 45242. The phone number is 513-252-0077; fax is 513-252-0081. CINCINNATI FAMILY’S SUMMER CAMP ADVENTURE GUIDE 2021 is copyright © 2021 by DayCom Media, Inc., a
ON THE COVER: © 2021 DAY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
4 may 2021
Falcon Camp, located in Carrolton, Ohio
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member of The Family Magazine Syndicate. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
Fun for now. Skills for life. Celebrating
60+ Years of camping excellence.
Falcon creates opportunities for young people to grow and learn in a healthy, safe environment – all while having a great time. Horseback Riding • Sailing • Archery • Riflery Drama • Mountain Bikes • Nature • Fishing • Sports and much more! Special One-Week Program for First Time Campers Ages 6-10 2,4,6 or 8-week sessions • Boys & Girls • Ages 6 - 16 The coolest camp in Ohio – philly.com One of the Top 10 camps in the country – earlychildhoodeducationzone.com
OHIO’S PREMIER SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE!
800-837-CAMP 2267
www.falconcamp.com Conveniently Located, Just a Short 4 Hour Drive from Cincinnati
STEAM SUMMER CAMPS Scientists/Jr. Scientists Engineers/Jr. Engineers Stop Motion Animation Robotics/Jr. Robotics Video Game Design Brick Art & Design Mining & Building Ninjas & More
Snapology offers the best S.T.E.A.M. camps in the area. We offer camps and workshops year-round, including spring break camps, summer camps, holiday break camp and camps during teacher in-service days. Your kids will love our fun camp topics and themes. Shh, don’t tell them it’s educational!
Half- and Full-Day Camps 51 3- 988 - 7 3 6 3 w e s tc h e s te rtwp . s n a p o l o g y.com
UNPLUG • EXPLORE • PLAY! Register today for spring outdoor programs designed for children ages 1–13 and join in the fun happening March through May! PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT Wild with My Child Ages 1–2 Early Childhood Family Amphibian Hike Ages 2–7 with a caregiver Early Childhood Mind and Body Hike Ages 2–7 with a caregiver ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL Kindergarten Curiosity Hikes Ages 5–6 After-School Nature Club Ages 6–13 Mind and Body Hike Series Ages 9–13
For more information or to register for a program, please visit www.CincyNature.org 6 may 2021
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Do you have a young Picasso? Summer Art Camps for Kids
Art camps for kids offered at schools and other community locations. Camps include art lessons, music, games, crafts and special activities for children ages 3 - 12.
Holiday Art Camps during school breaks
Themed Camps
ARTBLAST! STEAM CAMP
The Artsy Crafty WOW Camp Going Green Camp and more!
Call us at 513-297-5655
CLICK for information and to register today!
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summer of ‘21
SUMMER CAMP WARM UP
Is a sleep-away camp in the cards for your child this summer? Get set for adventures ahead! A young camper holds a pal at YMCA Camp Ernst in Kentucky.
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he summer of 2021 will be here before you know it, so be a smart cookie and get hopping on your child’s adventures now. Is a sleep-away camp in the cards for your child this summer? Many kids beg to return to their beloved camp and their summer friends each year, so it’s important not to wait until it’s too late for your child. Talk to your child’s friends’ moms to plan together for the kids! Next, plan to attend Cincinnati Family’s Summer Camp Adventure Fair 2021 on Saturday, April 10 at the Blue Ash Nature Park sponsored by Cassinelli, Shanker & Baker Orthodontics.. Camp representatives will be in attendance to provide information about their special programs for potential campers and their parents.
SLEEP-AWAY CAMP If you decide on a residential camp, keep in mind that readiness varies by child. Know that children who are adamantly opposed to
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summer camp should not be forced into going. “The number one sign of readiness is being excited about it!” says Elizabeth Cochran of YMCA Camp Ernst in Burlington, Ky. Most camps take children by the time they’re 7 or 8 years old. “At ID Tech, we allow kids 10 and older to spend the night at our summer camps,” says Tracey Price, regional manager for ID Tech, which offers overnight camps for kids interested in computer programming, web design, robotics and more. “We feel that at this age kids are responsible enough to handle their own sleeping and wake-up routines and likely have the emotional strength needed to stay away from home.” Cochran says, “Parents should always inquire about whether a camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). ACA is the standard of the camping industry and a critical component to keeping camps and their staff accountable to best practices in health, safety and programming.” Other considerations include the camperto-counselor ratio. Depending on the age and ability of the campers, the median range
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is one staff member to every seven or eight campers. Of course, cost is the big consideration. Overnight camp fees vary widely, but many camps offer some scholarships. When making initial inquiries, be sure to find out what’s included in the basic fee and what other costs will be incurred along the way. Is there a deposit? Is there a camp store? Are the campers required to wear camp T-shirts, and if so, what’s the cost? If the bottom line is beyond your family’s means, be sure to inquire about financial assistance — some camps offer it to families who cannot afford to pay the full amount that camp costs. Find out about the director’s background. Learn what kind of training the counselors receive. What percentage of counselors return each year? How are disciplinary issues handled? Also, make sure to get references. Talking to others who have first-hand experience is the best way to learn the true colors of various camps. Finally, once you zero in on a few camps you really like, it’s time to set up visits to get an up-close-and-personal look.
