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Summer Quest: Learning, laughing swimming & soccer
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2020 CAMP DIRECTORY
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IDEAS FOR TEENS
2020
ACADEMY OF CHILDREN’S THEATRE
481 Windchime Place 719-331-2434 www.ACTcolorado.net During camp, children will use the art of theatre to build character, confidence and creativity in the lives of students in the Colorado Springs area. ACT is designed to provide wholesome theatre experiences, skill building, and content to help students develop their character as well as their talent. Students from 4-years-old through High School can take camps in Acting, Musical Theatre, and Broadway Combo. Various weekly camps run throughout June and July, and each camp ends with a performance on a theatre stage!
AVID4 ADVENTURE SUMMER CAMPS
Locations throughout Boulder, Denver, Castle Rock & Colorado Springs 800-977-9873 info@avid4.com www.Avid4.com Rockclimbing, paddleboarding, cycling and more! K-7th graders will stay active all summer.
CAMP ELIM
5567 Painted Rocks Road Woodland Park 719-687-2030 For 60 years, Camp Elim has provided quality, energetic weeklong camp programs for 3rd-12th graders. Get more information at www.campelim.com.
CATAMOUNT INSTITUTE 740 West Caramillo Street info@catamountinstitute.org 719-471-0910 catamountinstitute.org Kids of all ages, even the youngest, Creepy Crawly Safari campers, take half-day or overnight camps for older
DIRECTORY kids. Teens spend 3 nights in tents and white-water rafting. Campers ages 13-15/$675, all-inclusive (all meals provided).
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. 719-633-9925 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers summer camp adventures that share the wonders of wildlife and wild places in fun and exciting ways. Campers meet animals up-close, explore the outdoors, interact with zookeepers, make treats for the animals, design cool crafts and more! Campers should register for the grade they will enter in the fall. • Minimum camper age is 5 years old. • If a camp is full, call 719-424-7827 to add your camper to the wait list. • June 29 is International Mud Day • All camp groups in session will participate! International Mud Day is intended to have kids (and adults) all over the world play together in the mud. It allows kids to connect with nature, connect with each other, experience free/loose/unrestricted play, and get REALLY dirty! DIFFERENT WAYS TO CAMP Full week camps — offered late May, June, July and August for K-9th graders Single day camps — offered May 21 or 22 for K-6th graders Kindergarten camps — offered as either half-day or full day options, as scheduled.
COLORADO BALLET SOCIETY
8570 Criterion Drive # 154 Contact: Patricia Hoffman 719-272-7078 Admin@DanceInTheSprings.com www.DanceInTheSprings.com Train with top dance professionals
at our Ballet Intensive, Young Dancers Workshops, Broadway Workshop, Worship Workshop, Twinkle Dance Program or Summer classes. BasicAdvance levels, age 2.5 and up.
Recreation Center (SRC) at CSU-Pueblo from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Half-day sessions also are available from 7:30 a.m.-noon or noon-5:30 p.m.
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY-PUEBLO STUDENT RECREATION CENTER
EL PASO COUNTY NATURALIST CENTER
student.recreation@csupueblo.edu 719-549-2085 www.csupueblo.edu/studentrecreation/summer-camp.html Colorado State University-Pueblo Recreation Services and Facilities will offer its 9th annual Rec Pack Summer Camp for children entering Kindergarten-8th Grade. Participants will enjoy a variety of sports and adventure activities with an emphasis on fun, learning, and participation. Campers in grades K-5 will participate in on-campus activities that include basketball, crafts, climbing, swimming, biking, zip line and challenge course. Campers in grades 6-8 will participate in similar activities as K-5, in addition to a variety of leadership development and field trips which include kayaking at the Pueblo Reservoir, a trip to Beulah Mountain Park, and low challenge course elements. Camps will be held at the Student
For 60 years Camp Elim has provided quality, energetic week-long camp programs for 3rd - 12th graders.
Get more information at campelim.com! 5567 Painted Rocks Road Woodland Park, CO 80863 (In the heart of Pike National Forest)
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www.elpasocountynaturecenters.com Bear Creek 719-520-6387 Fountain Creek 719-520-6745 Bear Creek, Fountain Creek and Fox Run offer nature day camps for several weeks this summer for ages 5-14. For Eco Engineers and budding geologists, call them at the respective parks for more information.
