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EDITED BY JULANNE HOHBACH
A special quarterly section of Columbus Monthly Page 50 Summer Camp: A Parent Primer Camp organizers and a pediatrician offer advice on finding the right fit and helping your child have a successful experience. Page 56 The Go-To Guide: Top Indoor Play Places 14 fun, family-friendly spots to bowl, climb, race, zip line and more
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Whether you’re looking for a daytime program to keep kids active or an overnight option for an older child, camp organizers share some tips to ensure a successful experience. By Chuck Nelson AH, SUM MER. When a youngster’s thoughts
turn to sunny days hiking through the woods. Or maybe painting a picture of a stream. Or transforming a Raspberry Pi computer into a camera. Summer camps can be all those things and more. Camping has undergone some big changes over the years, but it still boils down to one thing: Kids just want to have fun. It’s up to parents (or grandparents) to figure out what that looks like for their family and make it happen. Whether you need a full-time care option or a short program—or three—to keep your child busy, Central Ohio boasts a wealth of interesting summer choices. Numerous day and residential camps with themes to suit just about any kind of camper can be found within a short drive. Depending on which option you choose, you’ll want to move quickly. The most popular camps sell out shortly after the booking window opens. If you’re worried about finding the right spot for your child this summer, don’t be. We’ve collected some timeless tips and advice from camp organizers and a pediatrician to make the process easier.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/JUPITERIMAGES
EXPLORING THE OPTIONS
There’s a wide variety of programs to choose from, such as traditional outdoors-based camps; camps for aspiring musicians, artists, actors and writers; STEM camps for inquiring minds; sports camps for budding athletes; faith-based camps to nurture the spirit; and camps for children with special needs.
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RESOURCES Not sure where to start? Talk to other parents, especially those with older children. Internet searches will produce a laundry list of camp names, but references from friends can help narrow the field. The American Camp Association (acacamps.org) maintains a searchable database of more than 3,900 camps offering 13,000 programs. You can search by type of camp, age of the camper or location. Cap4Kids (cap4kids.org/columbus)— run by the local chapter of the Children’s Advocacy Project with input from Nationwide Children’s Hospital—also offers curated camp listings, along with a wide variety of resources for parents.
A sleepaway camp located in the heart of Ohio's Mohican State Forest
Proud to serve Neurodivergent youth with Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Mood Disorders, and other Mental Health Challenges
A professionally trained and passionately caring staff that work with and empower youth with a 3:8 Staff to Camper Ratio
A safe and caring environment where campers build friendships, increase confidence, and develop life skills through outdoor adventure
zone a little bit,” says Ashley Price, director of student experiences with the PAST Foundation. “They don’t know what they don’t know until they get an opportunity to try it out. “We get a lot of parents that call and say, ‘Hey, this is who my kiddo is. Do you think that program would be a good fit?’ ” says Price. “Don’t be afraid to ask those questions. We want kiddos to come and learn new things, but we want them to be comfortable, as well.” “There are so many different types of camps out there that, chances are, there’s a camp that your child is ready for,” says Erickson.
PHOTO: COURTESY OHIO SUPERCOMPUTER CENTER
CAMP READINESS
Is your child ready to take the plunge? “If you have a kid who goes off to day care or preschool or school and is fine being away from Mom and Dad and comes back excited to share their experiences of the day, they’re probably ready,” says Dr. Michael Patrick, a pediatrician and emergency medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and host of the popular PediaCast podcast. “If they’re more clingy and cry and talk about how much they missed you, it’s going to be more of a challenge.” Camp Wyandot has a Mini Trails program for younger campers that offers a
Learn more at nuhop.org 419-938-7151 MARCH 2023 COLUMBUS MONTHLY
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–Summer Camp 2023– Registration Now Open Half Day and Full Day camps both include a healthy morning and afternoon snack.
76 Charleston Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 thejuniperschool.org
JUN. 20–AUG. 10, 2023 769 E. Long St., Columbus, OH 43203
This summer, take a dive into creativity!