Open house dates pop up in late winter and early spring when families can visit and explore the camp’s amenities. “Parents can often schedule an on-site visit the week prior to their scheduled camp week,” Price says. “If their kids are concerned about the overnight experience, it might be good for them to see the space prior to arrival.”
PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR AWAY CAMP It’s normal for children to feel slightly apprehensive about going to camp — day or residential — for the first time. Give your child the opportunity to discuss some of his fears while remaining positive yourself. Make sure you communicate your confidence in his ability to successfully handle the experience. Turn nervousness into excitement! “The most important thing parents can do is to communicate to their camper that they believe in him or her,” says Cochran, adding parents should never arrange a “pick-up deal,” meaning parents shouldn’t promise to pick up kids early. “Kids need to know that their best cheerleaders (their parents) are confident in their ability to express independence and overcome difficulty. “Often summer camp is tougher on the parents than the kids,” says Price. She says at ID Tech, the on-site director’s phone number is available for check-ins, and scheduled phone calls can be arranged once or twice during the weeklong stay. “We want parents to feel as comfortable as possible.”
HEADING OFF HOMESICKNESS Kids get their first taste of independence at summer camp, and for some, it’s also their first encounter with homesickness. “Homesickness can strike any kid at any time,” says Price. When it happens, camp staff at ID Tech will try to redirect the child, she explains, and if that doesn’t work, sometimes a phone call home will do the trick. And since ID Tech is a technology camp, a Skype or Facetime chat is available, too. Cochran says parents should teach kids it’s OK to miss home, but they will be excited to hear about their child’s adventures when they get back. Journals or letters home sometimes help, but she advises parents to keep their own letters light and positive, and to avoid talking about how much they miss their kids.
5 W
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CAMP DIRECTOR
ith the pandemic, there are many questions you may have about camps this year. Be sure to ask the following:
1. ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
What is your camper drop-off/pick up policy this year? (To limit exposure, camps may have new policies in place regarding how many people can be at drop-off/pickup.)
Boys can learn to sail at Falcon Camp, located in Carrollton, Ohio.
2. WHAT’S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
All camps have had to look at ways to reduce exposure to COVID-19 at their camps. There may be limited group activities, changes to mealtimes and how kids are spaced in meal halls; some special events may not be possible due to local restrictions or safety concerns.
3. WHAT PROTOCOLS ARE YOU FOLLOWING AT CAMP BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?
Riding at YMCA Camp Ernst, located in Burlington, KY.
Camps should be following guidance from organizations like the American Camp Association, State agencies or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
4. WHAT HAPPENS IF COVID-19 IS DETECTED AT CAMP?
Camps should have a communicable emergency action plan that covers topics like facilities for isolation of individuals, medical treatment and communication with families if illness arises or protocols change. Camps should be able to explain who will be conducting testing (for example, a private lab). They should also have a backup plan if a staff member needs to quarantine.
5. HOW FREQUENTLY WILL YOU BE TESTING CAMPERS AND STAFF? Look for a firm policy.
Giving archery a whirl at Camp Ocoee, located in Ocoee, Tenn.
Soccer is one of the many activities available to boys at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, N.C.
Sherry Hang is a writer & editor.
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ballet tap jazz hip-hop modern pre-dance combos
Now Enrolling Summer Camps!
