13 minute read
INVEST BY FIVE: The Hillsborough
Invest By Five Why Early Learning Matters by Erica Turchin, manager of marketing and resource development at the Early Learning
Coalition of Hillsborough County
We all send our children to kindergarten with no questions asked. We trust their teachers to shape their little growing minds so that one day, our baby will walk down the aisle and get their diploma at 18. We invest so much in our children from kindergarten through 12th grade… but what about all those years before they turn 5?
The most important years of your child’s life are from the day they are born until they reach the big High Five milestone birthday. Within this short period of time, 90 percent of children’s brain is fully developed but ironically, there isn’t a huge push on education or even mandatory schooling during these first five years.
Early learning sets the foundation for a child to have a more successful future. A new home built with a strong foundation stands strong over the years and retains more positive memories and experiences. A home built on a poor foundation can be fixed, but it takes more time, money and extra assistance to correct. A child’s early learning experiences help them cope with different life experiences and build relationships with the people around them.
Supporting early learning is not complicated; no one expects parents to sit down with their baby and start practicing long division. Here are a few ways to go about it, and you might be doing some of the following without even knowing it: ● Bonding over stories as you lay your baby down for the night. Those tiny ears and eyes are never too young to hear and see robust words, or even the words from the fashion article you may be reading. Implementing early learning on your own doesn’t have to be costly either. It can be as simple as visiting the local library for story time. ● Taking your child to the park to walk the nature trail is not only relaxing and allows for breathing in fresh air, but it’s a great way to discover the sights, sounds and textures around you. ● Bringing children to Sunday church service is another great way to practice early learning, as it can become a cultural experience where they can learn about family traditions and values and see different people from your community. It may even be filled with great uplifting music that you and your child can sing, dance or tap to. ● Reaching out to a childcare center with age-appropriate curriculum to foster early learning. As parents and caregivers, we may not always feel like we are doing our best at creatively teaching our children. Joining a center gives your child the opportunity to build relationships and trust in a caregiver other than a family member, grow their learning experience with children of similar ages, and discover the world through play.
Many centers are staffed with trained teachers and directors to ensure your child is receiving the best education for their growing mind.
Your child is never too young to experience life. The more positive experiences you give them, the better foundation they will have. From the moment they are born, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is here as an extended support to you and your child as you prepare them for kindergarten.
CAGE Virtual CyberCamp
100% Online, Asynchronous, Facilitated 813-974-1640; signup.usf.edu/k-12camps
Campers work up the ranks as secret agent recruits for the Cybersecurity Agency for Global Engagement (CAGE) by solving puzzles, taking virtual tours and gathering information to expose a mole within the organization! This immersive, high-energy simulation will give campers knowledge in foundational computing concepts, including skills associated with cybersecurity, computing architecture and coding. Campers will also develop knowledge and skills that can be applied to their own interactions within the digital world. A secret agent box, including a CAGE t-shirt and other necessary materials for the week, will be mailed or hand-delivered to each recruit. Cost: $149.95/week/camper Dates/Times: June 6-10 and 13-17, July 11-15 and 18-22 (All weeks have counselors available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Ages: Grades 3-5; Coed
Camp IDS
12015 Orange Grove Drive, Tampa 33618 813-961-3087; corbettprep.com/campids
Ace your audition with tips from a professional vocalist. Cook like a chef. Train with conditioning coaches. Play chess, race robots, try calligraphy or code apps – with more than 100 half- and full-day camps, CAMP IDS has something for everyone! Weekly sessions run June 13-July 22. Students entering PreK3-8th grade will find engaging options in STEAM, sports, academics, arts and recreation. Take field trips across Tampa Bay or enjoy archery, canoeing, fishing and outdoor games on Corbett Prep’s lakeside campus. Free morning drop-off at 7:45 a.m. After-care from 4-6 p.m. ($75) and bus transportation available for a fee. Cost: $135-$350/week Dates/Times: June 13-July 22, Half Day 8:30 a.m. to noon or 12:30-4 p.m.; Full Day 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ages: PreK3 – grade 8, Coed
Camp Osprey
18050 US Highway 301 S., Wimauma 33598 941-928-6860; camposprey.com