TO REGISTER
LincolnTheatreColumbus.com/patternz
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shorter residential stay. “If they want to try out everything, they can come for a threeday session,” says camp director Connie Coutellier, who attended Camp Wyandot herself when she was 7. Readiness is a two-way street, says the zoo’s Good. “The most important thing for a parent to ask themselves is if they’re ready. Have you prepared yourself for your child to come to camp?” he says. “If you feel confident in sending your child to camp, then you can express that confidence to your camper, and they’ll mirror that confidence when they come to camp.” It’s also not a bad idea to let camp organizers know if your child is a first-time camper. “I’d prefer to have staff members go, ‘OK. We need to make sure we’re a little more engaging, so people are having a good time and they’re so engaged they’re not realizing, ‘Oh, I miss my mom,’ ” says David Hedgecoth, director of OSU’s Youth Summer Music Program. DUE DILIGENCE Finding a camp that interests your child is only half the battle. Understanding what to expect from a camp is essential—especially if your camper has special needs or chronic conditions such as food allergies or asthma. The American Camp Association suggests asking about such things as the camp director’s background, what training counselors receive, the counselor-to-camper ratio and how homesickness is handled. Safety should be top of mind for camp
staff and administrators. “We have an RN on duty, a risk management plan and extensive training for the staff every year,” Coutellier says. Alan Chalker, an alumnus of the Ohio Supercomputer Center’s summer residency camps where he’s now director of strategic programs, agrees. “As a parent, I’ve had my kids involved in a variety of programs,” he says. “We’re going to have care and custody of these kids for an extended period of time. As a parent, you want to make sure that whoever’s running the program takes that seriously.” ACA accreditation also can help parents choose the right camp, says Erickson. “You know right away that these camps have participated in a thorough review of operations,” she says. “It really shows a camp’s ongoing commitment to health and safety and fun. And that’s what we want; those are the big things.” Safety is also a watchword for Hedgecoth, whose program brings 500 to 600 students to OSU and relies on more than 100 student workers and staff. “The youth protection element really is a foundational stone to make sure we’re running a responsible endeavor,” he says. “Being very thoughtful about who’s going to interact with these children and teach them and walk them to the cafeteria and around campus is key.” Water safety is also important. “I think the swimming pool is the biggest thing to ask about,” says Patrick, stressing the importance of adequate su-
PHOTO: GRAHM S. JONES, COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM
Summer campers at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
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pervision, training of lifeguards and swim tests for campers. “Whenever water is involved, you want to make sure the camp is intentional about how they handle the pool and it’s not just a free-for-all.” FINANCIAL COM MITMENT
Cost concerns are a major consideration for many families when choosing a program. The good news is, there are options to fit almost any budget, from programs that are free for eligible students to twomonth resident camps topping $10,000. The ACA suggests checking with local organizations, places of worship or parks and recreation departments to see if they offer financial aid or scholarships, since 93 percent of ACA-accredited programs offer some type of assistance. “It’s probably not good to look for a bargain when you’re thinking about sending your kids off to be supervised by someone else,” says Patrick, who suggests prioritizing camps with better resources.
PHOTO: GRAHM S. JONES, COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
There are lots of ways to make—and break—the camping experience for your child. Here are a few: Don’t offer an out. “One of the more common mistakes if a child is hesitant to come to camp is if you tell them, ‘If you don’t like it, I will come and pick you up,’ ” says Good. “Keep those conversations positive; keep them directed toward their interests and what’s going to be fun about camp rather than the opportunity to leave.” Don’t overschedule. “Expect your kids to be exhausted at the end of the day. Be prepared for your kids to be sweaty and hungry and tired,” says Erickson. “That means they’ve had a good day.” Engage with kids when they come home. Ask what they’ve learned and what they’re struggling with to gauge their level of enjoyment, Price says. Label their belongings. Put your kid’s name on everything to improve the odds their items make it back home. “It’s like the child explodes like a Tasmanian devil, and it’s so much easier to get things back to the child when camp is over,” Erickson says. Follow the packing list. “Make sure you’ve read the packing list and pack what the camp has requested,” says Erickson. “If it’s on the packing list, there’s a reason.” Embrace the unknown. Discovering new things is the whole point of summer camp, Chalker says. “Maybe you’ll find something that you’re passionate about.” ◆
Inspiring U offers creative classes for both adults and children. We also host birthday parties, Girl’s Night Out, Day care field trips, scouts, and various organizations. But we are most known for our outstanding Summer Kid’s Camps. We offer Art & Craft Camp for children 7 years old and older. And we offer Sewing Camp for 8 and older. Our website has more details, and times. Inspiring U 409 W. Main St. Westerville, OH 43081
Wesbite : Inspiring-U.com (614)823-4100
Summer Program
For children entering Preschool through Grade 6
10 weeks, June 7 - August 16 2, 3, 4 or 5 day options M-F from 7:00 am - 6:00 pm 614-459-8285
4567 Olentangy River Road, Columbus OH 43214
ourladyofbethlehem.org
Spend summer days on our beautiful campus making friends. Enjoy field and swimming trips, sharpen reading, math and science skills, all while building your faith. $100 non-refundable registration fee per student One 50% vacation week tuition discount per student; excludes Infant and Toddler Families with three or more children enrolled receive a 50% discount on one child's summer weekly tuition
614-459-8285
4567 Olentangy River Road, Columbus OH 43214
ourladyofbethlehem.org
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A foam pit is among the attractions at the Bounce Club in Powell.