FOUNTAIN ART CENTER SUMMER CAMP 704 Brandley Drive, Fountain Contact: Mrs. Rachel 719-205-7909 Info@FountainArtsCenter.com www.FountainArtsCenter.com
GIRL POWER! STEM CAMP
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Contact: Cynthia Jones 719-255-3947 CJones6@UCCS.edu www.UCCS.edu
Catamount Institute’s mission is to connect kids to the outdoors. Creating a positive relationship with nature through education and adventure summer programs.
Catamount Institute, 740 W Caramillo St, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
GOLDEN BELL CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER
YMCA SUMMER DAY CAMP
380 CR 512, Divide Contact: David Piller 719-687-9561 David.Pillers@GoldenBellRocks.com www.GoldenBEllCCC.org
HAUS SPORTS ACADEMY SUMMER SPORTS CAMP
4845 List Drive Contact: Mike Luper 719-761-7586 HausSportsAcademy@soccerhauscs.com www.SoccerHausCS.com Colorado Springs’ SoccerHaus – Indoor Sports Arena – Presents Haus Sports Academy’s Summer MultiSports Camp for ages 3-13. Co-ed youth play schoolyard games such as: Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball.
PIKES PEAK ARTIST COLLECTIVE SUMMER ARTS CAMP 2708 West Colorado Ave. Contact: Rebecca 717-875-5200 www.PikesPeakArtist.com
SOCCER BUDDIES Numerous Locations in Colorado Springs Contact: Julie 719-330-9642
Julie@ColoradoSoccerBuddies.com www.ColoradoSoccerBuddies.com
SPACE FOUNDATION 4425 Arrowswest Drive 719-576-8000 or 800-691-4000 www.SpaceFoundation.org
THEATREWORKS SUMMER CAMP 3955 Regent Circle Contact: Joye Cook-Levy 719-255-3232 JCookLev@UCCS.edu www.TheatreWorksCS.org
UCCS RECKIDS CAMP
UCCS Gallogly Recreation & Wellness Center 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway www.uccs.edu/recwellness /campus-rec/rec-kids UCCS RecKids program offers children a variety of activities each
day focused on fun and developing relationships as they experience and discover the world around them. Both small and large group activities will allow your child(ren) to learn the importance of valuing diversity, being a team player and leading by example. Choose from Mountain Lion Camp, Splish ’N Splash Swim Camp or Outdoor Adventure Camp. Each camp session includes a variety of activities which allows your child to grow in mind and body. There are add-on sports and leadership camps available, as well.
VILLA SPORTS SUMMER CAMP
5904 Prairie Schooner Drive, 719-522-1221 www.VillaSports.com All summer long, VillaSport offers a wide variety of exciting, educational and fun-filled traditional and specialty camps for members and non-members.
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Association Offices 316 N Tejon St. www.ppymca.org Ages 3-12 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. ppymca.org/programs/youth/youth/ day-camp Briargate, Downtown, Garden Ranch, Southeast, Tri-Lakes Bear Creek Elementary Westside Community Center Full week or 3-day week Register online at preferred camp location. Summer Day Camps offer enriching weekly camp theme activities where friends are made through group games, sports & fitness, hands-on science activities, arts & crafts, music and swimming! We are also now offering Adventure Camps and Leader In Training programs. The Y’s Summer Day Camp is one of the oldest and most trusted camping programs in the country. Our day camps provide fun, childcentered activities and opportunities for learning through discovery, and challenge children to grow in imagination, creativity, self-directed initiative and leadership. Some financial assistance and CCCAP (space limited) available.
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GIVE YOUR KIDS PLENTY OF SPACE THIS SUMMER!
June 22 – 26 • July 13 - 17 Children Ages 7 – 11
Mission to Mars: From Launch to Splashdown Everything Cool About Space: Rockets, Robots, Coding, and More!
SOME E XCIT ING IDE A S BY PATTY TOMSKY, PATTY.TOMSKY@GAZETTE.COM
Maybe you have a teenager at home who is pleasant, cooperative and industrious when left alone in the house, methodically working his way down your to-do list and helping your household catch up on chores you’ve let slip during the school year. Maybe you don’t. Either way, you might want
to plan for a couple of weeks that your teen can get away, besides the family summer vacation, and explore her interests and passions. Please note: Experts advise teens and their parents talk to other teens who have actually attended a camp they’re evaluating prior to registering. They
also would like you to decide on a camp as a family, after reviewing some options and discussing your goals for this summer as parents and as teens — most will have very definite ideas! Here we’ve gathered some cool camp ideas for even the most recalcitrant teen.
