Summer Camp Guide, February 2020

2020

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM | FEBRUARY 2020 | SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

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Time to get excited for summer ‌ in the winter e’re barely trained on writing “2020â€? instead of “2019,â€? but it is indeed time to start firming up those summer plans.

Fortunately, we’re in a community that has a wide variety of options that will not only keep kids busy, but keep them engaged throughout the summer.

There are fun activities, like dinosaur and amusement park art classes from Abrakadoodle that will be popping up in community centers across the region.

There are physical challenges your kids may have never imagined during the summer like rock climbing camps at Vertical Rock.

There are opportunities for students to become future leaders in the Prince William region, and to commit to improving the state’s parks through summer programs.

And there are a variety of opportunities to capture their imagination and foster innovation, including Camp Invention planned at several area schools this summer.

Take a look at all of the great opportunities included in this year’s camp guide, and see more things to do this summer (and don’t forget spring break!) in our online calendar at InsideNoVa. com/calendar! — Greg Hambrick, senior editor

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Creative camp experience offers unique art STAFF REPORTS

info@insidenova.com

his art camp isn’t for the paintby-number crowd. At the end of the week at Abrakadoodle Art Camps, kids have a unique piece of art to show off to their parents during an art show before they take it home.

Offering programs in Prince William County since 2012, Abrakadoodle has several camps planned at community centers throughout the county this summer.

Abrakadoodle Art Camps inspire kids to reach beyond and create art that is unique to them, said Eileen Moore, the region’s educational director.

“We’re not cookie-cutter,” she said.

“The lessons have themes and objectives, but it’s all about experiences and problem solving — we teach the lesson, but they add their own touches.”

Abrakadoodle is continuing to add to its summer camp program and looking forward to a fun summer of art, Moore said.

The summer offerings include Artosaurus STEAM Camp, where kids “explore the wild world of dinosaurs and other reptiles,” learning about prehistoric animals, making dinosaur eggs and creating

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fossils and habitats. Kids will experiment with a variety of art techniques while learning about science, technology, engineering and math concepts used to study extinct animals.

Adventure Park Art Camp will give young artists a chance to create a theme park with a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel and more while exploring different art materials and techniques.

Abrakadoodle also has a Great Big Messy Art Camp.

“It’s about experimenting and getting messy,” Moore said.

Camp experiences include sticky spaghetti designs, paint that fizzes and pops, messy portraits that match messy faces, squeeze art and African mud painting.

And there’s even more to do at Let’s Go Camping Art Camp, with hiking and a campfire on the agenda, along with creating a nature tapestry and learning about wild animals. Campers get lessons on mapping a campground, designing a camping trailer and collecting bugs in a jar.

Most camps are for children ages 6-12, but there are also a few “mini doodler” camps for ages 3-5.

At the end of each week, campers can bring their parents in to see their artwork on display in an art gallery presentation.

Learn To Skate Fun Camp Learn To Play Hockey Camp

DATES: TIMES: 9:00am - 5:00pm Week #1 June 15 - 19; PRICE: $269 per week.

Week #2 June 22 - 26; Early Bird registration discounts: Week #3 June 29 - July 3; Register by 2/29 Week #4 July 13 - 17; get $40 off one week of camp Week #5 July 27 - 31; Register by 3/31 Week #6 August 10 - 14, 2020 get $30 off one week of camp AGES: 5 - 11 years old Register by 4/30 get $20 off one week of camp LEVELS: Beginner – Intermediate for If register on-line mention "Website 2020" Learn to Skate and Hockey coupon code to receive discount.

1-4 for Learn to Play Hockey

Abrakadoodle offers art camps throughout Prince William County.

“Parents really like that, and the kids do, too,” Moore said.

It’s such a good experience, the kids come back for other programs, she said.

“We see a lot of repeaters,” Moore said.

“It’s fun to see their growth.”

Summer camp events are currently

PROVIDED

scheduled at Haymarket-Piedmont Athletic Club, Ben Lomond Community Center in Manassas, Locust Shade Park in Triangle, Dale City Recreation Center and Veterans Park in Woodbridge.

For more, visit www.abrakadoodle. com/va-prince-william-county-register.

Register Now for Summer Camps

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5180 Dale Blvd Woodbridge VA 22193 703-730-8423 www.pwice.com INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM | FEBRUARY 2020 | SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

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Summer plans are looking up STAFF REPORTS

info@insidenova.com

arents often seek out challenges for their kids — something that will stretch what they thought was possible.

And, if you could manifest that challenge in a physical shape, it would probably look like a wall at Vertical Rock, located at 10225 Nokesville Road, Manassas.

The indoor climbing facility in Manassas offers an indoor and outdoor camps to engage kids as young as five — something that may come as a surprise to grown adults who can sometimes be overwhelmed at the challenge.

“Really, really young kids can do it,” said Rachel Nystrom, director of operations at Vertical Rock. There’s even a new toddler and parent program separate from the camp offerings.

For mini rockers (ages 5-11), the four-day indoor camp introduces kids to age-appropriate safety skills, workouts and games while climbing in a safe, supervised environment.

“We get a lot of regular climbers and team members, but we also get a lot of kids who are trying it for the first time,” Nystrom said.

It can be a personal challenge — with new climbers getting just a few feet on the wall on the first day. “By the end of the week, they’re going all the way to the top,” Nystrom said.

The wall can test campers physically, having them use muscles they didn’t know they had,

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and mentally, by developing problem-solving techniques. It can also be a good place to learn even more lessons, like working together and patience while waiting your turn.