In Person & Livestream Options 600-B Reading Rd., Mason
masondance.com
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513.398.0353
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summer of ‘21
Parent’s Guide to
FIRST-TIME DAY CAMPERS BY SUSAN DAY
MAKING THE DECISION
S
ending your child to summer camp for the first time is exciting, and there’s a lot to consider. Our area boasts myriad day camps, several with options for little ones as young as 3 years old. CAMP IS GREAT BECAUSE There are many benefits that kids get from day camp experiences. Camp nurtures social skills, enhances selfconfidence, models healthy living, fosters teamwork and encourages personal growth. Camp also helps
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ease the summer academic slide by keeping kids thinking and doing new things, learning new skills and building new friendships. But when is your child ready to go to camp? Read on! GETTING STARTED It’s a no-brainer that your child’s temperament and interests are the first things to consider when thinking about your child going to camp. Start by making a list of camp features that may be most important to your child (and you) by including your child in the list-making. “We went solely based on her interests and with what sounded like the
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most fun,” says Shalene France Gray, recalling her daughter’s first camp experience at age 5-and-a-half. “As it was her first camp, it was most important to pick something she wanted to do, because she did feel a little nervous about it at first,” Grays adds. Your first point of reference is going to be other moms and dads who have had kids in camps, so ask around. “There is no better way to zero in on great programs than word of mouth from other parents,” says Hendersonville mom Ginger Hartsock. “The experience behind those recommendations is priceless.” Gray offers another suggestion: “Every child is different, so being
FIRST-TIME DAY CAMPERS
sensitive to the type of child you have is incredibly important. If they have a say in where to go and what type of camp, it seems that they’ll be more excited when the big day comes and less likely to chicken out,” she says. STARTING OUT MAY BE BETTER WITH A FRIEND “At least he’ll know one person” is the thinking behind the shouldI-send-my-child-to-camp-witha-friend question. The answer is always: it depends upon your child. Seasoned camp directors say not to panic about sending your child solo. The right camp for your child will be nurturing, and new friendships will be made. Counselors are skilled at sewing relationships between kids. The best reason to send a first-time day camper with a friend is for the parents who need to carpool. If you pick the right camp, your child will make new friends through the fun experiences they have together.
IS IT SAFE TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO DAY CAMP DURING THE PANDEMIC? • How many children will be in groups for activities? • How does the camp intend to keep kids distanced during meals and activities? • Will children be screened before entering camp? • Will staff members be screened? • How will the camp monitor kids and counselors throughout the day? • What are the hand-washing policies? • Will kids need to wear masks? • How will the camp be cleaning surfaces and equipment used by many kids? • What “official” protocols will the camp be following?
START TALKING IT UP So much of what young children do now is indoors, in climatecontrolled environments with technology at the ready. For healthy development, kids need to be with others and to round out their days with a variety of experiences. If you can get kids outdoors with others in the wind, in the sun and in the water, it will open up an entirely new way for them to look forward to each day. Getting out of the house and going to camp will fill your child up with energy and excite him about learning more. Summer camps give kids every opportunity to create connections and relationships with the natural environment and with others. The upside of enjoying day camp experiences away from home will lay the groundwork for their independence and confidence as they grow and give them a heart for delving in to new activities they learn. Susan Day is editor of this guide and the mom of four kids.
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Whatever Summer Looks Like This Year, We’re Here for You We Reverse Math Learning Loss
No matter what next school year looks like for your student, Mathnasium’s got their back-- and yours! Our Summer Kickstart Program is built to help combat the summer slide in mathematics education. We work to ensure there is no loss in a student’s math understanding so that they can start the new school year out ready to tackle all of the new challenges. With live, face-to-face instruction online and in our centers, we’ll catch them up and keep their math skills strong for this year and beyond! You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. With Mathnasium, you and your child can take on the new school year with confidence and determination. Join the tens of thousands of parents in transforming their student’s math skills. Call us today to schedule a complimentary assessment for your student!
7 Convenient Locations to Serve You
Anderson | Blue Ash | Fort Mitchell | Hyde Park | Loveland | Mason | West Chester
mathnasium.com
SUMMER ART CAMP Last chance to register! Scan the code at right to register
Safe, hands-on activities with experienced teachers will make this a summer of fun! Education Sponsor Charles H. Dater Foundation Children’s Education Programs Generously Supported by
Season Funder
Operating Support
Joy and W.G. (Pete) Alpaugh Trust
YMCA Camp Kern Overnight Summer Camp
Programs offered for ages 5-16
Traditional Camps
Theme Camps
Registration is OPEN OPEN HOUSES March 7th April 4th May 2nd
Teen and Leadership Camps
For more program descriptions, Open House details and safety plans for summer visit our website at
campkern.org/summercamp or call us at (513) 932-3756 cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
Horse Camps
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513.406.4009 theartworkshopinc.net
513.406.4009
theartworkshopinc.net
SUMMER CAMP 2021 Camp schedule is online now!
Camps for ages 6 and up. Some camps for age 5.
Where Kids Come to Create!
