Northeast Ohio Parent | Winter Camp Guide 2024

CAMP and SUMMER Programs FINDP!

Guide

Winter 2024 Edition

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CAMP AGE Are They Ready?

BEST FIT Factors to Consider Camp Career Learn About Manufacturing Programs for All Special Needs Camps Sponsored by

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CAMP and SUMMER Programs Guide

Winter 2024 Edition

FINDP!

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WHAT AGE SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR KID TO CAMP?

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FINDING YOUR CAMP FIT

How to tell if your child is ready.

Things to consider when deciding on a summer camp or program experience.

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We get an inside view of this unique camp offering.

How to ensure the camp experience fits the needs of your camper.

MANUFACTURING CAMPS

CAMP FOR ALL ABILITIES

Sponsored by

Visit NortheastOhioParent.com to find more summer camp guide listings.

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What Age Should You Send Your Kid to Camp?

With so many camps available nowadays, when should parents be looking to send their kids to camp this summer?

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arents want to send a child to camp, so they can have a fun experience, or learn a new skill, but they might wonder if a child is ready for camp based on their age.

“As far as the age of a child camp is great for — it’s 6 years old,” says Natisha Bowling, senior vice president of youth development at YMCA of Greater Cleveland. “Once they have that kindergarten experience, and they learn how to separate from mom, and to be more independent, it’s time for them to have a camp experience. And every child is different, and that’s why at the YMCA, we offer a variety of camps so that the parent can find out what’s the best fit for their child.”

“Kids should go into a camp expe-

By Ginny McCabe rience with an open mind, looking to make new friends, and experience new things,” she adds. “When you prepare them that way, they are always successful because they expect it — to do something new.”

When it comes to overnight or sleepaway camp, Dave Devey, director/owner of Falcon Camp says there’s no answer that fits everyone as is typical with children.

“We start accepting children at age 6,” he says. “We have a one-week introductory program designed for firsttime, younger campers, called Young Adventures, with a little bit more parental kinds of oversight that older kids don’t need — to make sure you’re eating the right foods, not wearing the same shirt you had on yesterday, and that

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you put toothpaste on your toothbrush when you go to brush your teeth.”

Devey says it can be good for families to begin with a day camp, especially with younger campers to get them used to the concept of doing something different and being away from home.

“At younger ages, parents need to decide if their children are ready, and not rush into it. If a child isn’t excited about the idea, or if they don’t really understand if you say, ‘you’re not going to see mom or dad for a week,’ and they get panicked, well, then, they are probably not ready to go, and that’s OK,” Devey says.

He adds, “I did that with my own granddaughter, who was at camp last year. She just turned 8, but when she was 7, I didn’t think she was ready, and I

said so. I said, ‘no, it’s not a good idea.’ I didn’t want her hanging on my pant leg all week. I wanted her to go, be a camper, and be a part of things. This past summer, she went to camp, and she did great, but I’m not sure she would have before.”

Devey says it’s helpful for parents to have a conversation with the camp director, or a staff member to determine if a child is ready.

“We have more conversations with parents of younger children to determine whether or not their child is ready. We encourage them to come if the feeling is they’re ready, and we encourage them to wait if they are not ready,” he says.

Every child grows up at a different pace. Some children are ready at age 6, and for others, they aren’t ready at age 9, and that’s OK,” he stresses.

“There are a number of children that aren’t ready at age 6 or 7. Parents are certainly the best judge of that, but we don’t push families at that age,” Devey says. “We want campers to be ready, and that’s important for parents to know with overnight camp. We want children who are ready to come to camp, learn new things and grow.

When kids are age 8 or 9, the majority of them will be ready to take that shot, and when they reach double digits, or if they haven’t tried something by the time they’re 10, it’s time to.”

On a practical level, kids learn how to interact with their peers, participate in all types of camp activities, and they also get to be a part of games and competitions.

Kids of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, and skill levels can appreciate the benefits and joys of camp.

“Our camps are great because, not only do they provide that social experience for children to socialize with others and make lifelong friendships, but we also help with the social, emotional, and mental wellness that’s necessary for kids,” Bowling says.

“The value of an overnight camp experience is absolutely worth parents taking a look at it and finding the right camp for their families’ situation and doing it,” Devey says.

Bowling adds camp is an invaluable experience for youth.

“Whether it’s day camp, a specialty camp, or residential camp. It’s just a milestone during childhood that’s very beneficial and every child deserves a camp experience,” she says.

