Camps Your Kids Will Love
Star Hollow Stables’ Horse Camp
The bell rings and students are busting out the door on that final day of school. Summer is here, and the lazy days of summer greet us with the smell of sand and sea, the promise of ice cream and pizza, and the outlook of a blissfully empty calendar. The beach is waiting with buckets, shovels, good books and refreshing waves. But perhaps the daily trek to the beach gets a touch monotonous, and your children want to step up their game a notch, develop new skills, have fun learning new things – or maybe you just want a day on the beach to yourself. Regardless of the reason, fear not: Boredom goes on hold this summer with the promise of a variety of summer camps for every age, interest and skill set.
Summer sports are a must-do when it comes to making friends, staying in shape and improving on your skills. Join Seits Inc. for the largest and longest-running sports camp at the Shore featuring basketball, soccer and all-around sports throughout the summer. The camps featured are open to boys and girls ages 5-14 and offer hands-on instruction, game play and a focus on fun. Shore Soccer Camp, set for July 23-27 in Stone Harbor and July 30-Aug. 3 in Avalon, teaches individual technique and small-group tactics. Each day is complete with skill-specific drills and exercises that reinforce daily themes and include small-sided league games. Shore Basketball Camp, held in Stone Harbor Aug. 6-10, focuses on the fundamental skills and strategies and includes daily half-court and full sided league games. And finally, for the all-around athlete in the family, be sure to sign up for Shore Sports Camp held in Stone Harbor July 16-20 and Avalon Aug. 6-10. The multisport camp highlights an all-around appreciation and enjoyment of sports, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship. Campers will be treated to fun lessons in soccer, baseball, yoga, martial arts, track and field, capture the flag, and more!
Instructors for all of Seits Inc. programs are accomplished athletes with college and even semi-professional experience, and the multiple programs offered have been recognized throughout the tri-state area for their focus on development, fun and positive coaching. Recently, Seits Inc. became an official partner with the Positive Coaching Alliance, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “transform youth sports so sports can transform youth.” For more information and to register, go to seitsinc.com.
It’s everyone’s dream to own a horse at some point in their life, and campers have a unique chance to see what it’s like themselves just a few minutes offshore in Clermont. Meet Abby Revoir, owner of Star Hollow Stables’ Horse Camp! Ditch the flip-flops and put on the riding boots and helmets because campers immediately jump into a week of hands-on training and fun, geared toward an all-encompassing appreciation of horsemanship skills, grooming, nutrition and, of course, riding. Join experienced camp counselors (one for every three campers) to learn from start to finish the care and love involved with owning and riding a horse, and have your child enjoy a full week bonding with Revoir’s trained and beautiful horses and ponies.
Following lessons on barn management, grooming, equipment and more, each camper will enjoy an English riding lesson. This camp is open to ages 5 and up, and any skill level from beginner to advanced. But remember, ditch the flip-flops – closed-toe shoes only on this farm. Campers only need to bring their sunscreen and lunch and all other materials are provided, including the horse, of course. Registration and more information is available by going to starhollowstables.com or emailing Abby directly at starhollowstables@yahoo.com.
The Handwork Studio returns to Avalon for its one-week fashion and machine sewing camps, and a new season of patterns, creativity and fun! Owner Laura Kelly and her skilled staff have new curriculum and projects for the camps, which run 9am to 12:30pm and are offered July 2 through Aug. 10.
The Handwork Day Camp is for campers ages 5-12, who will create a wide array of new and unique projects using skills from hand-sewing, embroidery, knitting, weaving, needle-felting and more. Fashion & Machine Sewing Camp is offered for aspiring fashion designers and creative campers ages 9-15. For this program, campers are taught to read and use a wide variety of patterns perfect for fashion and fun. With so many patterns and items to chose from, this is the perfect camp to enjoy throughout the summer. Plus, The Handwork Studio is excited to announce that the camps will include the selection from its own line of machine sewing patterns via Simplicity Patterns, created exclusively for kids! For more information and to register, go to thehandworkstudio.com/locations/Avalon, or call 610-660-9600.
Express yourself with the art of dance in a new program offered by the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, based in Villanova, Pa. The Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor is the location of Dance at the Shore for girls in grades 4-7 from July 9-13. Dancers will enjoy a morning exploring a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern and hip-hop. This program focuses on technique, flexibility, strength and creativity, and is open to all skill levels from beginner to advanced.
Notre Dame hosts a second program at the Civic Club, Science at the Shore the week of July 16 for girls in grades 4-8. Budding scientists spend a fun morning exploring marine, physical, earth and life science, and learn how it affects the world around them. Topics for the camp include “life in a drop of water,” a sea star dissection, the fun of slime, chemical reactions and much more. The program is led by the Academy’s academic dean, Kim Eife, who also coordinates an annual science outreach program for middle-school girls titled “Full STEAM Ahead.” (STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.)
“The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur is pleased to partner with the Women’s Civic Club to provide these new summer enrichment opportunities to families in the area,” said Dr. Judith A. Dwyer, the academy’s president. “We hope our science program will spark an interest that inspires girls to pursue careers in STEM and that our dance program will inspire creativity through the art of dance.”