Pottery Wheel • Wizards • Princesses Unicorns • Pets • Printing • Painting Drawing • Cartooning • Manga
Building Confidence & Developing Leaders
Like Us On Facebook! BucknerMartialArts
SUMMER SPECIAL 3 Month of Lessons and FREE Uniform
16 may 2021
99
$
We Offer Summer Camps and Preschool Programs cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
Buckner Martial Arts
8216 Highland Pointe Drive West Chester Township, OH 45069 www.bucknermartialarts.com
513-779-2413
A Paid Advertising Directory
SUMMER CAMPS & After-School Program Guide
CAMP ERNST – YMCA OVERNIGHT CAMP
Offering Overnight and Day Camp from Jun. 13 - Aug. 7 for campers ages 6 - 15. Campers stay in cabins with top notch counselors and enjoy the lake, ropes course and activities like archery, team building and biking. Ranch camps available for horse lovers ages 7 - 15. Call or visit our website for full details.
7615 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, KY 859-586-6181 • myycamp.org
CAMP AT THE J
8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati 513-722-7241 • mayersonjcc.org/camp
Voted Best Day Camp in the 2020 Best of Parenting poll! Activities include archery, sports, arts and crafts, drama, music, Israeli culture, and swimming. Campers will be grouped into pods no larger than 12 with all campers and staff required to wear masks when inside the facility while maintaining a social distance. Dates: Jun. 14 - Aug. 16. Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Extended care available. Grades K - 8. Flexible weekly options available. We cannot wait for another magical summer filled with memories and friendships that last a lifetime.
CAMP ROOSEVELT FIREBIRD 4141 Dublin Road SW, Bowerston 740-269-0137 • camprooseveltfirebird.com
FALCON CAMP
4251 Delta Road SW, Carrollton 800-837-CAMP (2267) • falconcamp.com
Co-ed, residential, 3.5 hours from Cincinnati in the Appalachian foothills. Carefully developed COVID policies for this summer. Our focus is: fun, growth, community, and diversity. Campers develop close friendships, gain confidence and develop leadership. Activities: sports, swimming, arts, boating, farming, climbing, zip-line, mountain biking, tennis, camping, wacky games, campfires and more. Small, close-knit community. We’re “green” serving tasty healthy food. We inspire our campers to improve camp and the world! Directors, Joe and Cynthia, are educators with over 30 years experience. Two- and 4-week sessions plus family camp and wilderness adventure programs. Ages 7 - 16.
Widely recognized as Ohio’s premier summer camp since 1959. Beautiful lakefront setting with wide range of activities. Boys and girls ages 6 - 16 choose their own schedule within general framework, separate activities with planned coed events. 1:4 staff/camper ratio. Most of all, it’s a great time! ACA accredited, many references.
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SUMMER CAMPS YMCA DAY CAMP Multiple YMCA Locations myy.org/camp
A Paid Advertising Directory
Week-long camps are offered Jun. 1 - Aug. 13 for campers ages 5 - 15. Your child will grow confident, make friends and create amazing memories by being included in all the fun. Campers rotate with a small group visiting the swimming pool, S.T.E.M. activities, group games and more. 11 Camp Sites serving Anderson, Batavia, Blue Ash, Burlington, Colerain, Ft. Thomas, Hillsboro, Springfield Township, West End, and Western Hills.
ABRAKADOODLE
513-297-5655 ext. 3 abrakadoodle.com/oh-greater-cincinnati Our camps are designed for children to experience the fun and excitement of day camp in an enriching and safe environment. Each camp offers structured activities in arts and crafts supplemented with special related activities. Children are introduced to master and contemporary artists, multicultural arts, styles, techniques and quality art materials. Our art camps include art lessons, music, games and special activities for children ages 3 - 12. Visit our website for locations and dates. CAMP INVENTION 3701 Highland Park, North Canton 800-968-4332 | invent.org/camp Spark your kid’s creativity and confidence with our new Camp Invention® program, Recharge! Campers in grades K - 6 will team up to take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. From taking apart their own microphone to exploring solar-powered crickets and creating duck-launching devices, each activity is designed to give your young innovator an unforgettable summer experience. Secure your spot and save on our website.
316 Pike St., Cincinnati 513-241-0343 taftmuseum.org/families-children/summer-camp Paint, sculpt, draw, and explore the city’s art with experienced teachers. Camps for grades 1 - 3, 4 - 6, and 7 - 12. Early Bird pricing ends March 1! Scholarships and after-care offered.
