Summer day camps are fun and education all rolled into one. EAST COBBER has collected information on the wide range of wonderful day camps to fit all ages and interests, including sports camps, adventure camps, Christian camps, art camps, science camps, dance camps and more. Many day camps listed throughout these pages are held right here in East Cobb and some are just a short drive away. Please note, as extensive as this day camp chart is, it is still just a sampling of all the day camps available. We recommend you visit the websites noted on each listing for even more offerings.
Animals Deserve Better
3100 Roswell Road, Suite 125, Marietta 30062 678-935-8762 • www.AnimalsDeserveBetter.org
1887 West Oak Parkway, Marietta 30062 678-594-8700 • www.primaryprepacademy.com
Primrose School of Sprayberry 2531 East Piedmont Road • Marietta 30062 770-578-4832 • www.primrosesprayberry.com
585 S. Atlanta Street, Roswell 30075 770-744-3814 • www.ragamuffinmusic.com
Marietta 30066
Southern Polytechnic State University AEROSPACE ENGINEERING SUMMER CAMP Building Q, Room 202 1100 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta 30060 678-915-7241 • www.spsu.edu/aerospace
EAST COBBER Day Camp Guide
Sports-A-Rama Multi-Sport Camp
736 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta 30068 770-977-9789 • www.sareastcobb.com
Sports Broadcasting Camp @ Emory University • 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta 30322 800-319-0884 • www.playbyplaycamps.com
Sprayberry Academy - 2.0 Camp
2100 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta 30062 770-977-0877 • www.sprayberrychildrensgroup.com
Sprayberry Academy - PreK Camp 2100 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta 30062 770-977-0877 • www.sprayberrychildrensgroup.com
YMCA McClesky-East Cobb TEEN CAMP 1055 East Piedmont Road, Marietta 30062 770-977-5991 • www.ymcapass.com/mcy.shtml
YMCA Northeast SPORTS CAMP 3010 Johnson
EAST COBBER Day Camp Guide
How To Find The Best Day Camp For Your Child
By Gregory Keer
If there is ever a reminder that a parent’s calendar has nothing to do with the date at hand, let me welcome you to camp season. Moms and dads are already mulling over which camps to send them to in mid-winter. Here are a few suggestions to make your day camp choices easier.
Ask Your Kids: Camp should be about fun. This is a chance for children to blow off steam, try new things and do the things they love to do in the great outdoors (or in well air-conditioned indoor places). So ask your kid where she wants to go for camp. She may want to go with friends or to a certain camp with the activities that appeal to her. Get the lowdown from your child first, to shape everything else.
Ask Around: Of course, your child’s request is not the only criteria you need to bear in mind. You still have homework to do, such as asking other
parents, even other kids about where they’ve gone or will go to camp. You can read brochures and websites that will present lots of information, but nothing tells you about social interaction, ageappropriateness of activities and quality of staff like a fellow parent or your kid’s friends.
Take a Tour: Go see the camp, preferably with your child. Ask the guide (hopefully it’s the camp director or assistant director) what the philosophy of the camp is. Ask about the organization of the camp, the costs, how long it’s been in business, the camper return rate and the activities. If they seem thrilled, you’ve got something. Go ahead and ask your child what they like or dislike even before you leave the tour, so you can get questions answered.
Ask About the Staff: Whether you do the tour or not, there are a couple of vital areas of information you need. One is about the staff, including what the staff training is, what the counselor-to-camper ratio is. For younger children, it should be five to eight kids for every counselor, and for kids over 9, it should be eight to 10 kids for every counselor.
Consider the Heat: It gets real hot in Georgia. Be sure the camp you choose has adequate shade and air-conditioned indoor areas for when it gets scorching.
Be Safe: Heat is just one safety consideration. You need to ask about medical training of the staff and the proximity of a hospital. If you tour the campus, check out the equipment for accidentproneness.
Good luck in your efforts to find a great camp. There are loads of them out there. And remember, camp is not supposed to be a training ground for lawyers, doctors and captains of industry, so don’t over-think your choice. Choose fun first and last and you’ll choose correctly.