THE GO-TO GUIDE
Top Central Ohio Play Places From adventure parks to sports sites, here are 14 top prospects for family fun. By Jim Fischer
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columbusmonthly.com/columbus-parent for additional options.
GAMING AND SPORTS
Buckeye Raceway
4050 W. Broad St., Columbus; 614-2727888; buckeyeraceway.com Buckeye Raceway offers European-style performance karts that compete on an indoor course. Drivers must be at least 56 inches tall and 12 years old to race at full speed, while juniors must be over 48 inches and 8 years old. A single race is $21. Racing is available by reservation or first come, first served. The West Side facility also offers ax throwing ($15 per person per half-hour) and footbowl, a blend of football and bowling ($10 per person per hour).
Magic Mountain Fun Center
5890 Scarborough Blvd., Columbus; 614-490-5071; magicmountainfuncenter. com/east Magic Mountain offers a mix of indoor and seasonal outdoor attractions, including gokarts, arcade games, a KidsGym play area, mini golf, batting cages and bumper cars. Food and drinks are available. Prices vary by attraction, and packages are offered; note that some costs are lower online.
Putt N Play
4021 Thistlewood Drive, Grove City; 614594-0077; puttnplayfuncenter.com Putt N Play may be best known for mini golf and its batting and soccer cages, but it does operate an indoor arcade. The family fun center operates seasonally. Golf is $8 for adults and $7 for kids; cage tokens are $2.
PHOTO: SAMANTHA MADAR
Central Ohio is a great place for families, and fortunately for parents and grandparents, there are plenty of ways to stay busy. Indoor play places are a fun way to get active year-round, though they come in particularly handy on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Some also offer seasonal outdoor activities, such as mini golf and go-karts. We’ve compiled a list of some of the region’s most popular multiple-activity play venues. In addition to open play, some offer classes and other programming. Before visiting, call or check online to verify prices, hours and other details, such as age and height restrictions. The list you see here focuses on a few of the most popular categories: Adventure Parks, Gaming, Sports and Trampoline Parks. Check out the expanded story at COLUMBUS MONTHLY MARCH 2023
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Rule (3)
650 Windmiller Drive, Pickerington; 614864-7853; rule3.com Traditional 10-pin bowling, mini-bowling and sand volleyball (seasonally) are highlights at Rule (3), along with a 50-game arcade. The business also operates three escape rooms, plus a full-service bar and grill. Bowling lanes are $24 to $48 per hour; mini-bowling is $2 to $3 per game. Escape rooms cost $25 per person and can accommodate eight players.
Scene75
5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., Dublin; 614495-8660; scene75.com/columbus Scene75, located inside the Mall at Tuttle Crossing, offers 16 attractions that appeal to kids and adults alike. Go-karts, laser tag, inflatables, blacklight mini golf, karaoke, a 4D motion theater, a 200-game arcade and rides such as a drop tower, a roller coaster and bumper cars are among the highlights. Pricing is by attraction.
SportsOhio
6314 Cosgray Road, Dublin; 614-7913003; sportsohio.org In business more than 25 years, SportsOhio features 100 acres of space in which to get active. The facility is known for its sports classes and leagues, including baseball, basketball, kickball, lacrosse and volleyball. But seasonal family activities such as FootGolf, batting cages, a driving range, mini golf and go-karts also are available.