YMCA CAMP KERN
5291 State Route 350, Oregonia 1-800-255-KERN | 513-932-3756 | campkern.org There’s no end to the new adventures waiting for you at YMCA Camp Kern. Our week-long camps focus on making new friends, growing through shared challenges, and spending time outdoors. Each program is designed with specific age groups in mind, so each campers’ interests are met. We are widely known for our fully themed programs. Interested in scholarship opportunities? We have that too with all the help you need located on our website.
Art Workshop
CODE NINJAS
7426 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 513-233-2633 codeninjas.com/oh-anderson-township Transform your child’s love for technology into an exciting learning adventure. Guided by our team of Code Senseis, Code Ninjas Camps empower kids to gain valuable tech skills and make new friends. It’s an unforgettably fun learning experience! This year we will be offering week-long summer camps. We will offer different sessions each week featuring some of the most popular games/activities among kids. Camp themes will include Minecraft, Roblox, YouTube, Legos, 3D printing and more. CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANY The Otto M. Budig Theater 1195 Elm St., Cincinnati 513-381-2273 | cincyshakes.com/summercamp Whether you’ve never stepped on a stage before, or have already been bitten by the acting bug, our theatre camps are the perfect place to learn some new skills, make some new friends, and have a whole lot of fun! In person programs for students in grade 3 - 12 who want a fun and challenging stage experience this summer. Learn more online. Cost: $295/ week. Camps in June and July.
KIDS FIRST SPORTS CENTER – CAMP-A-PALOOZA
7900 E. Kemper Road, Cincinnati 513-489-7575 | kidsfirstsports.com Campers get the very best! 108,000 sq. ft. of everything kids love: basketball, karate, gymnastics, dance, cheer, swimming, volleyball, you name it! Field trips every week outside Kids First and in-house entertainment brought in throughout week. Leaders in Training course for teens ages 13 - 15 covering topics like leadership, communication, and group dynamics. Teens can look forward to excursions, service opportunities, and more.
MATHNASIUM
TAFT MUSEUM OF ART SUMMER CAMP
7 Locations in the Greater Cincinnati/NKY Area mathnasium.com Mathnasium is here to help your student with all of their math needs! This summer you can help your student feel confident at the beginning of next school year, no matter what grade level they will be entering. We use a customized Learning Plan that is designed around your student’s individual needs. We then use the inhouse curriculum to help tailor their lessons to their specific areas so we can maximize their time with us. We do all of this and we make learning fun!
Located at Queen City Clay 3130 Wasson Road, Hyde Park 513-406-4009 theartworkshopinc.net All our camps are available for students ages 6 and up with a select few for age 5. Camps begin Jun. 1 and run for 12 weeks. Camp packages for families and before- and after-care available. Pottery wheel camp offered every week. Camps also include beginning and advanced drawing, Princesses, Knights and Unicorns, painting, printing and batik, Pet Boutique, Wizards Unite, stop action Lego’s, animals, birds and creatures, Comic book and Manga camp. Classes are after school and Saturday’s throughout the year.
Buckner Martial Arts
8216 Highland Pointe Drive, West Chester 513-779-2413 bucknermartialarts.com Voted one the best martial arts studios in Cincinnati, we combine defense skills with personal development. Students progress quickly while learning leadership and strong values under the teaching of master instructors. Free uniform with class sign-up.
Children’s Meeting House
927 O’Bannonville Road, Loveland 513-683-4757 cmhschool.com Visit our website to see all the camps we are offering this year. Our camps offer a variety of arts, crafts, nature, science, drama, and fun activities for children ages 3 - 12 on our beautiful 7+ acre campus. Camps are led by experienced CMH staff who are eager to share their passion for learning and having fun with our campers. Reserve your space NOW!
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati 513-721-2787 cincinnatiartmuseum.org/summercamp The Cincinnati Art Museum is the place for summer fun and creativity. Jump into art with eight weeks of exciting projects, gallery games and more! Explore a different theme each week with activities taught by skilled museum educators. Themes include Young Impressionists, Spooky & Strange and Geek Out. Convenient before- and after-care available. Member discount available. Camps run Jun. 14 - Aug. 13. Ages 6 - 12. Camps will follow all CDC and Ohio guidelines for COVID-19 prevention.
Cincinnati Nature Center
4949 Tealtown Road, Milford 513-831-1711 cincynature.org • registrar@cincynature.org Spend summer outside! CincyNature Camps empower kids, ages 3 - 13, to use their creativity and explore outdoors in a safe, friendly environment. Camps are Jun. - Aug. Learn more on our website.
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Watch a short intro video!
