Camps Gearing up for Summer; An 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.

Summer Programs will have openings posted in June for their summer program for elementary and middle school students. These programs are only available for Shrewsbury residents.

will have sign-ups online starting on May 9 at 7 a.m. For more information, check out their brochure online.

continues to offer a wide array of camp opportunities for all age levels. Offered throughout the summer are Club Assabet, Kids Discovery and Teen Scene. Club Assabet is for ages three through five and is a half day program that incorporates games, storytime, arts and crafts, and water play from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday at the cost of $90. Kids Discovery is geared towards the elementary aged kids and offers both half and full days ($190/full day, $90 for half days) and Teen Scene meets Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to  4 p.m. Extended day hours are available at an additional charge and field trips are incorporated into the Kids Discovery and Teen Scene full day options.

Other camp options, often offered only once during the summer and for shorter hours than a typical camp, include Archery, Beastie Art Camp, Food, Fun & Sun Cooking & Gardening Camp, Jedi Engineering with LEGO, Bashem Bots LEGO Engineering, Spectacular Science, Soccer, Tennis, Theater, and Lacrosse.

Be sure to check the Recreation Department’s website for the most updated information and availability. Early bird rates will end on May 1 so early registration is recommended. There is space in the camps currently.

Ecotarium Discovery Camp: Science and nature based day camps are offered 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, but register by May 1 for a discounted price of $259/week for members and $279/week for non-members. (Tadpoles half day program is $155/week for members and $170/week for non-members.) Registration and camp info can be found on the Ecotarium's Web site. 

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center: Massachusetts Audubon in Worcester also 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, MA also 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: Kids ages 6 through 12 can have as much fun playing with the minor leagues too. 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: Geared for boys completing first through fourth grade, adventure is waiting for them at Camp Resolute. 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 Northborough is available. The cost is $355 but will increase on May 1. Non-scouts are welcomed to attend as well but will be charged a nominal extra fee 

Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA also 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: Kids ages 9 to 16 will 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: Many local churches hold a week of vacation Bible school. St. Rose of Lima has a popular one that will meet the week of July 16 through 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. As always, it will include fun games, arts and crafts, and songs. Cost is only $35 for the week and is for kids entering Kindergarten through fifth grade.Registration info and forms will be available in early May on line or through Susan McGoldrick. 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 us 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: Former elementary classroom teacher Debbie McDuffee is forming 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.