Saturday, March 15, 2014

From a Hogwarts writing workshop to constructing cardboard castles to becoming Huck Finn, there’s a summer camp for everyone


Popular local options include St. Paul Academy, Friends School of Minnesota, Leonardo’s Basement, Como Park

By Tesha M. Christensen

There’s no excuse to be bored this summer. Check out the multitude of classes and camps offered through your local parks board, YMCA/YWCA, school and well-known organizations such as the Minneapolis Arts Institute, MacPhail Center for Music, and Minnesota Children’s Museum.

Browse below for highlights of the many camps offered in the Twin Cities:

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

BLACKHAWKS OF ST. PAUL
Blackhawks offer several exciting half- and full-day camps for players ages 5-18 that encompass a wide variety of activities and skills. Specialty camps focus on specific skills such as ball control, shooting, and goalkeeping.
Cost: $75-175
651-894-3527
http://blackhawksoccer.org/

CAMP COMO
Spend some time Monkeying Around with your primate pals; discover your creative side with Adventures in Art; take an African Adventure right at Como; or try on the hat of a zookeeper or gardener in Behind-the-Scenes! Como’s camps include “behind-the-scenes” experiences and meeting Como’s plant and animal ambassadors up-close! Five-day, half-day sessions. Extended care available. In partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), Como also offers summer camp opportunities for youth, ages 8-18, with autism.
Cost: $130-150
651-487-8272

CREATE SOMETHING GREAT AT FRIENDS SCHOOL
From junior sleuths to budding lawyers to young artists, there are five weeks of adventures and summer fun planned for grades 2-12 at the Friends School of Minnesota. Weekdays, half- and full-day.
Cost: $100 to $280
651-621-8941

LEONARDO’S BASEMENT
Girls and boys ages 6 to 17 can design and build their creative ideas, mixing art, science and technology during partial-day, weekday camps.
Cost: $25-185
612-824-4394
Website: http://www.leonardosbasement.org

MINNEHAHA ACADEMY
A variety of athletic, academic and enrichment programs are offered, including woodworking, Lego robotics, rocket science, geocaching, fencing, sailing, painting, microelectronics, guitar, and more. Half- and full-day, one- to three-week weekday sessions. Camp Minnehaha, a full day camp for pre-k to grade 8, includes daily devotions, games, indoor and outdoor activities, daily swimming lessons and a weekly off-campus activity.
Cost: $175-750
612-728-7745, ext. 1

ST. PAUL ACADEMY
Take a writing workshop entitled: “A Week at Hogwarts.” Learn about journalism and movie-making. Play chess, take competitive math, debate, or work on your college admission essay. Ten options at SPA cover a wide range of academic, arts, and enrichment activities for grades 2-12. ¡Verano Divertido! offers an engaging opportunity for children ages 5-10 to learn Spanish during the summer. The Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth offers the ExplorSchool for students in grades 4-6. 
Cost: $159-379
651-698-2451
http://www.spa.edu/about_spa/summer_programs_2014


IN THE TWIN CITIES

ADVENTURES IN CARDBOARD
Construct giant castles, get lost in colossal mazes, build suits of armor and more during these five-day, full-day sessions for ages 8-14 offered July 7-11 and July 14-18 at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis. Other locations in Arden Hills and Eden Prairie with bus service offered from Powderhorn Park.
Cost: $299
http://julianmcfaul.com/
612-532-6764

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE MPLS/ST. PAUL
Half-day, three- and five-day French language day camps for beginners and experienced students from age three through high school offering hands-on and artistic expression in an immersion setting.
Cost: $95 to $175
612-332-0436
http://www.afmsp.org

ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY
Unleashed campers entering grades 3-10 spend a full week immersed in animal learning and fun. Camp sessions are held in St. Paul and Golden Valley (as well as three other location).
Cost: $295
http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/camps
763-489-2220

ARTICULTURE
A variety of art disciplines and mediums with themes like Claymation, theater or food as art offered for ages 4-18. Five-day, half- and full-day sessions available.
Cost: $115-260
612-729-5151
http://www.articulture.org

ALEXANDER RAMSEY HOUSE
Solve mysteries of the past in this three-day History Detective Camp for ages 11-13. Or, young ladies ages 9-12 can step back in time in a unique Finishing School for Young Ladies day camp.
Cost: $190-$220
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps

CAMP SUNRISE
Camp and canoe while learning leadership and teamwork skills in a seven-day resident camp for youths age 13-18 who live within the city limits of Minneapolis or St. Paul. Held on the St. Croix River in Rush City and organized by YouthCARE.
Cost: free
612-338-1233
http://www.youthcaremn.org

CIRCUS JUVENTAS
Explore international circus arts during the 20th anniversary year of Circus Juventas. Five-day, full-day sessions offered for ages 6-18.
Cost: $395
651-699-8229
http://www.circusjuventas.org

CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES
Experience cultural and language immersion with 15 languages to choose from. Resident camp for ages 7-18 and half-day programs offered.
Cost: $870-$4,570
1-800-222-4750
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org

COOKS OF CROCUS HILLS
Learn kitchen skills and safety along with basic techniques to get cooking, with an international flavor. Three-day, half-day sessions for ages 8-13 in Edina, Stillwater and St. Paul.
Cost: $195
651-228-1333
http://www.cooksofcrocushill.com

DODGE NATURE CENTER
Explore prairies, wetlands and woodland trails during full- and half-day, four-day camps offered for students entering 1-8 grades. Shorter sessions available for ages 3-6.
Cost: $80-225
651-455-4531
http://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/

FORT SNELLING
Be a soldier for a day. Explore like Huck Finn. Experience the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Be an adventurer like Davy Crockett. Or, try out what life as an archeologist is like. Camps range from one day to one week.
$50-$225
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps

GIBBS MUSEUM OF PIONEER AND DAKOTA LIFE CAMPS
Travel back in time and learn about life in the 1800s. Three- and five-day, half-day camps with shorter sessions available for ages 6-11.
Cost $100-240
651-646-8629
http://www.rchs.com

HAMLINE YOUNG WRITERS
High school students ages 15-18 can explore the craft, prepare for college, and connect with other young writers in the Twin Cities, while working closely with Hamline Creative Writing faculty and published authors. Register by April 15.
Cost: $400
651-523-2476
http://www.hamline.edu/gls/youngwriters/

KNIGHT FOR A DAY
Learn about history while creating models of period armor, examining real medieval artifacts and more. Five-day, full- and half-day sessions for ages 7-14.
Cost: $170-325
612-719-1954
http://www.oakeshott.org

MINNESOTA BOOK ARTS
Bring your imagination to life by creating characters and inventing new worlds. Five-day, full-day camp for ages 6-11.
Cost: $250-275
612-215-2520
Website: http://www.mnbookarts.org

MILL CITY MUSEUM
Campers aged 9-11 will spend each morning at Mill City Museum exploring a different museum theme through a variety of activities. Create a photographic history of the area. Bake bread. Tour St. Anthony Falls lock and dam. And more. 
$225-$250
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps

NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
Half-day or full-day weeklong camps are offered in a variety of themes (from teapots and dog bowls to spaceships and garden gnomes) for ages 6 and up. 
Cost: $170-$305
612.339.8007
http://www.northernclaycenter.org/education/summer-clay-camps

SCRUBS CAMP
Explore careers in health with hands-on sessions for grades 9-12. Full-day five-day session in Minneapolis or four-day session in St. Paul.
Cost: $355-475

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of every camp in the Twin Cities. If you would like to be included in next year’s guide, please send us detailed information on the camp.

This story appeared in the March edition of the St. Paul Monitor.

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