C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
D O W N LMAY O A 2021 D TH E APRIL 2021 EDITION
Camp Directory
HOW CHILDREN FIND
PURPOSE
at camp written by Sandi Schwartz
We all want our children to be happy and successful. Would you believe that letting them spread their own wings—without us by their side—may be the most effective way to do this? Our job as parents is to give our children the tools they need to go out in the world and discover who they are and what they want to become–their purpose in life. A child can only truly grow if given some freedom and the chance to gain confidence by exploring new ideas and activities.
C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
THE GIFT OF SLEEP AWAY CAMP What better place for children to begin this process than sleep away camp? Sending children away for camp may seem daunting at first, but if you ask anyone who has spent several weeks bunking with their friends, they will tell you how it positively transformed their life and how lucky they are that their parents gave them that gift. According to Michael Thompson, a clinical psychologist and author of Homesick and Happy, How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, “…parents can sometimes seriously impede their children’s development. As a parent, there are many things you cannot do for your children. You cannot give your child confidence, you cannot pick or manage his or her friendships, you cannot always be his or her advocate/agent/ manager/coach. …and most important, parents have a hard time urging their children to take psychological risks.” Thompson goes on to explain how sleep away camp succeeds at doing all these things and how critical it is that children and teens have these experiences. He says that true independence is something parents cannot give their children; they must live it on their own.
BENEFITS OF SLEEP AWAY CAMP There are five invaluable aspects of sleep away camp that can lead children and teens to discovering their purpose:
CONFIDENCE One of the most important benefits of sleep away camp is that children build confidence and self-esteem while living away from their parents. These
positive attributes stem from belonging, learning, and contributing. Camps provide many unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three areas: 1) they belong to their sports team and bunk; 2) they learn from trying new activities and making new friends; and 3) they contribute by helping during meals and serving as team leaders. Camp also provides ways for children to feel a sense of accomplishment. When they succeed, they are empowered and have more confidence when faced with the next challenge. They also learn from their mistakes and failures, which only makes them more resilient in the future. Also, the kind of encouragement kids receive at camp makes it the perfect environment for them to overcome setbacks, try new things, and see improvement. Some camp experiences even allow them to conquer their fears, whether it be learning to swim in a lake or climb a ropes course. Finally, many children will purposely choose to attend camp where they do not know any other campers when they arrive. This special experience gives them the chance to start fresh and explore who they truly are in an unfamiliar environment. All of this confidence building brings them closer to figuring out their interests and goals.
BROADER PERSPECTIVE At camp, children begin to see the world a bit differently. They are away from their comfort zone and exposed to new people and experiences that give them a new, broader perspective. They realize they are part of something bigger than themselves and their immediate family. They meet people from different backgrounds, locations, and interests. They may participate in community service projects that they would have not otherwise had
the chance to do. Sleep away camp is so valuable in how it introduces children to fresh ways of seeing the world and themselves.
COMMUNITY Children benefit from being part of the special community found at sleep away camp. It gives them a sense of belonging, which will ultimately improve their ability to cooperate, contribute, and serve their future communities as caring citizens. Campers also gain new social skills from being in a group setting. They must share a room with others, manage chores, resolve conflicts, communicate effectively, and be kind and accommodating to their fellow campers. Being part of a close-knit community can be challenging at times, but children who learn how to adapt and get along with others will benefit for a lifetime. Peter Scales, Ph.D., a senior fellow with the Search Institute in Minneapolis, says, “Camp activities and group living in a natural environment are the tools used to create camp communities that provide for successful, healthy development… They learn to work together, make choices, take responsibility, develop creative skills, build independence and self-reliance, and gain confidence. All are necessary steps on a child’s path to a healthy, productive life.”
SKILLS Sleep away camp is chock full of unique activities and events that children can’t find anywhere else. Going to camp allows them to learn new skills, whether it be in sports, art, or outdoor exploration. Being exposed to so many new programs enhances their knowledge and capabilities, allowing them to get closer to finding what they enjoy most. Camp also helps children become more independent. They learn how to make their own
decisions without parents and teachers always telling them what to do. They are expected to manage daily chores, show up on time for activities, and keep their belongings neat and clean. These are lifelong skills that will help them succeed in whatever they do.
SELF-REFLECTION The school year is a busy time, but camp provides a chance for kids to slow down and listen to their own thoughts. Camp is the perfect environment for self-reflection and meditation because kids unplug and soak in the beautiful nature around them. When kids take a break from television, video games, texting, and surfing online, they become more mindful of their surroundings and their own emotions. They are able to focus on the simple things in life, like going for a hike, watching a sunset, singing around the campfire, and talking in depth to their friends. Camp also provides a time for unstructured play. Campers are encouraged to use their creativity to solve problems and have fun. They learn how to keep busy with activities that have been used for centuries, such as swimming and boating in a lake, woodworking, and theater performances. This carefree living gives them a chance to relax and laugh without the pressures of their hectic, overly scheduled lives back home. This change of pace can lead to emotional and spiritual growth. Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com.
