Arts Camps
If your kids have ever imagined careers as cartoonists, they can learn the art from professional cartoonist Guy Gilchrist, who is offering a Summer Cartoon Camp for the third year in 2008 at his Cartoonist's Academy in Simsbury, Connecticut. Gilchrist and his team of instructors provide hands-on learning experiences in a fun, fast-paced environment. Programs are available for aspiring artists ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 15, and you can select from one- and two-week sessions. There are also half- and full-day options. Download registration and medical forms online, or call 860-651-4400 or 888-822-8398 for details.
The Farmington Valley Arts Center's Summer Arts Camp at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury gives kids a chance to cultivate their creative genius through classes in visual arts, ceramics, photography, theater, dance and music. Four two-week camp sessions are available starting June 30, July 14, July 28 and August 11. To request a free Summer Arts Camp brochure or to register, call 860-678-1867, ext. 102.
Daily classes in drama, dance, music and visual arts are all part of the Summer Arts Program offered by the Warner Theatre in Torrington and held at the Warner Center for Arts Education. Three two-week camp sessions are offered, two for children ages 7 to 12 and one for kids 10 to 16. For complete information, call 860-489-7180, ext. 128.
Computer Camps
Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut, hosts Cybercamps, a high-tech day camp program with five-day sessions available from June 23 through August 8. Kids can spend their summer days learning Web design, robotics, computer programming, 3D game design and more. Call 888-904-2267 for more information.
For technowizkids, iD Tech Camps offers a hands-on day or overnight technology camp for ages 7 to 17 at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Kids can choose programs in Web site design, digital video editing, Flash animation, video game creation, programming and even robotics. For more information, call toll free, 888-709-TECH (8324).
Day Camps
Summer Place at the University of Hartford offers an assortment of enrichment activities and athletics for preschoolers through high school seniors. Three two-week sessions run from June 30 through August 8. Does your child have theatrical talents and aspirations? The five-week Summer Place Players program for kids in grades six through twelve culminates in four performances of a major musical production; this year, it's Oklahoma! For more information about Summer Place programs, call 860-768-4432.
In West Hartford, the 75-acre Renbrook School hosts Renbrook Summer Adventure, a day camp for children age 3 through ninth grade featuring art, music, drama, nature, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, archery, photography, adventure trips and more. Call 860-232-8410 for registration information.
Sports Camps
Your kids can learn some new moves from UConn's coach at Jim Calhoun Basketball Camp, held from July 6-10 and 11-15 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. The program is open to boys who are at least 9 years old and/or entering fourth grade through boys who have graduated from high school and are entering college in the fall. Call 860-674-1500 for more information.
Nike's US Sports Camps will have several programs operating in the Greater Hartford area this summer, including a junior golf day camp at Goodwin Golf Course in Hartford and a boys' basketball camp at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut. For more information on sports camps in the region, dates and pricing, call toll free, 800-645-3226.
Skyhawks Sports Academies operates a number of summer programs in the Hartford area, from Tiny-Hawk Soccer camp for ages 3 to 4 to Multi-Sport programs for ages 6 to 8 to Cheerleading champ for ages 7 to 14. There are even Skateboarding camps held at the Newington Skate Park in Newington, Connecticut, and Mill Woods Park in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Search for available programs and dates at the Skyhawks Web site, or call 800-804-3509 for details.
Overnight Camps
If your kids ages 8 through 16 are ready for overnight camp but you don't want them too far from home, consider the Delaware Outdoor Adventure Center in Winsted, Connecticut, which offers four different two-week sessions between June 22 and August 16. Call 860-354-6542 for more details about fees and registration.
Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, will offer a number of boarding camp programs this summer for girls entering grades 6 through 9 including a four-week immersion in the Chinese language, a two-week crime scene investigation and a one-week multi-sport experience. Day attendance is also an option for girls who live in the Greater Hartford area. For details and registration information, call 860-409-3692.