THEATRE SUMMER CAMP
Join Cincinnati’s most buzzed about professional theater company downtown for Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Theatre Summer Camp! We offer unique & fun programs for beginners to advanced students to engage with the arts. These in-person camps take place at our new theater Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for students who have completed grades 3 up to 12. We will be following all COVID safety protocols this summer.
Learn more and register on our website: cincyshakes.com/summercamp 20 may 2021
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SUMMER CAMPS
A Paid Advertising Directory
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Summer Theatre Camp and Performance Academy
Snapology
962 Mt. Adams Circle, Cincinnati 513-421-3888 cincyplay.com Explore fantastical worlds, storybook lands, favorite books and movies, and so much more. Half-day, full-day and multi-week performance academy camps available. Camps held at the Playhouse plus locations in Evendale, Blue Ash, Mason and the West End. Also available, the Launch Pad Accessibility Program integrates students with developmental disabilities.
Greenacres Foundation 8255 Spooky Hollow Road, Cincinnati green-acres.org/camps Summer adventures return for 2021 in our fun and COVID-safe day camps! Each program offers its own, unique, way to explore all that Greenacres has to offer. Get creative outdoors with Arts in the Natural World, be a trailblazer in Outdoor Adventures, or experience Greenacres after dark at Night Camp. A Greenacres camp will fill your child’s summer with unforgettable experiences and are tailored to be age appropriate. Camps run June through August. Heritage Village 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville 513-563-9484 heritagevillagecincinnati.org/summer-camp Tucked away in lovely Sharon Woods Park, Heritage Village Museum is a unique setting for this exciting hands-on experience for the “19th century” student. Campers will discover the past and how kids lived in the 1800s through games, chores, toys, and hands-on activities. Civil War Camp: Jun. 7 - 11; Native American Camp: Jun. 21 - 25; Immersive History Camp 1: Jul. 12 - 16; Immersive History Camp 2: Aug. 2 - 6.
Mason Dance Center
600-B Reading Road, Mason 513-398-0353 masondance.com We provide an opportunity for anyone ages 3 - adult to discover the joys of dance. Ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, pre-professional ballet, pre-dance combos, adult classes. We offer summer and mini-camps!
westchestertwp.snapology.com 513-988-7363 We are the premier partner for STEAM programs, offering year-round programs in schools, community facilities, local businesses and homes. Kids have so much fun in our programs that they don’t even realize they’re learning! Offering a variety of half- and full-day STEAM-based summer camps. Camp themes include: Scientists/Jr. Scientists; Engineers/ Jr. Engineers; Stop Motion Animation; Robotics/Jr. Robotics; Video Game Design; Brick Art & Design; Mining & Building; Ninjas and more!
Star Glazers
starglazers.com 513-474-6364 Paint pottery at your location. Pottery experts will bring all the supplies and offer booklets and ideas for your masterpiece. Pricing includes the cost of supplies, glazing and firing. No mess!
Summer Circus Arts Camps presented by My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus
Evendale Cultural Arts Center, 10500 Reading Road 859-581-7100 mynoseturnsred.org • info@mynoseturnsred.org Stretch your child’s creative muscle. For ages 4 - 6 yrs. and 7 - 18 yrs. Skills for ages 7 - 18 includes gym (German) wheel, aerial silks, unicycle, Diabolo, physical comedy, and more. Camps for ages 4 - 6 include circus games and activities just right for their age.
Sycamore Presbyterian Preschool
11800 Mason Road, Cincinnati 513-683-7717 sycamorechurch.org/preschool Caring, Christian environment with hands-on, child-centered approach enhancing academics, social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Curriculum aligns to ODE’s Early Learning Content Standard.
West Chester Academy Music, Dance, Gymnastics
8107 Market Place Drive, West Chester 513-829-2345 westchesteracademy.com From a child’s very first lesson to the experienced adult, West Chester Academy has something for everyone in music, dance, and gymnastics. Located in West Chester, we specialize in beginners of all ages and offer training through pre-professional levels. We have camps for all ages.
Museum Camps are back! Sign up for adventure.
cincymuseum.org
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Splash into summer with a $25 enrollment fee and
2 months 50% off! Set up a tour today!
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513.761.7500 MayersonJCC.org Horizontal logo - 1” or smaller
The half off months are October and November 2021 if continuous membership is maintained. $25 enrollment fee and prorated dues for May paid at time of enrollment. Must enroll by the end of business (4pm) May 31, 2021. Only those who have never been a previous member of the Mayeron JCC qualify for this offer.
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
2021 SUMMER THEATRE CAMP JOIN US FOR A SUMMER OF PLAY! Explore fantastical worlds, storybook lands, our favorite books and movies, and so much more.