Camp Osprey Kid’s Day / Overnight Adventure Camp is located on 204 acres that meander along the Little Manatee River. Horseback riding, zipline, giant swing, paintball, BB guns, archery, kayaking, paddleboards, swimming, fishing and art and crafts are offered in a Christian-based environment of family fun. Make a lifetime of memories in just one summer. Cost: Day Camp $325/week, Overnight $645/week Dates/Times: Day Camp M-F, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Overnight Camp Sun. 4 p.m. to Sat. 9:30 a.m. Ages: 7-15, Coed
City of Largo Summer Camps
201 Highland Ave., Largo 33770 727-587-6720; largocamps.com
The City of Largo Summer Camps offer full-day and part-day options for ages 5-18 starting in May. Campers will have the chance to go on field trips, play sports, create art, learn about nature and more! The Central Park Performing Arts Center also offers Theatre Camps for kids ages 9-18 who are interested in theatre and performing. Are you over 18 and interested in summer camps? We are offering cooking and art camps for adults! Registration opens Feb. 15. Visit LargoCamps.com to learn more about all our offerings. Cost: $25-$450 Dates/Times: May 31 - Aug. 5, Weekly, Times Vary Ages: 5-18; Coed
The Coder School CODE CAMPS
NEW TAMPA | 8632 Hunters Village Road, Tampa 33647 SOUTH TAMPA | 1730 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa 33629 CARROLLWOOD | 13129 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa 33618 813-422-5566; tampa.thecoderschool.com
Let's get ready for camps! Our camps provide coding lessons for kids as well as fun offline activities. Kids code throughout the week and then demo their week's creations on the last day of camp. Registration is now open. Early-bird discounts available for a limited time. $100 off ALL camps; use the code CODINGROCKS at checkout! Cost: $249-$599/week Dates/Times: June 6 – Aug. 5 (nine weeks of options!) Full Day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Half Day 9 a.m. to noon *Early drop off and late pick up available Ages: 7-15, Coed
Dunedin Fine Art Center Summer ART Academy
1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin 34698 727-298-3322; dfac.org/kids-corner/summer-camp
DFAC’s Summer Art Academy has proudly offered over 35 years of summer art enrichment fun. Todd Still, director of youth education, is excited about heading up his 25th year at one of the premier summer programs in the Tampa Bay area. Seven different art camps feature the best artists and art educators in the region, from multi-media experts to painting, clay and 'Drawing to Dreamin!' Cost: $175-$225 *Scholarships are available Dates/Times: May 31 – Aug. 5, Weekly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. *Before and aftercare available Ages: 4.5-14; Coed
FL Drama Kids of Hillsborough County
3315 S. Bryan Road, Brandon 33511 813-489-5899; dramakids.com/fl6
When school is out, drama is in! Campers will bring fun and engaging themed week-long camps to life through improvisational and scripted acting activities, crafts and more. Perfect for all experience levels. Join Drama Kids for immersive and skill-building Workshop Camps or flex those acting muscles and join our full team of professional musical theatre instructors for a Take 2 Performance Academy Camp. Children of all ages can jump into a summer camp experience that ignites their imagination! Cost: $269-$299 1-week camp; $549 2-week camp Dates/Times: June 6 - July 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F Ages: 5-17, Coed
Girl Scout Camp Wai Lani & Wildwood
500 Wai Lani Road, Palm Harbor 34683 & 9583 County Road 223, Wildwood 34785 813-281-GIRL; gswcf.org/summercamp
You'll have countless opportunities to access your inner go-getter, innovator, risk-taker and leader as you try new things and explore the outdoors. Go paddling in the bay in a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard! Visit the marine science lab, go on a hiking adventure or conquer the climbing tower, all while building friendships that last a lifetime at Camp Wai Lani. Camp Wildwood is the place for girls who want to go on a horseback riding adventure and explore hundreds of acres of forest with miles of beautiful trails. Learn about native plants and animals, travel back to the pioneer times and visit the barn to spend time with our many horses, all while building friendships that last a lifetime. Cost: $250-$650 Dates/Times: June - August, Times Vary Ages: 6-17; Female
History Adventure Camps
801 Water Street, Tampa 33602 813-228-0097; tampabayhistorycenter.org/camps
History Adventure Camps are back at the History Center. Join us for American Girl© Camp, Pirates and Explorers Camp and Archeology Camp this summer! Each week is led by certified teachers in the museum galleries and classrooms. "Both of my kids love absolutely everything about camp," said one of our parents. "They beg to stay until the very end of the day and get mad if I pick them up early! I also like that they are learning while having fun!" Cost: $250-$300/session *Scholarships are available Dates/Times: June 13-17 & 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 11-15 & 25-29, M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. *Extended care available Ages: 7-11; Coed
The James Museum Art Camp Summer 2022