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N | C A M P D I R E C T O RY
A.D. PLAYERS adplayers.org/2021-summeracademy 713.439.0181 Houston, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Theatre Camp AGES: 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-18 A.D. Players Academy will be “Cruisin’ the Sea!” during Summer 2021! Our literary component will include selections ranging from Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare. Each Academy instructor will incorporate interactive theatre activities to reinforce learning as students build on the foundational performance skills of characterization, expression, creative movement, and ensemble.
ADVENTURE KIDS PLAYCARE
ALLIANCE FENCING ACADEMY
adventurekidsplaycare.com/camps
alliance-fencing-academy.com
Katy 281.769.2398 Memorial City 713.838.1414 Sugar Land 832.886.4153 The Woodlands 936.271.2259 Woodforest 936.209.2212
713.410.6655 Houston & Conroe
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp
AGES: 5-14
AGES: 3-12 Flexibility for your family, FUN for your kids! Drop-in for an hour or stay all day. We have an option to meet every family’s needs this summer. 9AM-4PM, before and after care available.
TYPE OF CAMP: Sports, Day Camp
Alliance Fencing Academy’s summer and winter fencing camps are an opportunity for your child to have fun exploring one of the original and foundational sports of the modern Olympic games while picking up technical and competitive skills that will last them a lifetime.
EXPLORE ASIA CULTURE CAMPS
ATHLETE TRAINING + HEALTH
BUILDING BRAINS LEGO ENGINEERING
asi.as/camps 713.496.9901 Houston, TX
athletetrainingandhealth.com/ events/#/
buildingbrains.biz
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp AGES: 6-17 Week-long, hands-on camps delving into Asian traditions, art, and culture. Make your own movie, design comics for the web, learn about animals and fantastic beasts of Asia, and more!
Katy: 713.568.8986 North Houston: 832.698.9821 TYPE OF CAMP: Multi-sport Summer Camp AGES: 8-12 This multi-sport summer camp will include weight training, skills drills, games, and friendly competitions. The kids will learn coordination and teamwork skills as well as be introduced to fundamental resistance training, speed and agility movements in a positive coaching environment.
713.204.0770 10 Locations Around Houston TYPE OF CAMP: Full Day, Half Day AGES: 3-5 and 6-12 LEGO I: Campers will learn math and science by building simple machines with lego and K’Nex. Fun themes like circus fun, and transportation. LEGO II: Campers will build working machines and MOTORIZE and PROGRAM them for Motion, Sound, and Lights. STEM PROGRAMS
C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
CAMP CHAMPIONS
CAMP INVENTION
www.campchampions.com
www.invent.org/save
CAMP LANTERN CREEK
830.598.2571 Marble Falls, TX
800.968.4332 Multiple Locations Across Greater Houston Area
www.camplanterncreek.com 936.597.8225 Montgomery, TX
TYPE OF CAMP: Academic
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight, All Girl
AGES: Grades K-6
AGES: 7-17
Camp Invention® is the nationally acclaimed, nonprofit summer enrichment program created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) for kindergarteners through 6th graders.
Tucked away on 100 acres in the piney woods of Montgomery, Texas, Camp Lantern Creek is a unique all girls sleep away summer camp that was created so girls can find their voice, try new skills, be cheered on whether they succeed or fail, get dirty, push boundaries, love nature and so much more!
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight AGES: 5-17 Camp Champions has created a tradition of excellence since 1967. With the facility and staff expected from a top overnight summer camp, Champions is distinguished by its focus on building strong kids. One, two, and three-week sessions available for ages 5-17.
Learn from the best.
Ages 7-18. Our virtual tech camps are now available! With the hottest STEM course lineup, small class sizes, and live iD Tech-Certified rockstar instructors, your child will sharpen their tech skills and have a blast learning with new friends!
MINECRAFT
Get started at: iDTech.com Courses are selling out fast! Sign up today.
use code HOUSTON60 (Virtual Tech Camps & Academies only)
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N | C A M P D I R E C T O RY
CAMP ALLEN campallen.org 936.825.7175 Navasota, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight Camp AGES: 8-18 Camp Allen provides a fun & unique environment for young people to cultivate friendships, experience personal growth, and learn about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Located 1 hour from Houston, Camp Allen’s core values are Spiritual Growth, Positive Identity, Safety, and FUN!