GLOBAL WORKS ADVENTURES
The aCademy of Children’S TheaTre
Building Character, Confidence and Creativity Spring Break CampS March 23-27 1st Grade - High School
Summer CampS Throughout June & July Ages 4 - High School
Learn More and Register! Limited Space Available.
Acting, Musical Theatre, Broadway Combo, Improv, Shakespeare & MORE!
DiscoverSpace.org sfdcreservations@spacefoundation.org
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For more information, call 719.282.9101 or visit our website at www.ACTcolorado.net
Your child might need and want some community service opportunities — this camp offers chaperoned group flights to high schoolers who want to work in Peru, for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico; and for language immersion; pre-med and public health; and human rights and social justice. The price tag’s pretty hefty but includes 15-21 days accommodations and the opportunity to work with children; and travel to far flung locales like Nepal, Fiji and Morocco. Go to globalworkstravel.com for more.
GO WEST CAMPS
This camp starts at age five but goes up to age 14. It lasts three weeks and offers a day camp, too. Kids learn rock climbing, archery and report in at least one testimonial that they make friends easily in “a closeknit community or “camp family” that “made me feel like I belonged and also instilled a sense of responsibility for my role in the camp community.” Multiple day sessions start June 8 and there’s a payment plan and multi-camper discount, as well. Campers meet at Eagleview Middle School near Ute Valley Park. For more, go to gowestcamps.com.
EXPERTS ADVISE TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS TALK TO OTHER TEENS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY ATTENDED A CAMP THEY’RE EVALUATING PRIOR TO REGISTERING.
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TETON SCIENCE SCHOOLS
Through exploring Jackson Hole, Wyoming, grades 7 through 12 can pick three weeks to work on science exploration. The program “Science Expedition” started in 1967 and meets in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Teens take part in a field research project and also go “backcountry camping” with small groups of campers. The three weeks costs about $5,000 not including transportation to Jackson Hole. There are post-grad opportunities through Americorp, as well, and financial assistance applications are open now. Check out tetonscience.org
CHELY IN ESTES PARK
Kids can head to a 27-day experience in Estes Park at Land O’Peaks Ranch with summer-camp-classic names for each age group — “Haiyaha” is a boys’ camp for 14-17 year olds; “Chipeta” is the name for all three girls’ camps. The camp is celebrating its centennial year this year, and offers daily activities like hiking, horseback riding, technical mountain climbing and, of course, crafts. One of the best websites I explored, there are multiple testimonial videos and pop-ups, including a “first-timers guide” to download. Kids who go for full term, from June 16 through August 9, will pay $12,800 in tuition but there are financial aid applications available and shorter, four week terms available, too. At the end of the season, Family Camp opens for a family of four August 10-15, for $2,700 so you can spend time with your teen and other kids (each additional camper is $500) in nature as a family.
KEMPER DANCE ACADEMY
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All styles of dance instruction for ages 18 months to adult
Please check out our website for upcoming events, summer classes and our new location coming soon.
719-325-6234 • www.kemperdanceacademy.com
AGES 6-15
3958 N. Academy Blvd Suite 106 • COS, CO 80917 CAMP GUIDE 2020 | 5
VillaSport:
LEARNING,LAUGHING, SWIMMING,SOCCER– so many choices at
Many families
SPONSORED FEATURE
stay for a decade at
VillaSport
summer camps
Summer Quest
—
slots for ages
5-12 fill up fast, so act now!
I
f you want a friendly, splashy summertime for your kids, it’s time to act fast and book them a Summer Quest at VillaSport on Prairie Schooner Drive, which is right off I-25 near Woodmen Road. With a new kids’ coding opportunity this year to help your little gamers gain solid STEM-based skills or fan favorite equestrian, junior lifeguard, performance swimming, basketball and soccer camp options, VillaKids is the destination for action-packed, memory-making time. Age ranges are as follows: Equestrian camp is 7-12; Coding 5-8; Sports 5-12. Join us for a spotlight of several weeks’ worth of fun. And meet some of the VillaSport leaders that will help your child learn a lot and live it up for summer 2020!
