By Clare S. Richie
Our Intown community offers lots of summer camp options. Listening to the experiences of other families helped me choose wisely for my children. Here are some of our family favorites, week-long day camps for the artist or performer in your family, that you may want to consider. Trust me, you’ll wish you could swap places with them.
Red Wall Studio Summer Art Camp
redwallstudio.org/summer_art_camp
Ages: 6-12 years
Date: Last week in May through Aug. 23
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m (before and after-care offered for additional fee)
Artist instructors and founders Christine Tholl and Charlene Shikany patiently guide the campers through hands-on art projects, based on the weekly theme. Campers draw, paint, and work with clay (wheel, hand-building, and sculpture) in the former bowling alley of the Candler Estate – a very cool (literally!) space. Lunch is eaten outdoors in “Monet’s Garden” with time to get wiggles out in a shaded playground. Your camper will get messy and love it! You’ll have new artwork to display at home. The raku-fired vases my kids made four years ago are still on our mantel.
Callanwolde On Stage! Drama Camp
callanwolde.org/education
Ages: 5-10 years
Date: Select weeks in June and July
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If your child wants to perform, this is a no-brainer. On Stage! Drama camp shows young children how to put on a show from soup to nuts. Children not only receive acting and basic dance instruction, they also participate in simple set, props and costume construction. Friday is the final performance for family and friends. Make sure your video camera battery is charged. You’re kids will want to watch the performance again and again.
Circus Camp
circuscamp.org
Ages: Ages 5 and up
Date: 7 one-week sessions, June 10 – Aug. 2
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (before and after-care offered for additional fee)
Does your child love the circus, swinging from monkey bars, or just clowning around? If so, check out circus camp. Your “Circus Star” will choose from activities like trapeze, juggling, magic, clowning, unicycle, tightwire walking, and much more! The Big Show is every Friday at 2 p.m. Your child will proudly show you what they’ve learned. Definitely bring your video camera to this one, too.
Emory Total Tennis Camp
emorytotaltenniscamp.com
Ages: Ages 5 – 18 years
Date: May 28 – Aug. 2
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (full day), 9 a.m. to noon (half day). After care offered for additional fee.
Atlanta is definitely a tennis mecca, so if you want your kids to join in the craze you may consider a tennis camp at Emory. Coach Bryant’s High Flyers for advanced beginners or intermediate players ages 9-14, teaches or reinforces all aspects of the game – forehand, backhand, volley, overhead, serve and return of serve. On Friday, your camper will bring home a DVD that shows the progress he made in just one week. Don’t be surprised if your child wants to keep playing tennis, long after the week is over.
Marist Lady War Eagle Basketball Camp
marist.com/athletics/summercamps
Girls Ages: 6-15 years
Date: Week of June 3 and week of June 10
Hours: Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon.
If your daughter has an interest in basketball, you should take a look at this camp. This is an all-girls sports camp run by Marist Coach Kim Hixon, who is assisted by young women from her high school basketball team plus current college players. These assistants not only teach the campers the fundamentals of basketball, they are terrific role models. This camp encourages the girls to try hard and have fun in a supportive environment. It also provides an indoor alternative to Atlanta’s summer heat!