Kids of all ages, cultures, backgrounds and skill levels can appreciate the benefits and joys of camp.

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PARENTS PROVIDE THEIR CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES WHEN CHOOSING A SUMMER CAMP OR PROGRAM.

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top us if you’ve heard this or you’ve been here before: Your child comes home after school, or tells you before bed, that “I don’t want to go to school.”

Gulp.

While kids don’t have much, if any, choice about going to school or not, they do have one when it comes to summer camp. Or at least they should, according to several area parents we asked about tips for finding the right camp for your

By Joel Hammond children this summer.

“We typically pick camps that support what our kids are interested in at that time,” says Myra Ryder, a Shaker Heights parent of two boys, Lachlan, 11, and Keegan, 8. “We absolutely include our kids in the decision. Because they’re going to be the ones at that camp for 6-8 hours, we want to make sure they’re doing something that interests them.

“We also want them to want to go back.

It’s hard enough to get them to want to

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go to school every day during the school year, we don’t want to go through that for the summer, too.”

MANY (OTHER) FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Once child buy-in is secure, then the real evaluation work starts. Logistics become key, parents say: cost, safety, scheduling and outcomes.

Dawn Blankenship, a Hinckley Township mom of two boys, Sawyer, 8 and Jude, 5, says those are key factors in her

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family, with two working parents and limited wiggle room. For that reason, her sons typically have participated in camps that are extensions of current activities — like rugby, football and Boy Scouts.

“We don’t have much time for ‘just for fun’ camps anymore,” she says, compared to when the boys were younger.

Another key factor for Ryder: Who’s going to be there?

“If the kids know other kids going to a camp it’s so much easier,” she says.

OTHER PARENT PRIORITIES

Maggie Smith, a Solon mom of two — Henry, 7, and George, 4 — works full time, as does her husband, Sam. So half-day camps are out.

Luckily, she has found camps that fit her children’s skill sets and interests that also work with the family’s complex logistics needs.

“We really seek out options that work for our schedules and provide enriching experiences,” Smith says.

Despite those planning challenges, though, Smith says she does not and would not sacrifice must-haves in camps.

“We of course look at safety, supervision and training provided to the counselors, water safety protocol if swimming is involved, and length of field trips if they’re included,” Smith says.

Ryder, similarly has a long list of considerations she has high on her list: Does the camp meet and support their school environment? Her oldest son, Lachlan, attended a preschool focused on nature exploration and play — and the family subsequently sought a camp that extended those themes.

“We now look for sports camps that support existing sports or are sports they have an interest in or are afraid to commit to a full season,” Ryder says. “Additionally, our schools have a wonderful music program, and students play an instrument starting in fourth grade. So we’re seeking out, again, something that extends those programs and interest.”

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Manufacturing camps introduce students to hands-on skills, career paths

By Rachel Abbey McCafferty

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oday’s manufacturing is nothing like the manufacturing of years past. While the industry is still responsible for making, well, pretty much everything, from cars to tables to computers, the methods have changed drastically. Manufacturing has become a safer, cleaner and more tech-savvy job than ever before.

Employers face a distinct challenge — there’s a large skills gap, where there’s a lack of interested employees to meet their needs. A 2021 study from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute estimated that the skills gap could lead to more than 2 million unfilled jobs in U.S. manufacturing by 2030.So in recent years, companies and schools have been working together to highlight what modern manufacturing jobs entail, exposing students to the skills and specialties within.

One way Ohio’s educators and employers have been doing this is through summer camps focused on manufacturing.

The desire to create is something “innate” for people, according to Troy Spear, an instructor in the Kent City School District. And he enjoys helping students bring that to the surface – and helping them understand that a passion for making things can lead to a good paycheck down

the road.

Making things doesn’t have to be a hobby, Spear says, it can be a career.

When Spear started at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent almost three decades ago, he was teaching woodworking. Over the years, the woodworking program transformed into one focused on manufacturing, computer-aided design and engineering.

“With the CAD and engineering tech program, our mantra is, we tell students and their parents, if you can dream it, we’re going to show you how to draw it, design it, prototype it, machine it, put it together and make it work,” Spear says.

In recent years, Spear and a co-teacher have run a manufacturing camp in the summer, typically at the Kent schools but open to anyone who’s interested. Students must be in seventh through ninth grade in the spring when they enroll. And there are no prerequisites; just a willingness to learn.

The camps focus on both design and production, with participants working on drawings, computer programs and equipment like CNC machines. Students also take field trips to local manufacturers.

