It’s not your parent’s summer camp anymore.
The Atlanta area has an abundance of camps that serve a variety of niche interests – from a camp that teaches circus skills to a culinary camp that fosters children’s love of creating delectable, yet healthy meals to an overnight camp specifically for children suffering from health issues that might preclude their inclusion in the regular camp experience.
There’s even an adult day camp for people who want to make or recreate their favorite camp memories.
While the variety of camps seem infinite, they have one thing in common – to foster connections through mutual interest.
Cooking up fun in Sandy Springs
Since 2006, Young Chefs Academy’s Arielle Williams has been guiding children on how to make simple, yet nutritious and flavorful dishes.
“One of the things the kids say is, ‘I don’t eat that,’ but once we start cooking it and it smells so good, they change their mind,” Williams said.
Campers learn such skills as measurement and cooking techniques, and even how to make pasta from scratch, she said.
“You can kind of sneak in the math and science in that way,” said Williams, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta and worked at restaurants like Canoe and Ray’s on the River.
Children are divided by age – 6-8, 9-11, and 12 and up – and introduced to cooking skills that they can master.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as learning how to make popcorn without burning it,” Williams said. “I love sharing with the kids the joy and love for cooking.”
The Young Chefs Academy has three-hour camps that run each day throughout the summer for ages six to 15. More information can be found here.
‘The greatest camp on earth’
Decatur-based Circus Camp in its 33rd year, encourages children to “move around, be noisy, act funny and be messy,” said teacher Caroline Cunningham of the Circus Arts Institute.
“These kids have the freedom to be themselves, and our kid-centered staff is so kind and focused on them,” she said. “Kids have always dreamed of running away and joining the circus, and for a week in the summer, they get the chance to do just that.”
The week-long program, with options like unicycling, juggling, clowning, and an aerial program, culminates at the end of the week with a “super-adorable” show where families can see the children’s accomplishments, Cunningham said.
The camp, which is staffed exclusively by former campers, is a screen-free experience, and accepts special-needs children, she said.
While most camps are held in Decatur, there are also sessions held at satellite locations in Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Buckhead throughout the summer.
The Circus Arts Institute is located at 2969 E Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. More information can be found here.
Taking it off the grid at Spruill Center
While Dunwoody’s Spruill Center for the Arts offers traditional artsy choices during its 11-week camps, there are also very niche options, including animation techniques, crochet creation, metalsmithing, magical creations, and pet portraits.
“All of our camp offerings are based around creativity, and we offer a variety of mediums surrounding the theme of the week,” Spruill Center for the Arts CEO Alan Mothner said. “Campers get to work in a professional studio, which they might not have the chance to do.”
There’s also plenty of opportunities to be active during the day, and we provide a lot of variety within the day,” Mothner said.
At the end of each week, the campers’ creations are displayed in the hallway at the Spruill Education Center and parents and friends are invited to see the fruit of the artists’ labor.
“It’s absolutely my favorite day,” he said.
Spruill offers early and late care options. For more information and to see camp offerings, visit Spruill’s website.
Giving medically fragile kids an outlet for fun
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Camp Oasis gives children living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis the opportunity to “just be kids.”
According to Elizabeth Fligor Vallery, the senior manager of Camp Oasis, about 100 children will attend the camp this summer, which is held at Camp Twin Lakes in Winder, GA.
“We have a lot of things that people offer at a traditional camp, like ziplining and water sports, but we also try to give them lots of options so we can respect their health issues,” Vallery said.
An all-volunteer medical team is on site during the camp, including nurses, dieticians and mental health providers, for any issues that arise while the camp is in session.
“None of the campers are ‘the sick kids,’ because all of them are going through the same thing,” she said. “It’s a place where they feel like they belong.”
The camp also includes one education session, where children are offered coping mechanisms, self-care tips, and have the chance to interact with others who are experiencing the same challenges.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Camp Oasis runs from June 15-20 this year. Scholarships are available to defray the $400 cost. More information can be found at here.
Other camps of note:
- The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta offers a variety of traditional camps, as well as graphic design, a Taylor Swift-themed camp, set lighting and design, and other character-based options like the Jedi Sports Academy. More information can be found here.
- Trybal Gatherings, hosted at the MJCCA, offers a day camp for adults offering “powerful ways to find connections through nostalgia,” said founder and CEO Carine Warswaski. More information can be found here.
- Critter Camp, run by the Amphibian Foundation, gives children the opportunity to learn everything about salamanders, frogs, turtles, snakes, and lizards. More information can be found here.
- Entering its 20th year, The Little Shop of Stories is a book-focused camp geared towards children who share a love of reading. More information can be found here.
- Atlanta Zoo’s Safari Camp, now in its 25th year, gives children from ages five to 14 the opportunity to “make a difference for wild animals and wild places,” said Staci Wiech, the vice president of education at the Atlanta Zoo. More information can be found here.
- The Museum of Design Atlanta’s Design Camp is geared towards young creators who want to explore the power of design in fun and meaningful ways. More information can be found here.
