2017 Kids Fun Guide

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When school lets out for the summer next month, many parents will look to the usual fare to keep bored kids busy. But the offerings of local schools and businesses could shake up a “humdrum” summer with camps, classes and events for kids of all ages and interests.

Education and Life Skills

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library

101 Library Boulevard

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082


The Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library will continue its extra-curricular offerings well into the summer, bolstering its calendar of events with more kids and teens summer reading sessions, toddler movement classes, fan parties, musical events and more through August. With extensive activities for children of all ages, the library will host events such as its “Houses of Hogwarts” board game bash and movie, trivia throw downs and arts and crafts to bridge the gap between the last and first day. For more information, visit www.sjcpls.org/branches/ponte-vedra-beach-branch.

Chocolate Summer Camp

Peterbrooke Chocolatier


Peterbrooke Chocolatier will look to foster young culinary talent with the return of its day camp, an educational activity for parents and children alike. Kids become chocolatiers for a day, learning how chocolate is made and putting their knowledge to the test by creating their own chocolate masterpieces, dipping treats, coloring with edible paints and creating gift baskets. Running from June through August, the cost of the camp is $40-$60 per child. The chocolatier will also provide lunch and adult supervision throughout each day camp. Times, date and pricing vary by store location. Visit www.peterbrooke.com/peterbrooke-summer-camps for more information.

Hot Shot Bakery and Café

47 Cordova St.

St. Augustine, FL 32084


St. Augustine’s Hot Shot Bakery N Café will host kids 8-13 at its monthly baking and cooking classes and invites them to participate in an “I Love Limes and Caramel” kids baking contest, pairing two of the store’s signature ingredients in pastry dishes. Entrants must submit a recipe and a photo to win a private baking class with pastry chef Jalyn Howard and a grand prize of a private tour of historic St. Augustine for four and lunch for four at the bakery. The top 10 finalists will be invited to join owner Sherry Stoppelbein on Saturday, June 15 at the café, where their recipe will be unveiled, sampled and judged by regional food judges. All finalists will receive a dessert to take home. Kids interested in entering the contest must send their recipe and photo to leighcort@bellsouth.net by May 1. Entries must include a cake, cookie, bar, pie or tart recipe and recipe name; a brief story about the recipe under 100 words; a name, address, phone number and email; all ingredients and instructions and a photo of the dish. No previously published recipes will be considered. For additional information call (904) 824-7898.

Art of Etiquette Summer 2017 Camp

Sawgrass Players Club, Water Oak

1 PGA Tour Boulevard


Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. 32082Now in its fifth year, the Art of Etiquette continues to foster the growth of social skills and art techniques while preparing children with essential life skills. The camp is taught by a team of two teachers: professional artist Sharon Goldman and certified etiquette coach Christine Nagle. The sessions are splintered into halves, with the first guiding children through the creation of an art piece while being instructed on painting techniques and mixed media concepts that reflect the style of each camper. In the second half, kids will engage in essential etiquette skills – table manners, introductions, public speaking, gratitude, poise and posture and guesting and hosting – that double as confidence- and leadership-building.

This program is limited to 10 children per session from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday throughout five weeks in June and July: June 5-9, 12-16 and 19-23, and July 17-21 and 24-28.

An all-inclusive fee of $145 will cover food and drink, etiquette course materials and art supplies. Sibling discounts and after-care will be available. To reserve spots or to learn more about the program, contact Christine Nagle at (904) 254-0624 or naglehouse@msn.com.

Sports and Adventure

Nease Basketball Camp

Nease High School

10550 Ray Road

Ponte Vedra, FL 32081


Nease High School will host week-long basketball camp sessions for rising 4th through 8th grade boys and girls from 9 a.m. to noon, and for rising 9th through 12th grade boys from noon to 2 p.m. The camps will be held Monday through Friday between May 30 and June 15.

The weekly camps will prepare student athletes with the fundamentals of basketball – including passing, dribbling and shooting, in addition to team concepts for upper-level students – while encouraging the growth of leadership skills. Sessions include drills and skills, hot shot competition, full-court tournament play, t-shirts, prizes and more. The cost per child is $125 per weekly session.

For more information and to download a registration form, visit www.neaseathletics.org.

Witts Tennis

Bolles School Ponte Vedra

200 ATP Tour Blvd.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082


Beaches resident and nationally recognized Coach Danny Witt leads the Witt Tennis program, a comprehensive junior development tennis program for all levels and ages 6 and up on the First Coast. The camp’s curriculum is centered around fundamentals, techniques and the “ABC’s” of tennis – agility, balance and coordination. Students are grouped into two main groups (beginner/intermediate levels and advance/majors/high performance levels) and use compression balls and specialized focus based on age and level of skill.

Witts’ summer 2017 program will run for three weeks throughout June (12-16, 19-23 and 26-30) from 9 a.m. to noon. To learn more about the program, sign up and the cost of registration, visit www.witttennis.net, or email info@witttennis.net.

Art

Mini Creators and Youth Arts Camps

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach

50 Executive Way

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082


The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach will offer a series of summer art programs throughout June and July. These programs focus on studio-based art curriculum taught by instructors who are working artists or art educators through structured projects and exploration during week-long education experiences. The program teaches a combination of disciplines integral to art, including art history print-making and several lessons in various media.

Camps will run on a weekly basis, Monday through Friday from June 5 through Aug. 4. No pre-requisites or skill level is required and discounts are available by purchasing family membership. To learn more about the art camp curriculum or to enroll, visit www.ccpvb.org/programs/children/summer-arts-camps or call (904)-280-0614, ext. 204.

Camp Cummer

Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

829 Riverside Avenue

Jacksonville, FL 32204


The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens will host “Camp Cummer” for seven weeks throughout June and July. Beginning the week of June 5, children are invited to learn and explore art and art techniques through printing, painting, drawing and working with clay as they discuss art in the museum’s galleries and gardens. The cost per week is $180 for members and $215 for nonmembers. Extended care is available mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. for an additional $25 per week and afternoons from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for an additional $35 per week. Camp Cummer’s first six weeks (June 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30 and July 10-14 and 17-21)) are intended for children entering grades 1-6. Middle School Camp Cummer, held from July 24-28, will provide the opportunity for students entering grades 6-9 to learn printmaking, clay techniques, drawing and painting using inspiration from the masterworks. Middle school projects are intended to advance the skillset of students outside of school and to build a portfolio. To learn more about Camp Cummer, visit www.cummermuseum.org/events/type/camp-cummer.