Camps for ages 6 – 17 offered at the Playhouse and in Mason.
FULL-DAY, ONE-WEEK THEATRE CAMP Each week offers exciting courses that are designed to engage in the magic and playfulness of live theatre. All lessons lead up to a five-minute scene to share informally on the last day of camp. Classes and themes vary each session for campers interested in joining multiple weeks!
PERFORMANCE ACADEMY This process-based performance program is for the theatre enthusiast who wants to experience the production of a play from beginning to end. Campers will take technique and special skills classes and rehearse a play to be performed with limited sets and costumes at the end of the week. Performance Academy full-day programs run three weeks, two weeks or one week and include: • Disney’s Mary Poppins, Jr. • Clue: On Stage (High School Edition) • Disney’s 101 Dalmations KIDS
LAUNCH PAD ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM The Playhouse is committed to increasing accessibility to all its programs. Thanks to a generous grant from The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation, we created a program designed to integrate students with developmental disabilities into a traditional theatre camp environment. Space is limited. LEARN MORE
Before and After Care available at all locations!
LEARN MORE
SUMMER CAMP FAQs
Photos by Mikki Schaffner.
CAMP, MORE THAN EVER. A child and adolescent therapist weighs in on why kids need camp today like never before.
“SOCIALIZATION AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT A FRIVOLOUS ADD-ON FOR KIDS — THEY ARE NOT ELECTIVES.” — BOB DITTER
If
the pandemic has reminded us of anything, it is that virtual connections — including social media — leave something vital out of things for us human beings. The pandemic has made it abundantly clear that we listen with more than just our ears and we talk with more than just our mouths. The way we touch, our physical presence, the look in our eyes and the way we hold ourselves communicates with a subtle, yet essential richness we don’t miss until we don’t have it. This applies equally to our children, who need the social
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stimulation of other kids; the attention of interesting, appropriate and caring adults, and the sense of belonging that comes from being immersed in a supportive community — all of which is what a positive camp experience does when it is at its best! As I’ve thought about all the kids I’ve seen at camps across the country in the last 40-plus years, and all the children and teens I’ve seen in my psychotherapy practice, I realize that we have it exactly backwards. Most people think of school as essential and camp as elective. What I have come to realize is that camp gives
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kids that deep drink of connection, of creativity and of inspiration that grounds them and fortifies them for the demands of the rest of the school year. Socialization and deep relationships are not a frivolous add-on for kids — they are not “electives.” They are essential core ingredients that are the key to all other kinds of growth and maturation young people experience throughout the rest of the year. — Bob Ditter Child and Adolescent Therapist, National and International Camp Consultant and Trainer
Summer of ‘21 Successful Summer CAMP Send-Offs
H
ave a child heading off to an away camp this summer? Are you wrestling with a touch of anxiety about “what-if” situations? Here are tips to help you confidently send kids off for fun at camp this year: • STEP BACK What exactly are your worries? Write them down and face them head on; get the answers you need so you can manage them in order to instill your child with a can-do attitude. • KEEP GOALS IN MIND Camp allows kids all sorts of new adventures and freedom. If your goal is for your child to grow in confidence and independence, you’re making the right choice by sending him to camp. • SHARE STORIES Remember to tell the fun stories you can recall about your camp experiences with your kids. Tell them where you went and what you loved most. • STAY CONNECTED Write fun postcards, print pictures of family pets and even send care packages to your campers (if permitted). Check out your camp’s online photo gallery each evening — it’s fun to look and find your child! Pack supplies for kids to be able to send letters home (although they probably won’t, because they are having too much fun!) Anxiety about sending kids to camp is understandable, but it shouldn’t stop you from giving your child new adventures. It’ll be OK if they get dirty, eat too many donuts and lose their water bottles somewhere along the way — really. It’s OK for them to miss you, too. It reminds them of how much they love you! — Heidi Smith Luedtka, Ph.D. cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
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Star Glazers
t t o ery P t n i a P at YOUR Location!
We bring summer fun to your door! Borrow a DIY kit to paint pottery at home. We bring everything you need! Free pick up and delivery. Great for curing Cabin Fever! Minimum purchase required.
513-474-6364 StarGlazers.com
26 may 2021
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Also che ck website our f Virtual C or lay Classes!
StarGlazersPaintPotteryAtYourLocation
Let your child run away and join the circus – without leaving home!
SUMMER CIRCUS CAMPS In-Person and Online One-week beginner/ intermediate summer circus camp June 7 - July 16 Two-week intermediate/ advanced performance summer camp July 19 - 30 followed by a week of performances in the community
For more information:
859-581-7100 info@mynoseturnsred.org
mynoseturnsred.org
video
summer camps ‘21
CAMPS: LETTING GO HELPS KIDS GROW BY GAYLA GRACE
Letting go helps kids grow ...
