By Jeff Wolfe
Just when your children are about to finish answering questions for school, one of the big questions parents face when school is done is what to do with their children during those summer months.
One bit of good news is that there are some local options to help fill at least some of those gaps in late June and well into July.
Kingsway High School will be sponsoring 16 camps during a four week period in July. Those weeks will include Session 1 from July 7-10, Session 2 from July 14-17, Session 3 from July 21-24 and Session 4 from July 28-31. The camps will be either from 9 a.m. to noon or noon to 3 p.m. each day.
They will be led by certified teachers and personnel and the age groups range from ages 4 to 18. The deadline for registration is June 13 and more information about the camps can be found at http://www.kingsway.k12.nj.us/CER/Summer-2014-Camp-Flyer.pdf. Those interested can also call 467-3300 ext. 4250.
One camp that will be running throughout each session will be led by Science Explorers, an organization from Pennsylvania that has been leading science camps for 15 years. The Science Explorers camps each cost $175 with different themed camps for each week.
But no matter what the theme, Science Explorers founder Jennifer Moorehead says students will have a hard time not enjoying themselves.
“Our motto is if it is not fun we are not doing it,” said Moorehead. “We want to take the scare out of science and we make it way fun. That’s our job and we take it pretty seriously.”
Their camps for each week are as follows: The Session 1 theme is Science or Magic? It is for ages 7 through 11. This is where campers will create erupting foam monsters, conduct air pressure experiments, dig for hidden treasures and investigate the science of illusions, among other things.
Session 2 is the Amusement Park Adventure also for ages 7 through 11 where campers will build, mix, and spin their way to a carnival day. It will include the experience of a rockin’ rollercoaster, bouncing bungees, and creations and concoctions straight from the lab, including a super spin-art machine and homemade ice-cream. Session 3 is the Junior Investigative Team Week for ages 4 through 6. It will feature creating an edible ocean, experimenting with a “magic” magnet bottle, investigating butterflies, discovering how birds adapt to their environment, and making colorful sidewalk chalk.
Session 4 will be the Take A Dive week for ages 7 through 11. It will explore the world of marine biology and oceanography and include dissecting a real shark, participating in a fisherman’s challenge, examining the anatomy of a fish, learning the ancient technique of gyotaku or “fish rubbing,” learning to survive at sea with a homemade solar still, creating a kelp forest and making your own submarine.
Moorehead says that has been one of the more popular camps in recent years. “I’ve had several kids say this is the best day of their life,” Moorehead said. “To have been a part of that has been great.”
There are also several other camps and activities that children can be a part of at Kingsway this summer. One session that will be held each week from 9 a.m. to noon will be an SAT Preparatory course that will cost $225 and be led by high school teachers Colleen Fitzpatrick in the first two sessions and Laura Fiorentino in the second two sessions.
There are also private music and tutoring sessions that can be scheduled for ages 12-17 and tutoring for ages 8 to 16. The music lessons are $200 per session, can be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will be taught by high school instructors Joseph Henderson and Nicholas Kline. Tutoring is $225 per session, can be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and will be taught by Cynthia Baita and Ryan O’Neill.
There are also some sports related camps. During the first session, Kingsway High School Track and Cross Country Coach Christian Lynch will lead a cross country and track camp for ages 9 to 17 from 9 a.m. to noon for $125. It will feature instruction for beginners who are just attempting to run or learn a track event, as well as help those who are more advanced.
Also, in Session 4, there will be an introduction to lacrosse camp for ages 11-14 for $125. It will be from 9 a.m. to noon and be led by Amanda Bushong . This camp will emphasize learning the fundamentals of the game.
Another sports oriented camp for ages 14-18 is power lifting related to a specific sport. It is for boys and girls and will be from noon to 3 p.m. in Session 1 and cost $125. The camp will be led by Carmelo Costa and participants will learn Olympic (Clean/Jerk/Snatch) and Powerlifting (Squat/Bench/Deadlift) weightlifting movements and develop an understanding on how these movements can be applied to sport specific training.
Also available at Kingsway will be a camp featuring arts and crafts for ages 6-10 in Sessions 2-4 from 9 a.m. to noon for $125. It will be led by Nick Fiocco and emphasize water color painting, jewelry making, origami, acrylic painting, plaster molding, mask making, book making, print making, and mosaics. Campers will have the opportunity to complete one to two projects each day in a camp.
Another camp that will also take place is Kids in the Kitchen from 9 a.m. to noon during each session for $125. It will be taught by Celeste Murray and feature testing new recipes and investigating candy making, cooking, and baking.
Sessions 1-3 will feature a camp about Greek mythology for ages 7 to 11 from 9 a.m. to noon that will cost $125. The class will include discussions about the creation story, gods and goddesses, and various myths about these gods and goddess, heroes and monsters. Students will write, research, and produce art work inspired by the stories, creatures and heroes they learn about.
If you have a child who likes to dance there is a Step 101 class in Session 4 from 9 a.m. to noon for $100 that will teach the basics of step dancing and will introduce campers to a step routine.
Also, there will be a drama class for students ages 7-12 from 9 a.m. to noon during Sessions 1 and 2 for $150. It will teach campers to learn how to respond truthfully, how to listen on stage, and how to prepare and perform monologues and scenes for a final informal performance.
Also, there will be an Entering the Workforce Camp in Sessions 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 15-18 for a cost of $150. It will prepare students by learning how to interview and complete a cover letter, resume, employment application and follow-up letter. Students will also work on researching internet employment sites. A local employer will also visit the school campus to speak with students on what makes a good employment candidate, application and interviewing protocol.
The Kingsway camps won’t be the only option for those in the area. Swedesboro-Woolwich Elementary Physical Education Teachers Brian Lockman and Eileen Mission will be hosting their seventh Summerfun Kids Camp for four weeks at Locke Avenue Park. Their camps will run for four weeks, in a pair of two-week sessions.
The first session will be Monday-Thursday from 8:45 a.m. to noon from June 23 through July 3. Then the second two-week session will also be Monday-Thursday from 8:45 a.m. to noon from July 7 through July 17.
Their camps include a camp T-shirt, a water bottle and a daily snack. The prices vary depending on how many sessions and how many children from one family attend as there are discounts for families with multiple children. The prices range from $170 for one child for one session down to $119 per child for one session for a family with four children.
The camp activities include Star Wars Dodgeball, Capture the Flag, Colorzone Roundup, Old School Dodgeball, Kinball, QB Rescue, Handball, Frisbee Golf, Volleyball, Crab Soccer, Kickball, Bamboozle, and Noodle Fencing.
For more information about this camp, go to www.summerfunkidscamp.com or call 856-287-4401.