THE HEALTH MUSEUM
CHRISTIAN YOUTH THEATER HOUSTON
childtime.com
cythouston.org/camps
Multiple Locations throughout Greater Houston
281.580.4298 Houston, TX
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp
TYPE OF CAMP: Theater Camp
AGES: 2-10
AGES: 5-18
Get ready for a whole summer packed with excitement, discovery, and adventure. At Camp Curiosity, your child will explore themes through hands-on projects and daily activities. Our all-day camp features healthy meals and snacks. Plus, campers receive a camp backpack, T-shirt, and baseball cap for summer adventures!
Come join us Under the Sea this Summer for a fun,creative, theater arts camp! At the two week long Summer Stock camp for ages 8-18, students will be learning and performing a full Junior musical, The Little Mermaid Jr. complete with costumes, sets, and choreography culminating in 2 performances. In the weeklong Under the Sea Day Camp for ages 5-12, students will be learning the basic building blocks for Theater Arts performances including singing, acting, and dancing culminating in a showcase for parents and friends. If your child loves to perform, this camp is for you!!
SUMMER 2021 IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
FOR KIDS AGES 6–12
To register or for more information, visit hmns.org.
C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
COOKING WITH A TWIST cookingwithatwisthouston.com 713.574.9371 Stafford, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Kids Cooking Camp AGES: 7-16
CORDOVAN ART SCHOOL & YOUNG ARTIST ART STUDIO cordovanartschool.com 281.645.6580 The Woodlands, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Art Camp AGES: 5-16
HMNS SUMMER CAMP hmns.org/education/summer-camp/ 713.639.4651 Houston, TX & Sugar Land, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Academic, Technology AGES: 6-12
One week of culinary learning & fun! Our Kids Summer Camp is designed for kids ages 7-16 who are passionate about cooking and creating culinary masterpieces. We provide a fun, safe & top-notch Cooking Camp led by Chef DeeDee Coleman & other first class instructors. Your kid will learn culinary skills including a multitude of fun & exciting recipes! Register your kid today. Limited space available.
Cordovan Art School is teaming up with Young Artist Art Studio for the BEST creative Spring & Summer Art Camps ever! 10,000 kids & teens have joined Cordovan camps over the past 11 years! Family owned, Over 40 camps to choose from, Ages 5-16, All skill levels, Extended care.
ICODE
HOUSTON SPCA
ID TECH
icodeschool.com
houstonspca.org
www.iDTech.com
281.584.6618 sugarland117@icodeschool.com Missouri City, TX
education@houstonspca.org Houston, TX
1.888.709.8324
TYPE OF CAMP: Technology, STEM AGES: 7-18 iCode Computer Science Camps deliver unprecedented creative exploration into core STEAM skills over weeklong experiences. The energy is high as children gain soft and hard skills in our proprietary Computer Science Camps. There is no better way to discover or gain a passion for STEAM education than to immerse themselves in a world of coding, robotics, drones, and design.
TYPE OF CAMP: Adventure, Academic AGES: 3rd-8th grade Get Ready for Some Off-the-Leash Fun! Summer Critter Camp at the Houston SPCA is back and will be held in-person from June 7 – August 13, 2021. There is a variety of 10 week-long day sessions for Campers entering 3rd – 8th grade. Summer waits for no one, and your kids deserve it. So register today!
From robots and rocket science to mummies and spying, students can participate in a variety of week-long camps at the Houston Museum of Natural Science!
TYPE OF CAMP: Technology, STEM AGES: 7-18 iD Tech is the world’s premier destination for STEM education, with online programs that sharpen students’ coding, game dev, and creative skills, all from the comfort of home. Choose from Virtual Tech Camps, Online Private Lessons, or small-group Semesters. Guided by elite rockstar instructors, your child will have fun, unlock tech brilliance, and join a community of 500,000 aspiring innovators.
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N | C A M P D I R E C T O RY
IDEA LAB
KANAKUK KAMPS
www.aliana.idealabkids.com
www.kanakuk.com
832.490.3557 Richmond, TX
417.266.3000 Branson, Missouri
TYPE OF CAMP: STEAM Camps : Science / Arts / Culinary / Technology/Coding & Programming/Robotics
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight Camp AGES: 6-18
KIDVENTURE DAY CAMP kidventure.com 713.960.8989 Houston, TX TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp
AGES: 1st-5th Grade & Kanakuk is a premier summer camp 6th-9th grade experience for boys and girls with locations in Branson and Lampe, Kidventure will offer over 16 Camp Missouri. It’s 5 overnight camps programs across the Houston area. provide children and teens with Each Houston Day Camp program fun, safe and age-appropriate provides each age group with its outdoor camping experiences that custom curriculum, unique camp develop them spiritually, physically, activities, and dedicated adult camp emotionally and socially. Sessions team designed to bring out the very run from May 29 to August 6 with 1, 2 best camp experience for every child. and 4-week options. YMCA-0095 HFM 2021_CampFair_PrintAd_mech.pdf 1 2/18/21 1:05 PM
AGES: 5-12 We encompass all the aspects of Science/Technology/Engineering/ Arts and Mathematics into a powerhouse of diverse curriculum with hands-on experiences.This summer forget boredom and your same old activities!!
