TOO OLD FOR CAMP?

KIDS THINK THEY’RE TOO OLD FOR CAMP?

Check Out These Options

by Courtney Cairns Pastor, photos provided by Corbett Preparatory School of IDS

Your tween or teen envisions a summer of sleeping in, playing video games and chatting with friends online. They feel like they’re too old for child care, but they’re also too young for summer jobs. Meanwhile, you need them active, engaged – and out of the house. Summer camp geared to their age may be just what you both need.

At CAMP IDS, kids can learn the latest TikTok dances. Gain enough babysitting knowledge to be at the top of every parent’s “must-hire” list. Train for fall sports. Learn to audition like a professional actor. Practice Python programming.

They can even arrange to do it all with their friends.

It’s impossible to outgrow summer camp when there are so many great options for older kids. Here’s how to find the right fit for your preteen or teen. APPEAL TO THEIR INTERESTS. Summer camp is an easier sell to older kids if you know they’ll love what they’re doing. The STEAM, sports, arts, recreation camps at CAMP IDS span a wide range of topics, making it likely that families can find a good fit for a variety of interests.

Aspiring coders can design and code robots to race or battle at camps using the LEGO Spike Prime system. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose a full day of fishing all over the Tampa Bay area or stay on Corbett Prep’s beautiful campus for canoeing or archery. Actors, singers and dancers will find opportunities for self-expression in Hip Hop Fusion, Pitch Perfect a cappella camp or the weeklong Broadway Revue while visual artists may want to try their hand at calligraphy and henna art, photography or printmaking. And the popular Cooking Camp is back for six weeks to inspire foodies of all ages. GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL. A summer schedule cleared of school obligations means kids have time to focus on their passions. Camps geared to older students can offer harder challenges or assign them more responsibilities and complicated tasks than camps designed for young elementary children. Athletes will benefit from specialty camps such as baseball hitting and fielding, lacrosse or volleyball. Camps that emphasize conditioning and training, including the two VAST Sports Performance at CAMP IDS, help young athletes get faster and stronger with drills and tips to enhance their skills in all sports even after the week has ended.

For performers, Audition Intensive camp works on helping young performers present songs with poise and confidence as they come ready to work on musical theatre pieces selected in advance.

Kids entering fifth through eighth grade are the perfect age to learn babysitting skills, and Babysitter’s Club provides an overview of infant care, first aid techniques and fun ideas to keep young children entertained. FOCUS ON FUN. Who says everything your child does in the summer has to have a purpose? It’s OK to pick camps based on the fun-factor alone!

Recreational camps pack kids’ days with field trips, games and team building challenges that make it easy to make friends (and memories)! Outdoor Adventures, Anything Goes, Retro Summer and Warrior Games camps ditch their devices for weeks of archery, slip and slide kickball, board games, obstacle courses, water balloons and shaving cream battles. If your teen craves a change of scenery, send them on field trip camps that take them off campus daily for laser tag, rock climbing, ice skating and other activities. As a parent, all you have to do is get your child to camp on time — CAMP IDS handles the rest, from all the planning to creating their daily schedules.

So what will you pick? Older kids can have as much fun this summer as younger children if you choose sessions that appeal to their interests, help them meet their goals or provide a dose of the freedom and responsibility they’re seeking.

And if sleeping in is still at the top of the priority list, here’s an idea — CAMP IDS has half- and full-day camps. Select an afternoon camp, and your tween or teen will still have plenty of time to snooze!

your guide to Tampa Bay Area SUMMER CAMPS

Letimagine camp organizationdo the work for you! Stress Free Summer Camp Planning at ImagineCampOrganization.com

ACADEMY OF THE HOLY NAMES SUMMER ON BAYSHORE 3319 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa 33629 813-839-5371; holynamestpa.org/summer

Fun-loving kids ages 3 and up may choose from themed day camps, STEM, sports and enrichment camps at Academy of the Holy Names’ Summer on Bayshore! From Legos to lacrosse and cooking to coding, there is something for everyone. Full and half-day weekly sessions run from June 6 - July 22 and include complimentary extended care.

ART CAMPS & WORKSHOPS AT THE MFA 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg 33701 727-896-2667; mfastpete.org

Travel back in time and learn about the art and science of archaeology in our Art & Archaeology Camp (grades 1-5). Discover how animals, plants, weather, water and sky have inspired artists since the dawn of time in our Art & Nature Camp (grades 1-5). Be inspired by historical and contemporary female artists from around the world and practice your own artistic voice in our Art & Empowerment Workshop for young women (grades 6-9). Join us as we explore the world through art at the Museum of Fine Arts!

BARRETT SCHOOL OF MUSIC 2022 SUMMER CAMPS Kumon Learning Center: 1114 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Suite A, Valrico 33596 CL Space: 204 E. Henderson Ave., Tampa 33602 813-999-2829; musicschoolintampa.com/music-summer-camps-in-tampa

Barrett School of music offers something for everyone! Younger students can try out several different instruments as beginners. Or for our orchestra students, our string chamber ensemble will prepare them for seating auditions in the fall. Maybe your student is into writing their own music, so grab a spot in our Music Creation Camp. And don't forget our Musical Theater Camp for trifecta training! Your kids will love a week with Barrett School of Music.

BERKELEY PREPARATORY SUMMER PROGRAMS 4811 Kelly Road, Tampa 33615 813-885-1673; berkeleyprep.org/summer

With over 120 camps and classes on a beautiful 80-acre campus, Berkeley has an enormous summer catalog of swim lessons, tech camps, fine arts, baseball, chess, volleyball, football, LEGO, basketball, rock climbing, skateboard design, reading skills, lacrosse, tennis, debate, math review and so much more! There’s something for everyone at Berkeley Summer Programs!

BEST HORSE CAMP AT WEST COAST MORGANS 17126 Boy Scout Road, Odessa 33556 813-920-9870; westcoastmorgans.com

JUMP for JOY! The BEST Horse Camp is back! We continue to encourage social distancing, have more riding and outside time and disinfection protocols to protect everyone as best as possible. WCM horse camp experience is amazing with half and full days, single weeks and bulk weeks over summer and winter breaks and family discounts. Beginners through advanced riders can enjoy different weekly themes and days filled with tons of hands-on horse activities as well as guest speakers and MORE!

CAMP BAYSHORE 3909 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa 33611 813-839-4297; bayshorechristianschool.org/student-life/camp-bayshore.cfm

Camp Bayshore is a fun, Christian-centered program for campers ages 3 through rising 6th grade. Children from all around the Tampa Bay area are provided an exciting and safe family atmosphere to learn, grow, play and make memories that last a lifetime. Cost: $160 (half day) to $375 (full day specialty camps) Dates/Times: Weekly June 6 - July 22, 9 a.m. to noon or 4 p.m. Ages: Pre-K3 to grade 9; Coed

Cost: $190 for members; $250 for not-yetmembers *Scholarships Available Dates/Times: July 11-15, 18-22 and 25-29; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ages: Grades 1-5 and 6-9, Coed and Female

Cost: $110-$295 Dates/Times: July 11-15, 18-22 and 25-29, times vary Ages: 4-7 or 11-17, Coed

Cost: prices vary per camp Dates/Times: June 6 - July 29, times vary *Extended care available Ages: 4-17, Coed and single sex camps

Cost: $80-$100/day, $400-$500/week Dates/Times: May 31 - Aug. 5, half and full day options, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ages: 6+, Coed

*Registration opens Feb. 28 Cost: $250-$275/week + registration fee Dates/Times: May 31 - July 29, M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Ages: 3 years to rising 6th graders, Coed