Summer Camps Cater to Kids and Cool

Ballwin’s first wave of summer camps wrapped up this week, and a few of the camps that lie ahead probably aren’t the kind Mom and Dad remember attending.

Country Club Camp, Jam Camp, and perhaps most intriguingly, Hip Hop camp all are kicking off this month to provide new ways of staying “cool” this summer.

Aimed at children ages 9 through 13, park district representatives said the mix of day camps make them more appealing to kids by trying to give them a little more say in how they spend their summer. The district also offers differently themed “Little Feet” camps for kids ages 2 through 6.

 “Just having the option to pick and choose the camp you want to go to rather than just go somewhere picked for you, I think [the campers] really enjoy that,” said Colleen Ahearn, a recreation specialist with the park district.

Ahearn said Hip Hop Camp is new to Ballwin this year, which will feature “Hip Hop Counselor” Laura Jarasek, who will user her dance expertise to guide the kids through the latest block-rocking dance moves. The week long hip hop camp, which concludes Friday, will lead up to a dance performance set to Michael Jackon’s “Thriller.”

Another angle on the music scene, “Jam Camp” will show campers the ropes on playing in a band. Campers can even bring their own instruments, but that isn’t required.

For more information about the Ballwin Park District summer camps, see the brochure available above as a PDF file. Inquiries also can be made through the official City of Ballwin Park District Website.