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
KIDVENTURE OVERNIGHT CAMP
LANGUAGE KIDS WORLD
LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM
kidventure.com
www.languagekids.com
lonestarflight.org/learn/camps/
512.263.8992 Hunt, TX & Rocksprings, TX
281.565.1388 Greater Houston Area
346.708.2517 Houston, TX
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight Camp
TYPE OF CAMP: Academic Camp
TYPE OF CAMP: Technology Camp
AGES: 8-13 & 13-16
AGES: 3-5 & 6-12
AGES: 11-14
Kidventure Overnight Camp has been an experience like none other. Now, more than ever, our kids need camp. The opportunity to rebuild relationships, gain confidence, and dream big has never meant more. Join Kidventure for the summer of 2021 and be part of an adventure that will last a lifetime.
Learning another language has never been so much fun! Spanish immersion in-person camps, and virtual camps in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, ESL and Sign Language, as well as our brand new “Build your own camp” ™ program, in which we bring our amazing camps to your home!
Spring Break Camp and Merit Badge Workshops at LSFM – JUST PLANE FUN! For Scouts 11-17. New American Heritage and Electronics merit badges available plus the Aviation merit badge. And don’t forget the Pilot Maker camp for kids 10-13. Visit LoneStarFlight.org for details.
Join us for an action-packed, faith-filled week of summer camp! Located on 1,100 forested acres one hour north west of Houston, Camp Allen provides affordable, over night camping experiences for ages 8-18.
campallen.org
936.825.7175
S P E C I A L S E C T I O N | C A M P D I R E C T O RY
THE PARISH SCHOOL
RISE AT THE WAREHOUSE
SCHOOL OF ROCK
www.parishschool.org/summer
risewarehouse.com/camp
713.467.4696 Houston, TX
713.715.7473 Houston, TX
Clear Lake 281.218.7625 Sugar Land 832.939.8788 Champion Forest 281.246.4475
TYPE OF CAMP: Day and Overnight Camp Options
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp
TYPE OF CAMP: Music, Day Camp
AGES: 2-17 (ages vary by program)
AGES: 5-12
AGES: 5-18
The Parish School educates children who have communication delays and learning differences, empowering them with the tools to succeed. Through a variety of summer programs, campers build self-esteem while developing communication, social and handwriting skills in a safe, nurturing environment.
RISE offers a one-of-a-kind weeklong day camp featuring gymnastics, dance, music, and ninja: 4 camps in 1! Each day our campers cycle through these 4 disciplines, keeping them engaged and active for the whole week. Our camp is open to ages 5-12 and runs 9am-3pm; extended care is also available!
Throughout the year, School of Rock offers music camps and workshops perfect for musicians of all skill levels who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, ukulele, and vocals. Call today, or sign up on our website! Rock on!
www.schoolofrock.com
G N I R P S EAK BR SEUM U M T IGH AR FL T S E LON
UN F E N PLA JUST
THE
STEARMAN 1934
March 13-21
PROGRAMS • EVENTS • SCOUTS • CAMPS LoneStarFlight.org
C A M P D I R E C T O RY | S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
TEXAS ROCK GYM
YMCA CAMP CULLEN
YMCA DAY CAMP
713.973.7625 Houston, TX
www.ymcacampcullen.org
ymcahouston.org/summer-camp
936.594.2274 Trinity, TX
Greater Houston Area
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp, Rock Climbing
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight, Adventure
AGES: 7-17
AGES: 5-17
Texas Rock Gym has been offering Climbing Day Camps to Houston youth for over 15 years. Our camps are well structured, run by experienced counselors, and most of all…fun!
Nestled among the tall pines along the shores of Lake Livingston lies one of Texas’s premier camps. Campers take part in choice-based activities in a safe, fun and supportive environment.
texasrockgym.com
Currently Registering for the 21/22 School Year
TYPE OF CAMP: Day Camp AGES: 5-15 Offered at locations around the Houston area, our camps place special emphasis on youth choice, achievement and a sense of belonging. Activities may include sports and outdoor games, creative and performing arts, archery, engineering and nature exploration.