Unique Summer Camps

Camp season is coming up and there will be plenty of summer camps popping up everywhere. Many will offer the traditional outdoors experience but kids and parents may be looking for more. Here are a few camps that are bringing something different and new this summer for kids and pre-teens.

Pali Overnight Adventures: Club DJ to Flying Trapeze

This California Lake Arrowhead area overnight camp is a perfect fit for kids looking for a unique experience. It’s not your Grandmother’s sleep-away.  Today, summer camps are catering to children and teens by offering EXTREME escapades. Pali Overnight Adventures is offering 17 highly unique summer camps this year – from Hollywood Stunt Camp to Flying Trapeze Camp, Secret Agent Camp to Rock Star Academy, Movie-Makeup to Watersports. Andy Wexler, founder and Executive Camp Director of Pali Overnight Adventures, says “We’ve created a summer camp experience totally tailored to kids and teens who want fun adventures that match their interests.” Wexler continues, “Whether you have a budding chef or an aspiring movie maker, we give kids unique options and experiences they can’t find elsewhere.” Pali is comprised of 74 scenic acres in Running Springs, California near Lake Arrowhead. It features a 10,000 square foot lodge, modern cabins with built-in bunks and full bathrooms, and delicious food. In addition to their chosen specialties, campers can select from 50+ afternoon activities including Archery, Skateboarding, ATV’s, Dune Buggies, High Ropes, Yoga, Manicures, Zip Line, Jet Skiing, Sailing, Water Skiing, Water Trampoline, Karaoke, Paintball, Mountain Biking, Euro Bungee and so much more. If you got an adventurer and you’re in California, this camp definitely sounds fun.

Camp Courant: Teaching Character

What started with a newspaper ad offering free outings for city children turned into the largest free camp in the country. This Hartford Connecticut camp, in existence since 1894 (and celebrating 120 year anniversary this year!) brings over 1100 kids each summer. Kids get transportation, meals, regular camp activities, plus free health check ups. Children focus on activities in healthy choices, literacy and life skills with special programs ranging from Photography to Nature Trails, Yoga to Finance. This year, Camp Courant partnered with non-profit H.O.P.E. Foundation (Helping Other People Excel) pilot program to help teach the next group of campers character development lessons. Kathy and Lou DiCocco of Farmington lost their son Frank DiCocco, a coach, author and founder of The H.O.P.E. Foundation, in April 2013 at the age of 29. “We are so excited about this partnership and teaching the youngsters who attend more about good character and making the right decisions, which can only help them to be more successful in life,” stated Mrs. DiCocco. “Together we hope to change our community and instill a fundamental understanding and direction for all of the children in our program as they enter the next step of their personal journey,” said Hartford’s Camp Courant Director and CEO Josh Reese. Frank DiCocco created The REAL Man Character Development Program (Respect all people, Especially women, Always do the right thing, and Live a life that matters) that features 20 lesson plans to teach youth how to understand right from wrong and make the right choice when faced with a decision, which will now be taught at Camp Courant. When your child goes to camp and comes back as a better person, that’s truly commendable.

SciTech Kids: full STEAM ahead

If you are a parent of school-aged children, you’re probably aware how necessary STEM is – it’s so important for kids to learn science, technology, engineering and math, and parents may feel there is more that can be done outside school. SciTech Kids Summer Camp nurtures children’s sense of wonder and excitement about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math + the Arts), through hands-on activities which unlock their imagination. SciTech Kids sparks children’s innate curiosity and creativity through fun, enriching experiences. Kids 3-15 work alongside real scientists, so they are involved in authentic scientific inquiry that changes both the way they see themselves and the world. At this camp, kids explore the world of nature and natural phenomena. Science is everywhere and New York City becomes their laboratory. Campers learn about renewable energy as they kick a soccer ball, Soccket, which converts mechanical energy into electricity and powers a lamp. They build solar ovens and see how long it takes to cook a hot dog or smores. How about a physics project in which students build a catapult? They also use a 3D printer to make pongsats, satellites sent up to the edge of space. All these innovative projects from SciTech Kids were recognized in February at the 2014 White House Student Film Festival where their film “FULL STEAM AHEAD: How Technology Rocks the Classroom” was featured and cited by President Obama. What’s unique about this camp is their ability to combine science and technology with summer activities. Kids come from home exhausted from the day and eager to talk to their parents about what they learned and discovered. Isn’t it great in addition to running and jumping they are also exercising their brain?

Mission Possible Summer Camp: all about inclusion

There are many camps now available for kids with various disabilities but many of these kids can benefit from an all-inclusive environment and this Texas 4-H Mission Possible summer camp is a great example of that. “The camp is a statewide effort to engage young people with various medically diagnosed disabilities into the 4-H program,” said Dr. Darlene Locke, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 4-H and youth development specialist and conference center director. “Mission Possible is held simultaneously with a session of County Camp, providing an even greater diversity of participants. Mission Possible campers participate in the same activities as those in County Camp.” If you’re not familiar with the 4-H system, it’s is a national youth organization that prepares young people to step up to the challenges in their community and the world, and kids from 8 to 18 can join it. Texas 4-H camp offers a variety of activities including sports, archery, dance, arts and crafts, kayaking, dancing, swimming and environmental education. While at camp, kids focus on their ability rather than disability and activities are tailored to their needs but more importantly they learn to be more independent, learn self-esteem and improve at social interactions. “The value of the camp goes beyond the engagement of youth with disabilities in that 4-H youth serving as mentors gain insight into the world of disabilities,” Locke says. “Their knowledge and increased awareness allows them to be better informed and to serve as advocates within their own communities for the disabled.”