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art | 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg 33701 727-892-4200; thejamesmuseum.org/summercamp
Go on an art adventure! Get creative and make new friends at The James Museum in downtown St. Pete this summer. Week-long summer camps offer a variety of fun, hands-on activities that encourage creative thinking, original art-making and playful collaboration. Cost: $250/week; $225 for members Dates/Times: June 13-17, June 27July 1, July 11-15 & 25-29; 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ages: Entering grades 1-3 or 4-6; Coed
MOSI Summer Science Camps
4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa 33617 813-987-6000; mosi.org/camps
MOSI’s Summer Science Camps bring science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) alive through hands-on experiments and building projects. From launching rockets, building robots and extracting DNA, we are about creating the experiences that expand interests and make dreams a reality. Doing real science with the tools and technologies used by professionals is just one way MOSI camps inspire our campers with a can-do attitude that will last a lifetime. Real science coupled with exciting experiments, simulations, explorations and inventions will help you discover the innovator within. Cost: $217-$333 Dates/Times: May 31 - Aug. 5; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. *extended care available: 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Ages: Completed grades K-8; Coed
Summer at Shorecrest
5101 1st Street NE, St. Petersburg 33703 727-409-1668; shorecrest.org/summer
Summer at Shorecrest offers a huge variety of exciting, enriching and FUN summer programs for students in preschool-12th grade with classic summer day camp, STEM camps, performing and visual arts, sports clinics, academic enrichment/college prep and so much more! Each year, Summer at Shorecrest welcomes children from across the Tampa Bay area to learn and play together. Campers do not have to attend Shorecrest Preparatory School to participate. View the full catalog and register at shorecrest.org/ summer. Cost: $195-$550; Full-day camps include lunch Dates/Times: June 6 - Aug. 5; Most camps run 9 a.m. to noon, 1-4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. *Before and after care is available 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ages: Age 4 to grade 12; Coed
Summer Camp Imagination
110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa 33602 813-443-3861; glazermuseum.org/summercamps
At Camp Imagination, your little learners imagine, discover and connect to the world around them. With imaginative weekly themes, there’s a camp for every kid, including three autism-friendly weeks. Register your kids to play with purpose and embrace curiosity this summer at Glazer Children’s Museum! Cost: $265 per week, per child before May 1, $300 per week, per child on and after May 1, Annual GCM Members save 15% Dates/Times: June 6 - July 29, Drop-off 8:30-9 a.m. Pick-up 4:30-5 p.m. Ages: 5-10; Coed
Tampa Prep Summer Programs
727 W. Cass Street, Tampa 33606 813-251-8481; tampaprep.org/summer
Camp Terrapin is Tampa Prep’s well-known coeducational, sports and fine arts camp for students entering grades 1-8. Structured activities and theme days provide friendship and fun in downtown Tampa. Additional summer programs include a variety of sports camps and courses in robotics, academics and enrichment. This summertime extension of our award-winning day school program offers something for everyone. Cost: $175-$295 for camps and enrichment Dates/Times: May 31 - July 15, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. *Before and after care provided weeks 6/6-7/15 Ages: Various camps, enrichment courses and for-credit courses are offered for students entering grades 1-12, Coed
YMCA Summer Camp
Multiple Locations 813-224-8622; tampaymca.org 727-467-9622; ymcasuncoast.org
Y Summer Camp offers children a SAFE and FUN summer camp experience! The camp curriculum is full of fun, educational activities infused with the Y’s character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Campers experience a variety of activities including S.T.E.A.M activities, swimming, science, high ropes, outdoor education, nature encounters, horseback riding, canoeing, visual arts, arts and crafts and more! The fun and unique experiences give Y campers an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests and create memories that last a lifetime. Cost: Starting at $169/week (Tampa). Starting at $95/week (Suncoast). Dates/Times: Begins May 31, Times Vary Ages: 6-15 (Tampa), 5-17 (Suncoast); Coed
ZooTampa Summer Camps
1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa 33604 813-935-8552; zootampa.org/summer-camps
Your kids can explore the Zoo like never before! Campers will get VIP behind-the-scenes access to the Zoo, up-close to our amazing animals from across the globe, and talk directly from the teams that care for these animals every day to learn what it takes to become a Zoo veterinarian or animal care expert! Plus, they’ll get plenty of splashes on our water adventure, Roaring Springs! Get ready for a WILD SUMMER at ZooTampa! Cost: Starting at $299 Dates/Times: June 7 - Aug. 6; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ages: Grades K-8; Coed
