Whether it be to help the working parent stay sane or to educate and entertain the curious child, there’s a summer camp or activity on the First Coast for almost every family. From surfing to theater and cooking to zookeeping, these camps from local businesses and organizations are sure to help your kids have a fun and productive summer.
Sports and Adventure
Bud Beech Summer Camp
Hosted at Ponte Vedra High School, Bud Beech Summer Camp offers a variety of sports and physical activities. Campers can enjoy basketball, dance, sports fitness and other fun and healthy activities. Lunch can either be brought from home or purchased for $5. Camps will run from June 3 to Aug. 1 with the chance to choose which days to attend. Bud Beech offers half or full days from Monday through Thursday. For more registration, schedule and more information, visit www.budbeech.com or call (904) 686-4075.
Jax Surf Camp
Jax Surf Camp, run by Jax Surf & Paddle, is back in action and will host its surf and paddleboard camps in Atlantic Beach for kids ages 6 through 16 from June 3 to Aug. 9. The camps will include lessons on ocean safety, correct stance, proper paddling, standing up, what to do when falling and entering and exiting the ocean. Other activities will include paddle boarding, yoga, beach sports, races and more. All skill levels are welcome. After the first evaluation, students will be broken up into groups based on age and skill level to maximize the learning experience and fun. On the last day of camp, camp “graduates” will be rewarded with a pizza party and goody bag after a week of practice and hard work. Half- and full-day camps are available with lunch included for the full-day camp. Students must already know how to swim to attend these camps. For details and additional information, visit www.jacksonvillesurfandpaddle.com.
Tommy Hulihan Basketball All-Sports Summer Camp
Located at St. Paul’s Catholic School gym in Jacksonville Beach, the Tommy Hulihan All-Sports summer camp will run daily and weekly camps from June 10 to Aug. 9 with early drop-off and extended care available. Kids ages 5 through fifth grade will be able to partake in a variety of sports and activities, such as basketball, soccer, flag football, kickball, tag and more. Although lunch from home is required from Monday through Thursday, the camp will provide pizza and bowling at Beach Bowl every Friday. The camp also suggests kids to bring an extra snack if registering for extended care. For more details and registration, visit www.tommyhulihanbasketball.com.
Creative and Performing Arts
Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach
The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach will offer many camps and workshops throughout the summer for kids ranging in age. From Mini Creators (4-5 years old) to Youth Arts (6-8) and the Arts Academy (9+) to theater camp at the Alhambra (9-12 and 13-16), the local nonprofit is sure to have something of interest for your child. For more information, visit https://ccpvb.org/arts-programs/youth-arts-camps-workshops.
Bach to Rock Music Camps
The music school, Bach to Rock, will host several summer camps, each with a different musical theme. The Rock Band program, for ages 7 and up, will break children up into bands according to age and skill level and will teach them how to play in an ensemble while achieving their musical objectives. The Glee Club, for ages 7 and up, is an ensemble that focuses on reading music, intonation, listening skills, rhythm and vocal technique. The Glee Club allows students to embrace their inner stars while singing in harmony to choreographed songs. In Rock City World Tour, kids from preschool through first grade learn the basic concepts and movements associated with playing music, such as fast and slow, sound and silence, high and low and singing and playing major scales. Recording Arts: ProTools and Production, for ages 10 and up, gives campers the opportunity to “manipulate sound in an industry-level environment,” according to the Bach to Rock website. Kids will use professional music equipment and technology to gain recording experience and create original music. Bach to Rock has a location in Jacksonville Beach. For camp schedules and pricing, visit www.jacksonvillebeach.b2rmusic.com/camps.
Jax Cooking Studio
For aspiring little chefs, Jax Cooking Studio will offer weekly half-day classes with a new cooking theme each week. From June through August, kids can learn basic cooking skills while working in a team-oriented environment. They’ll also learn about kitchen hygiene and safety, food science and nutrition and the importance of sustainability and repurposing ingredients for new meals. At the end of each day, kids will be able to eat their own creations. Each Friday, children will cook their favorite recipe of the week or create their own dish from the knowledge acquired from that week. After this camp, the kids could even cook a family dinner at home! For more information about Jax Cooking Studio’s weekly camps, visit www.jaxcookingstudio.com.
Learning and Life Skills
MOSH Discovery Camps
From June 3 through Aug. 2, Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH) will host Discovery Camps for children in kindergarten through eighth grade within the museum itself. Each weekly camp offers a unique theme relating back to science. From the ocean and its inhabitants, to the inner workings of the human body, to even art and how it incorporates math and science, these little discoverers will learn what it takes to become architects, engineers, astronauts and more. Camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with extended care available. For registration and additional information, visit www.themosh.org/educate/discoverycamps.
YMCA Super Summer Adventure Camp
First Coast YMCA’s Super Summer Adventure Camp is back at it with more creative activities for kids to discover new skills for success, build self-confidence, make new friends and feel a sense of achievement. Campers will partake in activities involving arts and humanities, swimming, field trips and other outdoor adventures. Since the Y promotes the continuation of learning through the summer, the camps will also have a reading hour, as well as activities involving math and science. The camp will also incorporate the fundamentals of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. Camps begin this summer depending on location. YMCA members will receive a 20 percent discount on summer day camp pricing. For locations, camp schedule and additional information, visit www.fcymca.org/programs/camp/summer-camp/.
Girl Scouts Summer Camp
The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council will host their 2019 summer camp to girls entering first grade through 12th grade. Four types of camps are provided throughout the summer. Weekend camp is ideal for first-timers who can bring a parent to stay overnight. Sampler camp is designed for girls to “sample” the overnight experience with three days and four nights at either North Fork or Camp Kateri. Resident camp is the traditional Girl Scout experience. Six days and five nights at either Camp Kateri or North Folk will include field trips and off-camp adventures. Campers in seventh grade and up can take part in Camp on the Road, where girls can explore areas outside the Gateway Council. Not up for sleeping over? Day camp is offered at North Fork Leadership Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For camp schedules and registration, visit www.girlscouts-gateway.org.
