Summer camp is coming soon

EAGLE COUNTY — Parents and kids alike look forward to the return of summer camp — for different reasons of course. Colorado’s warm summer months bring many camp offerings geared toward many different needs and goals.

There are sports camps, camps for the arts and special-needs camps for kids with learning disabilities. Parents can choose from expensive multi-week camps or cheaper day camps; there are so many choices that a fun camp — or camps — can be found for every kid.

Register soon to avoid being left out. The information for certain camps may not be complete so be sure to call or e-mail the individual camps to learn more about them. Have fun and happy camping.

Overnight camps

Anderson Western Colorado Camps

Dotsero

524-7766

andersoncamps.com

This venerable camp has more than 40 years experience showing kids a great outdoor adventure. Two- and three-week sessions include a variety of activities from rock-climbing and whitewater rafting to backpacking and mountain climbing. Anderson features programs for kids 7-17, either co-ed or boys/girls camps.

Gore Range Natural Science School

Avon

827-9725

gorerange.org

Formed by a group of people interested in fostering environmental stewardship in youth, this school features programs for students from grades 1-8. There are day programs as well as overnight hut trips with activities ranging from wilderness living experience and backcountry travel to astronomy and rocks and fossils education.

Keystone Science School Discovery Camp

Keystone

970-468-2098

keystone.org

Located near the base of Keystone Mountain, the Discovery Camp is a residential science school for students 7-13. Sessions are six or 10 days and include a wealth of information about the natural environment of the high Rockies. A leadership course is also available for students 14-17 who’d like to be counselors themselves some day.

Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp

800-430-2787

Steamboat Springs

perry-mansfield.org

The oldest continuously operating performing arts school and camp in the nation, Perry-Mansfield has been training creative-minded students since 1913 at its facility in Steamboat. Students from 8 to adult spend their days in open-air studios learning dance, theater, music, creative writing and fine arts.

The Learning Camp

524-2706

Eagle and Gypsum

learningcamp.com

This camp is geared toward children with learning disabilities, such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning challenges. The Learning Camp offers five summer sessions of two or three weeks throughout the summer and combines academic instruction with all the fun of a traditional summer camp. For kids ages 7 through 14, the camp is located between Eagle and Gypsum on 36 acres of land.

Keep in mind: Schools, churches, daycare facilities, sports clubs and other organizations offer summer activity programs for children. Check to see what’s available; often schools and churches have reasonably priced alternatives. Looking for an overnight camp in or out of state? Here are some Web sites to check to see what cool camps exist out there: Summercamps.com Kidscamps.com Petersons.com Chooseacamp.com Mysummercamps.com Camppage.com

Day camps

Avon Recreation Dept.

Avon

748-4060

avon.org

“Something Fun” Summer Camp is geared toward kids 5-12 and features games, swimming, paddle boating, tennis, group sports and a variety of weekly field trips. The program runs from June 5 through August 29, Monday through Friday.

Avon has other programs as well — check out the Web site for more information.



Beaver Creek Resort

Beaver Creek

beavercreek.snow.com

Children’s Theatre Workshops, presented by the Beaver Creek Children’s Theatre Company, are offered to kids ages 5-12 from July 7-10 and 21-24. Workshops run half-day for four consecutive days, starting Mondays and ending Thursdays with the show. For more information or reservations, call 926-5655.

Kids’ Day Camps are for children ages 5-14 and offered weekdays at the Beaver Creek Children’s Center. Activities include games, rafting, fishing, face painting, cave exploration, arts and crafts, rock climbing and more. Reservations required, call 845-5464

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Children’s Programs

Vail

476-0103

bettyfordalpinegardens.org

The world’s highest botanical gardens offer guided education programs for children ages 5-10 from mid-June into August. The hands-on activities take place in the Children’s Garden amphitheatre.

Last summer, the gardens held 11 programs. Some of the highlights were Seeds to Grow & Seeds to Blow, Geology of the Rockies, and Discovering Watersheds. This summer the gardens plan to extend programs to two hours and allow for the last hour to be a time for the parents and children to help with a project in the garden.

