Camps Gear Up for Summer; Awesome List of Options

If you are trying to find the right camp for your child this summer, here are some suggestions—some tried and true and a few out of the box. Please contact the individual camps directly with specific questions, to arrange a visit to the facility, or to confirm schedules and fees.

Westborough Recreation continues to offer a wide array of classes, camps and activites for all age levels. The popular playground camp, which runs weekly from June 25 to July 27 has openings for ages 3.5 to 13. Class offerings can be found for crafts, sports and other activites. Visit the website for more information.

Ecotarium Discovery Camp offers science- and nature-based day camps Monday through Friday from 9 a.m  to 4 p.m. (kids ages 5 and 6 have a half day Tadpoles program available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Extended hours are available for an additional fee. Registration deadline is May 31.Registration and camp info can be found on the Ecotarium's Web site. 

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center, Massachusetts Audubon in Worcester, hosts camps for kids ages 5 through 14 and offering older teens counselor-in-training opportunities. Their website has camp info, extended care hours and costs for members and nonmembers.

Hands On Nature in Berlin offers educational outdoor nature programs for ages preschool through elementary. Camps typically meet Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m to noon, with some weeks having an option until 2 p.m. Costs start at $150/week and each week explores a different theme.

Red Sox Baseball Camp is geared toward both boys and girls ages 5 through 13 at all skills levels. Camp meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and extended hours are available for an additional fee. There are several locations, the closest being at Fay School in Southborough. The cost is $549 for the week and includes a uniform, trip to Fenway, appearance from a Red Sox player, and a lot of skills work, contests, and competitions. Campers will be divided by age and grade. 

Worcester Tornadoes Summer Youth Camps are for kids ages 6 through 12. Camp is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday and then on Friday a game is played on the field as scheduled. Proper mechanics, fundamentals of the game, fielding, hitting, pitching, running and catching are included as part of the camp, as well as lunch each full day. The cost is $195/week.

Cub Scout Camp at Camp Resolute is for boys completing first through fourth grade. Themed weeks such as Super Hero Training Week, Dino Digs, and Cub Scout Olympics will include learning canoeing, fishing, archery, rock climbing, hiking, swimming, and BB gun shooting skills. Camps are held by the Knox Trail Council and bus transportation from Westborough is available. Non-scouts are welcomed to attend as well but will be charged a nominal extra fee 

Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA offers a camp for girls entering grades one through eight. The cost is $230 (additional for bus transportation if needed). The camp meets from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include art projects, cooking, stage performances, sports and many other activities. More information is available on their website.

Regatta Point Community Sailing Kids Camp is open to kids ages 9 to 16 to learn nautical terms, knots, boat care, boat safety as well as sailing techniques. Appropriate swimming skills are necessary. The camp is held for one week periods throughout the summer starting the week of June 18 and meets from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lake Quinsigamond, Regatta Point State Park in Worcester. Cost is $239.

Vacation Bible School will take place at the on West Main Street, Aug. 13 through 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is open to children ages 3 to sixth grade. The cost is $25 for the week. For more information, call 508-366-7095 or email VBSwestboro@aol.com. The theme is SKY, emphasizing that with God all things are possible. Kids will build their faith as they see God's work in their lives and they realize that God is with them every day.

Teamworks is just about to begin their fifteenth summer camp season and offers traditional, sports and specialty camps. Skateboarding, outdoor adventures, flag football, cheerleading, baseball, soccer, and lacrosse are some options for your child ages 7 through 14. Cost is $255/week or $65/day. There is a Tykes Camp for ages three through six which meets from 9 a.m.  to noon at the cost of $150/week or $35/day. Swimming lessons is an additional option at an additional cost, but Teamworks does give families a discount for signing up for multiple weeks.

Ninja Training is offered by former elementary classroom teacher Debbie McDuffee. It is a one week camp for kids ages 5 through 8 to be held at her Northborough home. The theme of the camp is all about ninjas. There will be lots of games, movement, nature hikes and other multisensory activities that will keep the children moving and engaged. Some of the topics that will be covered include how the ninja used nature to fine-tune their skills in stealth, camouflage, balance, aim; crafts to create ninja costumes and “weapons”; and games to practice ninja skills, basic martial arts moves.  Each child will go home with a fun home reading list to continue their ninja studies. A maximum of ten children will be accepted. This one week camp will meet from August 13 through 17, 9:45 a.m. to noon and has a cost of $100. If you have any questions or would like to register, contact Debbie at deb@realistek.com or 508-393-3191. 

If you have had a positive experience at another venue for a summer camp, please post the information in the comments section.