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School’s (almost) out!

Alex Miller
Special to the dailyThe Learning Camp counselor Frank Papandrea with camper on the camp's Palmer Pond.
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EAGLE COUNTY – Snow may still be flying in the High Country, but summer isn’t far away. That means planning, registering and scheduling ways to keep the kids entertained when the parents are at work – and in between vacations and holidays.Eagle County is, fortunately, packed with things for kids to do this summer, with a wide range of pricing and scheduling options. Presented here is only a partial list of some of the camps and activities offered locally, as well as a few places in nearby areas that bear consideration. Some programs fill up fast, so registering as early as possible is always a good idea. At press time, some of these organizations didn’t have all the details in place, so make a phone call or check the Web site to hear the latest, as well as to get registration forms and current pricing information.Overnight campsAnderson Western Colorado CampsGypsum524-7766www.andersoncamps.comThis venerable camp has more than 40 years of 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 climbing fourteeners. Anderson features programs for kids 7-17 either co-ed or boys/girls camps.Keystone Science School Discovery CampKeystone468-2098www.keystone.orgLocated 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.Gore Range Natural Science SchoolRed Cliff827-9725www.gorerange.orgFormed by a group of people interested in fostering environmental stewardship in youth, this school features programs for students from grades 1-9. 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.

Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp800-430-2787Steamboatwww.perry-mansfield.orgThe 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, theatre, music, creative writing and fine arts.The Learning Camp524-2706McCoywww.learningcamp.comThis 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.Day Camps Avon Recreation Dept.Avon748-4060www.avon.org• Something Fun Summer Camp is geared toward kids 5-12 and features games, swimming, paddle boating, inline skating, tennis, group sports and a variety of weekly field trips. The program runs from June1 through Aug. 15, Monday through Friday. Pre-registration required. •Munch Bunch is a fun-filled morning aimed at children ages 3-5. Activities include supervised creative playtime, with crafts, treasure hunts, swimming, field trips and outdoor games. Sessions run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21-July 14 and July 19-Aug. 11.•Avon Adventure Trips is a program of field trips for kids 12 and older in June, July and August. Trips include paintball and river rafting.

Beaver Creek ResortBeaver Creekwww.beavercreek.snow.com• Children’s Theatre Workshops, presented by the Beaver Creek Children’s Theatre Company, are offered to kids ages 5-12 in July and August. Workshops run half-day for four consecutive days, starting Mondays and ending Thursdays with the show. For more information or reservations, call 926-5855.• Kids’ Day Camps are for children ages 5-14. Offered weekdays from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Beaver Creek Children’s Center. Activities include games, rafting, fishing, face painting, cave exploration, arts & crafts, rock climbing and more. Reservations Required, call (970)845-5464Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Children’s ProgramsVail476-0103www.bettyfordalpinegardens.orgThe 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.Gore Range Natural Science SchoolRed Cliff827-9725www.gorerange.orgHas both overnight and day camps. See listing under overnight camps.Spanish Immersion Day CampEdwards333-8642www.stclareparish.com/language.campsAs the name implies, this camp is for students who want to go to the next level of their understanding of Spanish. Held the last week of July and first week of August, students from third through eighth grade can attend one or two weeks. Classes take place at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School in Edwards, and learning is accomplished through fun activities and games meant to simulate real-life situations.



Vail Recreation DistrictVail479-2835www.vailrec.com/youth/campsThe 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.• 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 13 through Aug. 19, Pre-Kamp Vail is limited daily to 20 children, and has a low, child-to-counselor ratio (5-to-1). • Camp Vail: Offered June 13-Aug. 19 this summer, 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 climing wall and “Big Trip Days” every Wednesday. • Camp Eco Fun: The Vail Nature Center teams with Vail Youth Services for a two-day per week camp, exploring the basics of ecology. The sessions will be from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., with children, ages 4-6 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and children, ages 7-11, on Thursdays and Fridays, from June 24 through Aug. 20. Vail Valley Soccer ClubEdwards845-5022www.vailsoccer.comYoung athletes looking to hone their soccer skills can do so at the Vail Soccer Academy. This summer, the one-week camp is offered just before fall training starts, with players 9-14 training in the morning and those 15-18 in the afternoon.Western Eagle County Metropolitan Metro DistrictEagle328-6909www.wecmrd.orgWECMRD offers a wide variety of programs for local children, starting with swim lessons for kids 6 months and up. Registration begins April 18 and programs begin right after school ends. The pool opens May 28, and many of the programs are based out of the pool/ice rink facility. Options include swim teams, drop-in programs to play games, field trips to places like Elitch’s and Waterworld. There are also a number of different sports programs, including baseball and soccer camps and tennis classes. This summer, WECMRD is hoping to offer a Monday-Friday daycamp for kids 6 and up through Vail Valley Adventure Camps, but that was still pending at press time. Check the website for updates.Alex Miller can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 615, or amiller@vaildaily.com.Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado


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