Programs will begin at 10:30 a.m. and are free and require no registration. Donations are accepted.

Children’s Summer Theater Camp

Gypsum

328-9892

The Porchlight Players Community Theater Company teaches children the basics of the performing arts while preparing a musical production. Space is limited to 30 kids and camp runs June 9 through 27.

Clubhouse Kids Club

926-1067

www.homesteadcourtclub.com

The Homestead Court Club puts on this camp for kids ages 5-12. Programs start June 9 through Aug. 22 and space is limited to 30 kids.

Gore Range Natural Science School

Red Cliff

827-9725

gorerange.org

Has both overnight and day camps. See listing under overnight camps.

Making It On Broadway Musical Theater Workshop

Vail

524-7342

rockymtnjacobs@centurytel.net

www.makingitonbroadway.com

This musical theater “boot camp” begins June 11 through June 14 for ages 12 to 18. Experienced Broadway professionals teach auditioning strategies, acting, singing, dance, stage technique and the business of musical theater to aspiring actors.

Members of the Board 2008 Summer Skate Clinics

Vail and Gypsum

845-8561

www.boardroom.com

Now in its fifth season, these skateboard clinics are taught by experienced coaches and emphasize safety, fun, etiquette and skill progression. For kids ages 6 and up.

Spanish Immersion Day Camps

H&M Spanish Programs

Edwards

333-8642

www.hmspanishprograms.com

info@hmspanishprograms.com

For the sixth summer H&M will be running the Spanish Immersion Day Camps for English-speaking children who want to experience the Spanish language in a new and exciting way. At camp, students learn by becoming engaged in the language through real-life situations, acting, sports and fun vocabulary building exercises. Call or visit the Web site for more information.

Sessions begin July 21 and pre-registration is suggested.

Vail Recreation District

Vail

479-2835

vailrec.com/youth_camps

The Vail Recreation District offers a plethora of different summer programs and activities for local youth and children. There are sports camps for baseball, soccer and lacrosse as well as the Howard Head Youth Performance Enhancement Camp and mountain bike and trail-running series.

Day camp programs include:

Pre-Kamp Vail is for the littlest camper, age 30 months to 5 years. The program has a storybook curriculum, with different books creating the jumping-off point for the day’s activities. Offered this summer from June 12 through Aug. 4, Pre-Kamp Vail is limited daily to 20 children, and has a low, child-to-counselor ratio (5-to-1).

Camp Vail: Offered June 12 through August. Camp Vail is loaded with choices for kids ages 5-12. Daily activities include everything from music and drama activities to nature hikes, visits to the climbing wall and “Big Trip Days” every Wednesday.

Discovery Bunch: This weekly program enables pre-schoolers age 3-5 to play, listen to stories, create art projects, sing songs and discover new experiences in a small, structured setting. Discovery Bunch activities are based on books read each week and relate to a daily theme. Participants may sign up for one monthly session (4 weeks) at a time.

Vail Valley Soccer Club

Edwards

845-5022

vailsoccer.com

Young athletes looking to hone their soccer skills can do so at the Vail Soccer Academy. Several different programs are offered over the summer for players of different ages.

Western Eagle County Metropolitan Metro District

Eagle

328-5277 or 328-6909

wecmrd.org

WECMRD offers an extensive program of summer activities for youth of all ages. In addition to the popular swim lesson, swim team and “kids nite out” pool parties, WECMRD is introducing two new programs: Summer Day Camp at the EPIR and the Summer Sports Camp Series.

Summer day camp begins June 9 and runs through Aug. 29 for kids 5-13. Each week has a special theme and includes a field trip, swimming, hiking, crafts, sports and special activities. Registration is limited so early sign-up is advised.

High Life writer Charlie Owen can be reached at 748-2939 or cowen@vaildaily.com.

Vail Daily managing editor Alex Miller contributed to this story.