As the summer heat sets in, consider signing your kids up for a fun summer camp experience they will never forget! The great weather that Florida has to offer means that there are opportunities for all sorts of indoor and outdoor activities.
Check out these awesome opportunities in the St. Augustine and Jacksonville areas:
The YMCA in St. Johns County offers many different types of kids camps during the summer. They accept children ages 5 to 15 and have activities including art, sports, and STEM-based learning. YMCA members receive a camp registration discount and the program requires a deposit of $25.
For kids ages 3 to 14, the Discover School summer camp offers a range of activities on a weekly basis. Some of these include Lego building, chess, outdoor science, and art classes. There are both full and half-day sessions available and the camp runs all throughout the months of June and July.
The Boy Scouts of America offers its annual Aquatics Camp in Orange Park, FL designed for boys and girls ages 6-14. Kids can participate in archery, learn outdoor skills, make crafts, participate in watersports, and much more for $300 per week. The camp has options for extended care, as well as, discounts for early registration and siblings.
At the Jacksonville Country Day School (JCDS) Summer Camp, days are six hours long and the cost varies depending on which activities your kids choose. There are specialty camp options like chess, art, musical theater, and basketball that they can enroll in for a more specific experience. The camps are open to kids in Pre-K 4 through 6th grade and are offered on a weekly basis, with over 60 programs to choose from.
For sports lovers, there is the Kidz Camp at Sports Edge. Participants learn important life skills like teamwork, leadership, and fitness. The cost is $50 per day with a discount for weekly rates.
Help your child improve his/her cooking skills through the Jax Cooking Studio summer classes. Sessions are three hours long and take place in either the morning or midafternoon. Each week focuses on a different type of cooking with themes like “Sweet Baking and Cake Decorating” and “International Street Food.”
This drama camp is three weeks long with two sessions available on a first come, first serve basis. Kids ages 7 to 14 can sign up to learn performance techniques. At the end of the camp, participants put on a show for family and friends.
The Tommy Hulihan sports camps include many different activities, including: basketball, kickball, soccer, and several others. They include a pizza lunch on Fridays and put players together in groups based on their ages. You can also sign your children up for the extended care option.
This camp focuses on building gymnastics skills for kids aged 5 to 12. Students get to work on all gymnastics apparatuses during the camp. The program also offers extended days for additional fees. Prices vary depending on how many weeks your child participates.
A great STEM-based experience is the Bolts and Bytes summer camp. Sessions include topics like 3D printing, Lego labs, woodworking, skateboard building, and more. The academy offers discounts if you sign up for more than one camp, and there are both morning and afternoon options available.
If you prefer educational-based camps, the Museum of Science and History holds entertaining camps all throughout the summer. There is a discount for MOSH members, and they offer extended care for an extra $17 per day. These camps are for kids in kindergarten to 11th grade.
This facility offers martial arts training classes during the summer and is great for children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Kids work on their discipline and martial arts skills while also going for group outings and playing games together. There are several locations throughout Jacksonville and Orange Park.
Kids learn how to surf in this four-day camp which has sessions from June to August. All the surf equipment is included in the cost of participation and all instructors are certified to keep your kids safe out on the water. The fee also includes a camp t-shirt, swag bag, lunch, and professional photos. They offer a sibling discount if you have multiple kids interested in attending.
This kids’ camp runs the whole summer and offers discounts if you sign up for five or more weeks. Each week has its own theme. Some examples include: Survivor Bootcamp, Water World Splish Splash, Rumble Tumble, and Stretchy Flexi. The camp requires a $30 per week deposit to reserve your child’s spot.
The Jewish Community Alliance runs a series of camps for all types of interests. This includes things like arts and music to unique Israeli programs, carnivals, concerts, science, and sports It is an especially good option for kids who want to try something new, as the sessions are so unique and varied. Each camp has a separate pricing structure which depends on the equipment, skilled instructors, etc. needed to make it happen.
Dancers between the ages of 5 and 16 can attend summer camp at Unity Christian Arts in Jacksonville. The cost is $20 per day and there is a $20 registration fee. At the end of the two-week session, there is a showcase of all the participants. This is a Christianity-based camp which teaches many types of dances (jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop, etc.). It runs Monday through Friday and starts at 7 AM each day.