Ten Pin Alley
5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard; 614-8762475; tenpinalley.com Ten Pin Alley has 20 lanes of bowling, an arcade with more than 40 games, and a 2,000-square-foot, two-story laser tag arena. The full-service restaurant has a kids menu and a full bar. Lanes are $30 to $52 per hour; laser tag is $5 to $7 per mission.
ADVENTURE AND TRAMPOLINE PARKS
PHOTO: COURTESY TEN PIN ALLEY
PHOTO: SAMANTHA MADAR
Big Air Trampoline Park
1400 Polaris Parkway, Columbus; 614943-8703; bigairusa.com/columbus The former Airhouse Adventure Park is now Big Air. Despite the new name, the space still features similar activities, including trampolines, dodgeball, climbing walls, a ninja course, a zip line and a ropes course. Admission is $20 for the first hour. Daily deals can be found online.
The Bounce Club
3967 Presidential Parkway, Powell; 614792-2582 1645 Gateway Circle, Grove City; 614957-5382; thebounceclub.com The former Grove City Big Bounce has joined the Bounce Club, giving the company two Central Ohio trampoline parks. Visitors will find trampolines, foam pits, slides and more. Open jump time rates are $11 to $15 per hour. Separate sessions are available for toddlers and preschoolers, and kids and teen nights are offered weekly.
Get Air
3708 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard; 614-3359864; getairsports.com/columbus 1075 Hill Road N, Pickerington; 614-4901286; getairsports.com/pickerington Both Get Air locations offer loads of trampolines, as well as foam pits, a ninja course, dodgeball, a slam-dunk area, and slackline and ladder challenges. A separate Kiddie Court area caters to children under 46 inches tall. Parents can watch from benches or massage chairs. Open jump rates are $15.81 for the first hour, $10.23 for kids under 46 inches tall. Specials are available on select days. Get Air offers toddler time and separate hours for children with special needs.
Ninja Citi
Rockin’ Jump
1220 County Line Road, Westerville; 614508-6088; rockinjump.com/westerville 5625 Shier Rings Road, Dublin; 614-4070095; rockinjump.com/dublin-oh Both Rockin’ Jump locations have trampolines, climbing walls, padded “combat” zones, slam-dunk areas, dodgeball and more. Westerville also has a ninja course, while Dublin offers a bungee attraction, warped wall, stunt bag and zip line. Snacks can be purchased from the in-house café. Special jump times are available for ages 5 and younger. Ninety minutes of open jump time in Westerville is $19, $15.99 for ages 5 and younger. Dublin prices are $22 and $17.
Urban Air Adventure Park
6314 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg; 614-739-1654 7679 Dublin-Plain City Road, Dublin; 380-204-6390; urbanair.com Urban Air Adventure Park offers a variety of attractions including a ropes course, tumble track, climbing walls, trampolines, Sky Rider zip line, playground, ninja course and more. The Reynoldsburg location also has virtual reality gaming. Admission is $16.49 to $30.99 based on park and attractions chosen; half-price parent passes are available.
2620 Sawmill Place Blvd., Columbus; 614-659-7700; ninjaciti.com Ninja Citi combines obstacle courses, a trampoline park and an arcade under one roof. The 30,000-square-foot play space features 12 ninja courses, five warped walls, a parkour arena, a rock wall and a trampoline area with spaces for basketball and dodgeball. The open gym rate is $15 for the first hour; family specials and memberships are available.
Play: CBUS
535 Lakeview Plaza Blvd., Worthington; 614-505-8586; playadventureparks.com/ location/columbus This 53,000-square-foot indoor adventure park boasts a two-story ropes course with 100 elements, 20 climbing walls, the largest indoor via ferrata climbing wall in the U.S., a zip line and two ninja courses, including the only elevated course in Ohio. Play: CBUS also offers a full-service bar and restaurant. Admission is $44.95, $24.95 for ages 6 and younger. Special pricing, passes and other deals are available. Reservations must be made in advance.
The laser tag area at Ten Pin Alley
Go to columbusmonthly.com/ columbus-parent for an extended version of this list with three additional categories: Play Cafés, Play Gyms and Shopping Stops. MARCH 2023 COLUMBUS MONTHLY
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