Day camps have a lot in store for youngsters
The end of school is around the corner, which means Houston-area parents will be looking for summer day camps to keep their children entertained and engaged. The city offers a variety of camps for all ages, ranging from academic camps to cooking classes. The YMCA of Greater Houston serves nearly 64,000 children in day camps each summer and operates roughly 47 day camp sites throughout the Greater Houston area. “YMCA Summer Camp offers youth a fun and safe atmosphere where they may enjoy their summer break. Our program helps campers discover what they are passionate about, form healthy relationships and obtain a sense of belonging,” said Heather Saucier, spokesperson for the YMCA of Greater Houston. “Activities allow kids to create arts and crafts, explore science and technology, swim, participate in summer reading and literacy, enjoy field trips, and appreciate nature.” The Houston Zoo’s summer camp is geared for children ages 4-16. Camp Zoofari offers both half- and full-day camps where children will learn all about the animal kingdom through hands-on activities, tours and more. For more information, call 713-533-6500 or visit www. houstonzoo.org/education/camp-zoofari. For children who love science and technology, the Museum of Natural Science’s week-long Xplorations camps for children ages 6-12 that cover topics that include chemistry, space, robotics, physics, social studies and dinosaurs. For more information, call 713-639-4652 or visit www.hmns. org/education/summer-camp. urbanCHEF will host weeklong cooking camps this summer for children and teens ages 6-16. Students will be taught
Houston offers a variety of camps for all ages.
how to prepare a wide range of menu items, as well as learn about kitchen safety and sanitation, terminology and other ageappropriate topics. For more information, call 713-504-1700 or visit www.urbanchefhouston.com.
For budding artists, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Glassell Junior School offers a summer camp. Divided into two sessions, the art camp is for children ages 3-18 and is devoted to showing students a wide range of creative topics, including sculpture, drawing and painting, art history, fashion design, printmaking, screen printing and ceramics. For more information, call 713-639-7700 or visit www.mfah.org/visit/glassell-junior-school.
West University Dance Centre and Houston Academy of Dance hosts dance camps designed for children ages 3-7, as well as musical theater camps for children ages 7-12. Dance themes include Cinderella, Barbie Swan Lake, Fairytopia and Princess Camp. For more information, call 713-6642233 or 281-497-4783, or visit www.houstondancecentre.com/classes/summer-camps.