And not all of the fun is spent on the wall.

Some team-building activities and other exercises give campers a break during the program.

Activities will improve self-esteem, social skills, eye/hand coordination and more.

Weekly sessions run from June 15 through Aug. 20.

For older day campers, ages 9 and up, Vertical Rock offers an outdoor program.

Elevation gets the kids outside for climbing adventures at four different climbing areas: Carderock, Great Falls, Elizabeth Furnace and Vertical Rock.

“It’s a whole new sense of adventure,” Nystrom said. “It’s more challenging — and a lot more problem solving.”

Most of the kids have some climbing experience, but not all of them do, Nystrom said.

Campers will learn more techniques and the mechanics of rock climbing, while learning about rock types, flora and fauna and other climbing facts.

An emphasis on the "Leave No Trace and Minimizing Climbing Impacts" principle are integrated into the program.

For more on the indoor camp, visit climbva.com. For more on the outdoor camp, visit climb-outdoor.com/camps.

Younger kids will have a chance to climb the walls inside Vertical Rock, while older campers will get outside this summer.

VERTICAL ROCK PHOTOS

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PRESENTS

Summer Dance at VNB!

Registration Begins March 5

Join us for a great summer season of camps and classes!

DANCE INTENSIVES with a performance at Locust Shade Park!

CAMPS Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Frozen, Mulan, and more!

CLASSES Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Pom Dance, Pre School, Adult

Register online at www.virginianationalballet.org Or call 703-753-5005 4

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | FEBRUARY 2020 | INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM

The mission of Leadership Prince William includes inspiring and engaging youth leaders through the Summer Youth Academy.

PROVIDED

Summer Youth Academy info meeting March 11 n Wednesday, March 11, Leadership Prince William will host an informational meeting for parents interested in sending their students through their Summer Youth Academy.

The meeting will be held from 6-7 p.m. at Osbourn High School, 1977 Eagle Way, Manassas.

Leadership Prince William and camp staff will be present, along with some past participants. There will be a short presentation followed by Q&A. Parents are invited to discover the benefits to students, ask questions about the curriculum and learn more about scholarships.

Anyone who would like to RSVP or get more details should email Sarah Poole at sarah@leadershipprincewilliam.org.

Now in its sixth year, Leadership Prince William’s Summer Youth Academy is

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Convenient Bristow Location for kids 6-13.

This is the 42nd Year of Chip Rohr’s Soccer Camps!

planned for July 13-24. The two-week day camp is designed for rising 7th through 9th graders who live or attend school in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Students will benefit from: • Enhanced team-building, communication and other skills.

• Working with a diverse cross-section of peers from across their community.

• Chance to design and manage a community service project with a team.

• Field trips to relevant local sites including the Public Safety Training Academy, Adult Detention Center, Micron Technology, historical sites and more.

• The opportunity to discover how their unique thinking and behavioral attributes influence their leadership style.

• Meetings with local leaders in business, government and education.

For more, visit leadershipprincewilliam.org.

(703) 368-3000 • chiprohrsoccer.com

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INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM | FEBRUARY 2020 | SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | FEBRUARY 2020 | INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM

County plans hiring events for summer rince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism announced the dates of its summer job hiring events for the 2020 summer recreation programs. Hiring managers will be holding open interviews at several events.

The SplashDown Waterpark hiring events for Concessions, Cashiers and Guest Services for the waterpark: • 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at Stonewall Jackson High School, 8820 Rixlew Lane, Manassas.

• 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 7 at Sinclair Elementary School, 7801 Garner Drive, Manassas.

There are also two lifeguard hiring events: • 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center, 13025 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge.

• 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, 9100 Freedom Center Blvd., Manassas.

Lifeguard applicants must apply online before you attend either lifeguard hiring event.

Applicants at these events will take swim tests, so bring your swimsuit to the hiring event.

For more, visit www.pwcparks.org/jobs.

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Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps members work at New River Trail State Park.

PROVIDED

State parks seek Conservation Corps applicants pplications are being accepted for two three-week summer sessions of the Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps.

The application deadline is March 5.

The program will be held June 21July 11 and July 19-Aug. 8.

YCC crew members are provided room, board, T-shirts and equipment.

They receive a $500 stipend at the end of the three weeks.

Teams of 10 will be chosen from current high school students between the

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ages of 14 and 17. Each crew is led by three trained, adult crew leaders. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in protecting Virginia’s environment.

While no prior experience is necessary, participants will work outside, and the service is physically demanding. A positive attitude, an interest in learning, curiosity about interpreting nature and the physical ability and desire to work outdoors are also important factors in the selection process.

YCC participants help with assorted park projects, including wildlife and

fisheries habitat improvement, trail and campground construction and restoration, timber and shoreline improvement, and landscape beautification.

The YCC is modeled after the federal service program AmeriCorps and the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps that built the original six Virginia State Parks.

For more information about the YCC program, visit www.dcr.virginia. gov/state-parks/youth-conservationcorps.

LIGHTHOUSE DRAMA CAMP Producing a musical in two weeks with music, art and drama full day camp (9a-4p) & half day camp (1p-4p) available

Great Teachers, Great Fun!

Camp Dates June 29- July 10 Performance Dates July 10 & 11 sign up now at

www.fupcdc.org

(703) 670-7834 14391 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, VA 22193 INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM | FEBRUARY 2020 | SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE | FEBRUARY 2020 | INSIDENOVA PRINCE WILLIAM