For more information and to register for both programs, go to ndapa.org/summercamp.
And speaking of science at the shore, Marine Science Camp returns to Avalon for the weeks of July 9-13 and July 30-Aug. 3. This is more than just a science program, it’s a movement with a mission to provide a fun and educational platform that enables youth to gain an appreciation and understanding of local marine environments. Campers from kindergarten to eighth grade will experience hands-on activities in an open-classroom setting. A plethora of fun and educational activities will cover sharks, coral reefs, seahorses and more, and include interactive games, experiments and walks. Participate in Marine Mammal Rescue drills and observe what lives under the water with crab and critter cams. The camp will also feature live animal guests, seining and loads of fun.
Experienced staffing, all CPR- and First Aid-certified, will lead a variety of hands-on programs to campers entertained and engaged in the appreciation of our beautiful beach environment. And while we’re talking about marine appreciation – ditch the straw! Marine Science Camp is launching the “Last Straw” campaign this summer to promote a plastic-free lifestyle among campers and their families. There are approximately 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean, and plastic never decomposes. So camp leaders are encouraging participants to ditch the disposable plastic straws, cups, plates, cutlery and more in an effort to be a part of the solution and not the problem. To register for Marine Science Camp, go to marinesciencecamp.com.
Continue your appreciation of the sand and sea with The Wetlands Institute’s Summer Nature Program open for ages 4-13, held weekly from June 27 to Aug. 20. Play games, head out on a fun field trip, explore the beach, create arts and crafts and enjoy a new and creative theme each week including “Solar, Polar, Fire & Ice,” “Explore the Shore: Beneath the Shell,” “Get in Shape: Structures in Nature,” “Marine Micro Macro: Lifestyles of the Wet and Tidal,” “Nature of the Night,” “Tagged, You’re It!,” “Herps and Terps,” “Common Ground” and “Safari in the Saltmarsh.”
The Wetlands Institute is open year-round and promotes appreciation, understanding and stewardship of coastal and wetland ecosystems through programs in research, conservation and education. The institute provides a fun and interactive educational experience for all ages through nature exploration and discovery. For more information and to register for the Summer Nature Program, go to wetlandsinstutute.org, or call 609-368-1211.
Summers at the shore boast fun in the sun, and freedom from school desks and pencils, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, buckle down and take a few moments to boost your test skills. Advance Test Review returns to Sea Isle City for its ACT and SAT workshops. And good news for our beach-bumming kiddos, there are morning and evening programs so time at the beach will not be missed!
The redesigned SAT is reported to be harder than ever, so plan to attend these helpful workshops, hosted by professional instructors who will provide exclusive inside information and a promise to boost scores significantly. Improve performance and timing, turn traps into scoring opportunities and gain a unique competitive edge with the latest in SAT and ACT updates and study materials. Veteran instructors and test-prep experts anticipate test questions and provide customized strategies for each student to build endurance and help to finish questions quickly and accurately.
We know, studying in summer might be a bummer, but this class is quick, helpful and even fun, and you’ll be ready to ace those tough tests. Day programs are 10:45am to 1:45pm; Reading/Writing Review July 18-20 and Math Review July 25-27. Evening programs are held from 6-9pm; Reading/Writing Review July 16-19 and Math Review July 23-26. These classes sell out quickly, so register now by going to acethesatworkshop.com.
And finally, we would like to make a quick announcement that libraries rock! You knew that, right? In case you didn’t, be sure to join the Avalon Free Public Library for its annual summer reading program, “Libraries Rock!” starting on May 25. Weekly activities for this fun and interactive program include LEGO Club and video games and even prizes! Plan to participate in this program, open to all ages, and encourage your family to join in as well. Children can sign up May 25 and receive a welcome packet including gifts and a reading log that can be updated throughout the summer for fun games and prizes. Bonus events include Monday Funday every week featuring arts, crafts and activities and a special Kids Concert with the Bay Atlantic Symphony on Monday, July 9.
“We’re excited to offer a fun and flexible summer reading program for kids of all ages,” says Erin Brown, director of the Avalon Library. “This year’s theme is fun and interactive, and we invite children to feel at home at the library and enjoy all of the programs and resources we have to offer.”
The summer reading program is open to children of all ages, locations and reading levels. For more information, go to avalonfreelibrary.org.
So there you have it! Whether your child is an athlete or an aspiring fashionista, a scientist or a bookworm, there is something for every interest, age and skill level offered throughout the Seven Mile Beach. Register now, as many of these camps sell out quickly – no wonder, since they’re so much fun!
Dear Parents: Not sure what to do with your kids today? Be sure to head over to 7milepub.com and sign up for Play Planner. This newsletter will highlight children’s activities throughout the island and help to keep the rainy-day blues and sun-scorched whining to a minimum. Whether it’s a meeting at the playground, story time at the library, tot time at the rec or sand castles on the beach, this newsletter plans to cover it all and help to keep the kids happy and entertained throughout the day. Sign up today and start planning some play time!