POOL DAY IS EVERY DAY
Every week at the club includes the adventure of swimming at the
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awesome pool — kids who start as non-swimmers will be safely swimming by summers’ end after their early-morning, optional swim lessons. Other camps offer pools by field trip only — at VillaSport, it’s an everyday thing. Assistant General Manager (AGM) Brandie Moorhead and General Manager (GM) Megan McGregor have both been at VillaSport for almost a decade each, quite unusual tenure for the fitness industry. Brandie helped forge the VillaKids program and Camp back in the day, and as AGM, relishes the years she spent there. She will still pop into VillaKids and to Summer Quest to see some of the kids she’s known “simply forever.” GM Megan cites Brandie’s warm personality and work ethic in building what she says is “Colorado Springs’ premier summer camp experience.” Megan herself has watched several cohorts of campers grow up and into regular
teen attendance at the club. “We are an unusual team here in that we have summer staff that come back every year from college, most of whom have an early childhood career in mind for their futures,” Megan said. “All of our counselors are First Aid and CPR certified, as well.” “Everyone on staff is invested in a fit-for-life approach — our former campers learn about fitness as a daily habit and it becomes something that’s important to them in adulthood, as well,” McGregor said. A season pass at SummerQuest covers all 11 weeks and costs 12% less than a multi-week registration. Members of VillaSport pay only $1,885 (early-bird before March 23) for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. activities and the opportunity for friendships for their campers that can last a lifetime. A half-total-fee deposit will hold your kids’ chances for a summer they’ll always cherish.
THEMED WEEKS TO MAKE EVERY DAY SPECIAL
May 26 starts it off with a piratethemed treasure hunt and a trip to the Springs Adventure Park, where kids can trampoline, battle joust and work on their ninja warrior skills. June’s in tune with your child’s inner archeologist. Kids round off the week with a field trip to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Research Center in Woodland Park. Campers will also travel to the breathtaking Cave of the Winds and to the newly reopened USAFA Planetarium. There, would-be astronauts can explore black holes, learn about being a fighter pilot, join Apollo 11 for a “First Steps Edition” and more! Kids who want to learn to ride can sign up for Equestrian Camp that leaves from VillaSport and meets at Iron Horse Christian Youth Ranch. The Ranch has been teaching all levels of riders since 2003 — kids can learn grooming, saddling, and decorating horses. The program works to develop character and confidence while riding each day in small groups with safetytrained instructors. VillaSport’s basketball camp is for all levels of player and focuses on the fundamentals as well as more advanced coaching for kids to be even more psyched for basketball season.
Soccer camp allows children of any skill level to determine where they should work to get to the next level. Lifeguard and performance swim camps let your water lovers understand swim safety; and, for the performance swim camp, work to enhance their performance through technical improvements. Feel free to call the VillaSport offices to speak to any of the specialty camp coaches for more information. Camp families have the option to start at 7 a.m. and stay until 6 p.m. every day with extra before- and after-camp packages. Megan reports many member families choose to stay and grill and swim afterward — it’s an easy way to get dinner done and have family time after work. “We are kids’ home away from home during the summer months,” Megan said, “and we take that responsibility very seriously. Their parents often like to unwind, work out or hang by the pool with their kids to end the workday on a high note,” she said. The Summer Quest team awaits your call and is ready to welcome you! Go online at villasport.com to get started on a quest this summer for heartpumping sports; creative cooking; engineering and other math- and science-themed endeavors; exciting games; crafts; field trips; and splashy fun in the sun!
Sign up today and be registered to win a FREE week of Summer Day Camp!* *Learn more at ppymca.org/daycamp CAMP GUIDE 2020 | 7
REGISTER ON OR BEFORE M A R C H 2 3 A N D S AV E ! Join us on our quest for adventure! Your journey will include field trips, exciting crafts, sports, cooking, engineering, games, and splashing away in VillaSport’s amazing pools. You’ll reconnect with old pals and make new friends along the way. Get ready for an action-packed summer!
2 0 2 0 S U M M E R CA M P S Summer Quest • Equestrian • Coding Basketball • Soccer • Performance Swim • Junior Lifeguard Enroll today at villasport.com/colorado-springs/camps 5904 Prairie Schooner Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80923 719-522-1221
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