Spear hopes to run another camp this summer, though a planned expansion of the high school’s manufacturing lab could

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complicate that.

Kent’s camp is far from the only one in Ohio. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office last May shared information about at least 36 that were planned across the state for 2023. The senator’s office started helping organize these kinds of camps in 2013.

In Mentor, the AWT Foundation — which stands for the Alliance for Working Together — has been working to connect students with manufacturers for about two decades. Today, it hosts a variety of programs, including robotics competitions, apprenticeships and summer camps, designed to expose students and adults to the varied careers available in manufacturing.

AWT’s two summer camps, one co-ed group and one just for girls.

The co-ed group focuses on robotics, and the girls-only week will focus on chemistry and agriculture.

Steven Dohm, technology coordinator at the foundation, says the areas of focus change every year. Students have the chance to visit local manufacturers and do hands-on projects, making things like robotic cars or bubble machines.

This year, AWT is also adding shorter programs called STEM Days for students in third through sixth grades, which will have similar content to the summer camps but will be held for just a few hours during the academic year, on days students are usually out of school like Presidents’ Day. AWT’s camps focus on younger grades because it’s important to highlight different career options before high school, when the focus is often all on college, says Roger Sustar, founder of the AWT Foundation.

But going to college – or at least, directly to college – doesn’t have to be the only path. There are jobs and apprenticeships available, too, and companies that help employees earn their degrees while they work.

Spear says he wants students in Kent’s program to take on an “inquisitive” mindset, asking questions and looking deeper.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to share with them a thought process that made in America is still a really awesome thing, and that they can be a part of it, they can be very successful with it, and they can have a very satisfying and fulfilling career and be able to support a family that way,” he says.

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Choosing a Special Needs Camp PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CONSIDER SEVERAL FACTORS WHEN EVALUATING CAMP OPTIONS

By Joel Hammond

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he camp selection process can be intense, detailed and difficult for all parents who are navigating through the many options. For parents who have children with special needs, that list of considerations grows. We asked area camps with experience in programming for what factors are most important for parents.

CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS

Full inclusion for all children with special needs is an admirable goal, but it’s not always achievable, says Chris Garr, the CEO of Youth Sports Unlimited – a Westlake organization that provides programming for kids with disabilities, who learn and grow through adaptive sports, recreation, art and life-skills training.

Garr advises to ask, “What are the specific strengths and areas of expertise provided by the camp?”

Similarly, the experience of the camp’s staff is vital — as is ensuring that experience matches the needs and challenges of specific campers.

“The most important thing would be having staff that has been around the community and is experienced with a variety of challenges that arise with any camps or programs,” says Jake Jackson, program director at Empower Sports, a Cleveland-based organization that exists to enrich the lives of athletes of diverse challenges through sports and exercise while promoting kindness, character, and relationships. “Knowing that you are leaving your child with someone you

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trust is one of the most important things you can do.”

That sentiment was echoed by Christina Kaake, director of camp and recreation for Achievement Centers for Children. The organization offers Camp Cheerful, founded in 1947 and based in Strongsville, where children and adults with physical, developmental and sensory disabilities can enjoy and benefit from camp activities in a barrier-free environment.

“Dedicated staff who are excited and passionate about offering the summer camp experience to all campers is the No. 1 quality a camp should have in the special needs space,” Kaake says. “It’s important that the staff have a vision for programming with a wide range of

activities available and the support to make those activities available to all campers.”

CONSIDER PROGRAMMING AND TALK TO YOUR NETWORK

Parents want very specific things from their children’s camps— like socialization with peers, exercise and activity, early childhood education or academic enrichment. It’s best to find out what camp fits you and your child’s needs.

“If there is an open house or opportunity to meet staff and leadership, or shadow a program or activity with your child, do it,” Garr says.

Another resource? Other parents.

The special needs community is very tight knit, says Tom Heines, executive director of Empower Sports. He encourages camp seekers to leverage that closeness, talking to fellow parents about what camps do what best, and what camps may not do things well.

“Talking to other parents in similar situations is a key tool most of our parents use,” Jackson says.

Lastly, what some may consider basics are crucial for a positive camp experience, Kaake says.

Things like ADA-compliant, accessible bathrooms, cabins and dining facilities — as part of an easily accessible campus — are must-haves.

“Ask about AEDs, where First Aid kits are kept, and how quickly staff can respond to emergencies, which will vary based on the size of the campground,” she says.