D
uring this era where many of today’s parents manage their kids’ lives to the
1) CAMPS BUILD MATURITY
extent they’re accused of
Kids get the chance to make their own
“overparenting,” resulting
decisions in a safe, caring environment. Kids
in overly dependent kids, experts say sleepaway camp may be just what’s needed for your child to gain independence and confidence away from you. Time away from parents helps kids learn how to make their own decisions without checking with parents first, and residential camp provides the perfect training ground, says Michael
benefit from new relationships with camp counselors who care about them and want to help them with everyday experiences.
2) CAMP FORCES KIDS TO UNPLUG
Thompson in his book, Homesick and Happy:
Through outside activities, kids find new
How Time Away From Parents Can Help a Child
hobbies without academic pressures or
Grow (Random House; 2012). If you’d like your kids to develop maturity and gain independence (and if you’d like to begin learning to let go yourself) it’s
expectations. Kids gain self-confidence through trying new things and discovering talents they didn’t know they had.
time to start researching sleep-away camps. Week- or month-long adventures away from home give kids opportunities to experience unique adventures they’d never find at home. Looking into camps now gives you plenty of time to talk with friends and see if one of your child’s friends might like to go as well; sometimes having a friend go
3) CAMP TEACHES GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP BY ENCOURAGING EACH CHILD TO BE FAIR AND KIND
too is a beautiful thing for parents leery of
Team activities teach kids how to cooperate
separation.
with each other and the value of getting
To find a camp that fits your child’s needs, seek out opinions from friends and neighbors, ask teachers and church counselors, attend camp fairs and explore options on your own. Residential camps of all kinds and sizes are located all across the country, so there’s sure to be one your child can love and from which he can gain valuable skills. Camp counselor Jamie Newman expresses enthusiasm for sending kids to camp. “Camp encourages kids to try new things and teaches them confidence through new experiences. They learn valuable life lessons when encouraged to work through their fears to try something even if it doesn’t feel comfortable to them. Also, when kids are thrown together in a cabin for a week,
along with others through working together and supporting one another.
4) CAMP FOSTERS NEW FRIENDSHIPS Kids gain an understanding of how others live outside their community. In a relaxed atmosphere, kids easily make friends while they play, sing, work, eat and bunk together.
5) CAMP CREATES LIFELONG MEMORIES OF NEW ADVENTURES Camp offers carefree days where kids can
they’re forced to learn how to get along with
learn how to thrive outside the structure of
others and often build lasting relationships
over-scheduled days.
that can continue when they return home.” Need more convincing? Here are a few thoughts to consider:
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Gayla Grace sends her kids to camp every summer and always looks forward to hearing new stories when they return.
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Parents & “Childsickness”
“S
he’s ready for camp, but I’m not ready for her to leave!” The antithesis of “homesickness,” childsickness strikes wellmeaning, devoted parents who don’t like being away from their kids. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, homesickness is defined as “distress and functional impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home and attachment objects such as parents.” For childsickness, the same can be true except it pertains to what parents experience when their child is away. Share your concerns with camp directors — they should respond with responsible, informed answers.
Ideas On Letting Go • The greatest gifts you can give your kids are confidence and independence. • Let your kids have trial runs away from you by permitting sleep overs. • Don’t show anxiety to your kids — it will make it hard on them. • Have a plan for yourself: Get a project done that you’ve never had time for, go on a trip with your spouse, etc.
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REGISTER TODAY!
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Kid’s Quest Summer Camps 2021 Potter’s Ranch Kid’s and Teen Quest is right around the corner! With day and residential programs for ages 6 – 18, Your child is sure to have the summer of a life time! Head to our website to start your summer plans off right. Located in Union Kentucky
A DV E N TURE CA M P • H O R SE CA M P • DYS LEXIA CA M P
q u e s t.p otter s r anch . o r g
STEAM Summer Camp [ SCIENCE + TECH + ENGINEERING + ART + MATH ]
WWW.CINCYSTEMLAB.COM 513-857-3366 May 31 - August 6 Grades: KG - 8 Full Day Camps in Blue Ash cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
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Watch Camp Highlights
SUMMER FILM CAMPS Because Every Child Has A Story To Tell.
ACTING | FILMMAKING | SCREENWRITING
June 7 - July 2
GRADES: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 http://theugmedia.com/summer-camps/ 34 may 2021
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