Summer Camps Return, Offering Education and Enrichment

By Kristen Beckman

COVID-19 put a damper on all kinds of activities last year, including the annual tradition of in-person summer camps for kids. However, as life starts to get back to normal, many activities are returning. This summer, in addition to outdoor adventure camps and traditional day camps, there are several opportunities for kids to learn about specific topics they may be interested in, from horseback riding to dancing. See below for just a few of the summer camps available in and around Broomfield.

Butterfly Pavilion

The Butterfly Pavilion is hosting a series of summer camps with unique and fun themes to educate and entertain kids this summer. For instance, is Dr. Suess’ book The Lorax, in which the Lorax -- who speaks for the trees -- confronts the environmentally destructive Once-ler, fact or fiction? Are the Octonauts in Eric Carle’s books real? Campers at the Butterfly Pavilion will find out during the Fact of Fiction weeklong camp in early July.

Other camp themes at the facility in July include a Zookeeper in Training program, which will teach campers what it’s like to care for the Butterfly Pavillion’s famous Chilean rose hair tarantula named Rosie, as well as its brand new California two-spot octopus, who keeps adult zookeepers on their toes with its eight-legged antics. A mythologythemed camp will explore some of the fascinating stories that have been passed down through generations about invertebrates, such as the moon being placed in the sky by a spider or the Milky Way being created by a beetle.

In August, the Butterfly Pavilion will take campers on a trip through time to the Ordovician period, to meet the diverse underwater creatures who ruled the oceans, and to encounter the giant bugs of the Carboniferous Period. And an aquatic-themed camp will teach the importance of water to living things, as well as explore freshwater and saltwater animals.

The camps are designed for kids ages 5-12, and half-day and fullday camp options are available. The programming is designed to be hands-on, engaging, informative, and appeal to a variety of interests and abilities, the Butterfly Pavilion said.

School of Rock

Does your child dream of playing in a rock band? School of Rock Broomfield offers a variety of music camps and workshops that cover everything from learning to write music to playing in a band. Camps are focused on students of all skill levels who want to learn guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals.

July and August camp themes include Indie Rock favorites from the early 2000s for musicians 10 and up with some experience and Rock 101 camps for beginner rockers ages 7-12. Both camps culminate with a live performance on the last day.

Dance Arts Studio

Dance Arts Studio is fully devoted to providing its students with support and encouragement to work hard, build selfconfidence and discipline, and be inspired to grow and excel in their dance education. Dance Arts Studio has provided the Broomfield community with quality dance instruction for more than 60 years through caring, professional instructors in a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere that motivates dancers to become a positive force in the community, perform at their personal best and HAVE FUN! A fourweek summer session runs from July 5 to 29. Visit https:// danceartsstudio.org/ for full details.

Horseplay

Looking for something to do with horses? (Or goats?) Horseplay LLC is a 75-acre ranch in Broomfield that offers classes and camps focused on young equestrians who want to learn how to care for horses and ride them skillfully. The ranch’s Goat Play classes teach kids how to socialize baby goats and help design obstacles to keep them challenged.

Colorado Conservatory of Dance

Colorado Conservatory of Dance is a deeply caring and nurturing community of exceptional and knowledgeable dance teachers, learned body scientists and therapists, and a diverse collection of students – all committed to a process of learning and teaching ballet that is healthy for both the body and mind. Summer programs are available. Visit https://ccdance.org/ to learn more.

Fearless Motion Dance Center

Your young dancer will enjoy some of the fun themes Fearless Motion Dance Center in Superior has dreamed up for its summer camp offerings. The center is offering seven different camps this summer for dancers aged 3-16 years.

Themes in July and August include Fancy Nancy & Friends for dancers between the ages of 4 and 7. This ballet camp is based on the popular Fancy Nancy books by Jane O’Connor that have now become a TV show. A hip hop class based on LOL dolls and a music video star contemporary and jazz class will also delight dancers.

Please check each organization’s website for more details.