“The flexibility and creativity of the staff are most critical (to meet those parent wishes),” Garr says. “Staff should have extensive experience working with children and have a welcoming and warm demeanor. If there is an open house or opportunity to meet staff and leadership, or shadow a program or activity with your child, do it.”

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Summer Camp

Listings

ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN

Achievement Centers host several summer camps on their beautiful 52-acre Camp Cheerful campus in Strongsville. Cheerful Day Camp provides a traditional camp experience for campers with disabilities ages 5-21 from June 10-August 9 (single week options available).

Other camps include Sensational Extended School Year (in partnership with school districts for students K-12) and Summer Overnight Camp (five nights) for campers 16 and older. Activities include swimming, arts and crafts, adapted recreation, and horse barn visits. achievementcenters.org

BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Beck Center offers classes at the Lakewood campus in dance, theater, visual arts, private music lessons, and group lessons. Students of all ages and abilities learn as they create unique works of art, discover hidden talents, and have loads of fun with new friends. They have something for every interest in visual and performing arts, and every skill level.

Looking for entertainment? Please call 216-521-2540 to buy tickets for your family to enjoy Beautiful: The Carole King Musical or visit beckcenter.org for more details.

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CAMP CURIOSITY: SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER

Welcome to Camp Curiosity where they know your kids thrive on the fun of learning new things and challenging themselves with new experiences. Their week-long, day camps for kids in grades K-6 feature a variety of STEM themes, offering them unforgettable science adventures and new opportunities to grow their interests. Sessions begin June 4. Register

by March 31 and receive $20 off. For more information and to register, call 216-621-2400 or visit greatscience.com.

CAMP FITCH

Camp Fitch’s century-old classic sleepaway summer camp provides kids ages 6-17 with a holistically safe, values-driven community where they discover friendship and achievement. Kids feel like they belong among the camp’s carefully vetted, committed and caring staff, who create transformative experiences on the shore of Lake Erie. Partnering with the Erie Health Department and healthcare professionals, they have designed a safe camping environment to make kids better, forever.

North Springfield, Pa., 814-922-3219, campfitchymca.org

CAMP GILMOUR

Camp Gilmour is back and safer than ever. Join them for preschool camp (ages 3-5); daycamp (ages 5-12); sports camps; and experiential camps exploring nature, fun with drones, outdoor adventures and more. Camps offered June 7-August 6.

Complementary math and reading enrichment offered each morning for day campers.

Before care available beginning at 7:15 a.m. and after care available until 6 p.m. gilmour.org/summercamp.

CAMP INVENTION

Spark your child’s curiosity and creativity with our all-new Camp Invention® program, Illuminate! Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate with friends to take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. From designing a light-up ball game to tackling global water challenges to starring in a prototyping game show, each experience adds up to an imagination-stretching, confidence-boosting summer. Visit invent.org/local to secure your spot. Use promo code LOCAL25 by 3/27 to save $25.

CAMP JCC IN AKRON

June 10-Aug 16. Different weekly experiences allow campers to discover new hobbies and explore favorite interests! Specialty camp offerings include a variety of sports, creative arts, and STEM. All are welcome at the JCC, regardless of religious preference or economic status. Whether you choose a specialty or traditional camp, all campers attend from 8-3:30 p.m. daily (aftercare available). Daily activities include swimming, art, and games. Available for grades 1-10.

Register at shawjcc.org/camp-j.

CAMP RATNER

Camp Ratner offers classic summer fun with themed programming for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners that engages them in exploration and imagination.The camp program provides days full of fun that are also days full of learning and growing. Campers will participate in a variety of experiences including nature walks in the Ratner School children’s garden, art, music, water fun, and additional activities that include special events and visitors based on weekly themes. 216-464-0033 or theratnerschool.org/summer-program.

CAMP TIPPECANOE

Camps at the Y are about discovery.

Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories.

Camp Tippecanoe has been providing opportunities for kids to learn and grow since 1958 and is a traditional sleepaway camp for ages 6-18. Our summer day camps provide a safe and nurturing environment for kids to enjoy summer, and are offered at 8 locations across Stark County ymcastark.org/camp

CLEVELAND METROPARKS

Cleveland Metroparks summer nature camps connect children with the natural world. From hikes in the woods, kayaking, crafts and games, a variety of summer nature camps offer compelling outdoor adventures.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo summer day camps connect campers with wildlife and inspire the next generation of conservationists. Campers can spend their summer days at the zoo, participating in special activities like giraffe feeding, carousel rides, educational games and crafts. Cleveland Metroparks Golf Junior Day Camps offer activities and instruction for junior golfers of several ages and skill levels. Learn more at clevelandmetroparks.com/camps.

