Summer fun comes in many shapes and sizes.
Planning summer activities for your young ones can be a challenge. There are a lot of options out there that keep them off the couch, away from a touch screen and engaged with their peers.
The traditional image of summer camps is one full of children riding horses, loosing arrows at colorful targets, paddling across crystal blue lakes and weaving pot holders. These are all things found at general interest camps throughout The 330. Exposing children to wide spaces and exciting activities can keep them moving all summer long.
If your child is intrigued by a specific topic, however, there are also many unique offerings for them in the area. Whether you have a young athlete, scientist, language aficionado or musician, there are summer camps for each interest. “I think that every child should have a summer camp experience because the need to continue out-of-school education over the summer is absolutely paramount to the life of a child, and there is no better way to do it than a camp experience, whether it’s ours or anybody’s,” says Rich Garbinsky, the president and general manager of Pinnacle Sports in Medina and Twinsburg.
ATHLETICS
Organized sports are a great way to keep children happy, healthy and energized throughout the summer months. Pinnacle Sports offers two camp options at both their Medina and Twinsburg locations. The Pinnacle Sports Summer Day Camp is an eight-week day camp for children ages 5-13. This option has week-to-week registration, allowing children to participate all summer long or only select weeks. “We highlight a different sport each week,” says Rich Garbinsky. Basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and other sports are all included.
The second camp option focuses on specific sports, with children gaining skills and confidence within their chosen sport. “Some of those get very specific where you’re doing a pitching camp or a hitting camp,” says Garbinsky.
The 2016 Pinnacle Sports Summer Day Camp begins June 6 and runs for eight weeks. For more information, and dates for specific instructional camps, visit pinnaclesports.org.
LANGUAGE
Learning a new language can be a challenge. However, if you can integrate the lessons with fun, it becomes a great way to pass the summer months. Camp Globo is a language immersion camp that envelopes young campers in Spanish. While playing and enjoying traditional camp activities, children learn through repetitive use of vocabulary words and songs. “It’s really fascinating to see how quickly they learn and that they have fun and enjoy it,” says Lisa Canterbury, the owner and founder of Camp Globo. “They don’t even really know that they are learning.”
The camp is available in both Hudson and Richfield and is in its third summer. This year, the day camp will run all day, once a week for six weeks. For more information, including dates and location specifics, visit www.campglobo.com.
Public Library Summer Programs
STEM
There is little that makes you feel more like an Akronite than the Soap Box Derby. This summer, children can fuel their need for speed by attending the Soap Box Derby STEM Summer Program at Derby Downs. The five-day program has grown in popularity the last few years and allows campers to test not only their racing skills, but their scientific minds with STEM projects. Under the guidance of local teachers, campers learn about simple machines, work on their math and craft mini-derby cars to test out. They also get to race down the famous track each day.
“Where can you go, race every single day, go 30-35 mph in a gravity car and meet other great kids?” asks Joe Mazur, the president and CEO of the Soap Box Derby. “It’s a racing camp that kids normally wouldn’t have even thought about doing and once they do, they’re hooked.”
The 2016 Soap Box Derby STEM Summer Program is held in two sessions. The first is June 6 through June 10, and the second is June 13 through June 17. For more information, visit www.soapboxderby.org/education-program/summer-camps.aspx.
Here's some more General Interest Camps to Consider
MUSIC
Music is not only good for the soul, it is a wonderful way to engage your children over summer break. Musical Fingers Summer Rock Camp offers week-long camps that run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a concert showcasing the campers’ talent on Friday. There are two types of camps for children to explore: classic rock and contemporary Christian. Though it is helpful, campers need no previous experience with an instrument before beginning. The camp is offered to a range of children, welcoming those with special needs. “It’s really great because it gives kids the chance to perform together under a common banner, which is music,” says Kitrael Chin, the owner, creator and founder of the camp.
Those participating in the contemporary Christian camp get the chance to take over for a church service. “I’m very big in not simply playing music, but playing music with a purpose—it’s showing them what they can actually do with it and how they can impact the community,” says Chin.
For more information about the Musical Fingers Summer Rock Camp, dates and locations, visit musicalfingers.org.
/ Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office non-stop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.