CREATIVE PLAYROOMS

Get creative for summer camp.

Summer’s coming, which means longer days, fun in the sun and great friends.

Join the “Voyagers” at Creative Playrooms Montessori and Child Care Centers for the best summer ever — full of adventure, imagination and engagement to keep campers ages 5-12 busy and active. Themed activities and programs. Explorations around famous people, places and things. They believe in encouraging children to explore more deeply through doing, asking questions, and having a great time. Join them this summer as we heat up the fun factor: Save your space today. Call 440-349-9111 or creativeplayrooms.com.

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Summer Camp Listings FALCON CAMP

Recognized throughout the Midwest as Ohio’s premier summer camp since 1959.

Falcon offers a beautiful lakefront setting; talented, experienced staff; and a wide variety of activities.

Campers choose their own schedules within the general framework. Most of all, it’s great fun. Special introductory camp for ages 6-10. ACA accredited. At Falcon, good things happen by design.

800-837-CAMP, falconcamp.com

FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION

Enjoy Summer Arts Day Camps at The Fine Arts Association. They offer a challenging summer dance intensive led by guest artists, engaging camps for preschool and elementary ages, theatre arts camps which build toward a concluding performance, stylish visual arts camps, and much more in addition to their traditional summer classes and lessons. Summer Camps at Fine Arts are where discovery and creativity happen and lifetime memories are made. Release the artist within you. fineartsassociation.org

GELFAND STEM CENTER

The Gelfand STEM Center leverages the resources of Case Western Reserve University to engage preK-12 students in activities that introduce them to scientific practices and concepts and inspire a lasting interest in science and engineering. The Center will change students’ lives in Northeast Ohio and beyond by preparing them to succeed in STEM-based careers, enabling them to make informed contributions to public discussions of important scientific issues, and fostering lifelong learning in science and engineering. gelfand.case.edu

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Summer Camp Listings GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your Girl Scout’s next big adventure. Girl Scouts are a force of nature. They were meant for outdoor adventures. Your girl is ready to rediscover the world. For more information visit gsneo.org/camplife or call customer care at 800-852-4474.

HATHAWAY BROWN

Make it the best summer ever, located in Shaker Heights, Hathaway Brown offers camps for girls and boys, toddlers through college-aged. Visit hb.edu/ summer to register for academic, athletics, adventure, and specialty camps to have the best summer ever.

Have the best summer ever at Hathaway Brown.

HAWKEN SCHOOL

Hawken Summer Programs offer a variety of activities led by experienced professionals for boys and girls ages 4-18. Camps run between June and August, and offerings include day camps, passport camps, athletics camps, and summer studies.

These opportunities enable children to develop existing passions and discover new ones; they also provide exposure to new people and new skills, which helps build self-esteem, independence, and confidence. For more information, contact summerprograms@hawken.edu, 440-423-2940, or visit summer.hawken.edu.

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Summer Camp Listings HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS

Holden Forests and Gardens will be offering immersive, nature-focused summer camps conveniently located at the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden. Led by expert staff members, our programs are designed to spark creativity and build appreciation of the natural world around us. Come hike, learn, and be engaged with the wonders of Northeast Ohio. Sign up now at holdenfg.org.

LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s summer camps offer preschoolers and students the opportunity to explore and connect with the outdoors, meet new friends, encounter local wildlife, and discover the wonders of the sky in Schuele Planetarium. Campers will engage in hands-on, nature-based activities that integrate science, math, literacy, and the arts as they discover the natural world at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. View offerings and register at lensc.org/ summer-camps.

LAWRENCE SCHOOL

Lawrence School has been a destination school of choice for students who learn differently for over 50 years — located conveniently in both Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

Their K-12 Orton-Gillingham-based day school program provides educational excellence for students who struggle with reading, writing, math, and attention, and for those on IEPs and 504 plans. Individualized tours, student visits, and open house events are available. Go to lawrenceschool.org/visit and learn more.

Great Minds Don’t Think Alike.

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MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat offers a summer of opportunity for girls.The Summer Enrichment Program gives rising seventh and eighth graders a glimpse of life as a Magnificat student. Magnificamp provides younger girls with a variety of themed day camps, from baking to STEM to mermaids, and the popular athletic camps help players up their game.

Registration opens on Feb. 15, 2024. Visit magnificaths.org to explore the many exciting possibilities for a fun-filled summer.

NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES

Swap screen time for nature as you learn and explore in an outdoor classroom.

Your child will love their one-of-a-kind, week-long camp experiences taught by teachers and highly trained naturalists. Find an outdoor adventure to inspire an appreciation for their natural world, unlocking a summer full of learning, reflection, friends, and fun. Register early, as camp sessions often sell out.

Financial assistance available. 216-3215935, shakerlakes.org/camp

OHIO’s 529 PLAN

Summer camps can open new worlds for your child. So does education after high school. Ohio’s 529 Plan has helped families nationwide save tax-free for an education at four-year or two-year colleges, trade or vocational schools, as well as apprenticeships. You can also use an Ohio 529 account to pay for K-12 tuition and repay student loan debt.

Learn, plan, and start for as little as $25 with Ohio’s 529 Plan today at collegeadvantage.com.

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Summer Camp Listings PROGRESS WITH CHESS

Enrich your child’s summer with chess camp.

Students learn and improve at the intriguing game of chess.

Camps conducted by PWC, experienced provider of after school chess programs in 50+ NE Ohio locations. Players of all levels, beginner to advanced, will receive plenty of individual attention in small groups, divided by age and skill level. Activities include a healthy mixture of interactive lessons and supervised open play.

Register at progresswithchess.org/camps

RUFFING MONTESSORI SCHOOL

A Ruffing staple for over forty years, Summer Ruffing It. is a six-week day camp designed to promote academic, athletic, and artistic enrichment. Campers work with a variety of professionals and trained educators who provide a joyful, quality experience in small, student-centered groups. Topics covered include art, athletics, community service, drama, media, music, science, and technology.

Field trips to a variety of nearby educational/cultural institutions further enhance each camper’s experience. Sign up today. ruffingmontessori.net

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

See Ewe on Mutton Hill.

Join them for Farm Fridays every Friday June 7 through August 30. Free programming will begin at 10:30 a.m. It is open for preschool through sixth grade students and the theme for 2024 is Celebrating the Society’s Centennial.

Each week, will look at different decades in their organizational history linked to Akron and Summit County. summithistory.org

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Summer Camp Listings TALESPINNER CHILDREN’S THEATRE

We offer content for kids, too!

View KidStream videos online at NortheastOhioParent.com

Talespinner Children’s Theatre is the summer destination for campers looking for excitement, imagination, and performance. Featuring themed weeklong camps with half- or full-day options for students age 4 through entering first grade, full day for students entering PreK-10th grade, and a two week “Annie Jr.” camp with a fully staged and costumed production. Give kids the best summer ever at TCT. Visit talespinnercle.org/camps for a full camp guide, prices, contact information, and more.

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

University School is the place to have fun in the sun, make new friends, and create a summer of adventure. Boys and girls can try something new in week-long camps like Master Fort Builders or triathlon camp or take their game to the next level in tennis camp.

Their classic six-week boys day camp for grades K-7 now offers a two-week coed extension for grades K-3. Visit us.edu/summer to learn more.

YMCA CAMP ONYAHSA YMCA Camp Onyahsa, an ACA-accredited camp established in 1898, on beautiful Chautauqua Lake in Dewittville, NY, prides itself on providing a quality, traditional, small-group summer camp experience. Overnight camp sessions are for ages 5-15, with leadership opportunities available. Waterfront activities, arts and crafts, and hiking are some of the many activities campers enjoy while making lifelong friendships. Only a two-hour drive from Cleveland. Summer 2024 dates: Sun. June 9-Sat. Aug. 10. onyahsa.org

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Summer Camp Listings YMCA SUMMER CAMPS

There’s no place like the YMCA Summer Camp: a home away from home where kids laugh, learn, explore and grow, all while creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime. The YMCA knows that every kid is different.

That’s why it offers camps for your child’s needs. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Various locations in Northeast Ohio. Learn about their sites and curriculum at clevelandymca.org.

NORTHEAST OHIO PARENT CAMP & SUMMER PROGRAMS FAIR MARCH 3 (WEST) AND MARCH 10 (EAST) 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. Go to NortheastOhioParent.com to register for these free events.

Visit with dozens of camps and education-related business, enjoy entertainment and much more!

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C-26 | 2024 Summer Camp Guide - Family Living at Its Best

2024 Summer Camp Guide - NortheastOhioParent.com | C-27

C-28 | 2024 Summer Camp Guide - Family Living at Its Best