Camps that will captivate
No matter your child’s passion, these experiences will keep them entertained this summer
Keeping your child engaged during the summer can be a challenge, especially when you still need to work. Luckily, there is a wide selection of summer camps offered around the Greater Toronto Area.
And, since you want to nurture your child’s interests as they play and learn, it is easy to find a summer experience that reflects their passion. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
For the space explorer
Recent out-of-this-world images from the James Webb Space Telescope are inspiring a whole new generation of astronomers. If your child is among those who can’t get their heads out of the stars, then Astronomy in Action’s Space Ranger Summer Camp may put them over the moon.
Four weeklong day camps for children ages seven to 12 are taking place in Etobicoke and east Toronto in July, with activities that include looking at the sun through a telescope, making their own constellations and planets, and exploring the universe in its digital planetarium. (astronomyinaction.com)
For the nature enthusiast
If you weren’t lucky enough to score a spot with the Toronto Zoo’s weeklong camps (there is a waitlist for this summer), your nature-loving child can still spend time learning about creatures big and small.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority holds summer camps at its seven education centres across the GTA. Among its offerings are the weeklong Amazing Animals camp where children learn about the different animal groups, how to look for signs that creatures might be nearby and how they have adapted over time. (trca.ca)
For the creative type
Your budding Picasso, Rembrandt or Warhol will be bursting with creativity after attending one of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s one- or two-week Art Camp sessions taught by a team of artist instructors. With halfand full-day options for children ages five to 13, this year’s themed camps include Rainbow Adventures, Art & Play and Nature Designers.
During each session, kids will get a chance to make art using a variety of techniques and materials, from drawing and painting to sculpture and collage. And, as a bonus, campers also get to explore the AGO and see its exhibits. (ago.ca)
For the future chef
If your child is glued to cooking tutorials on social media, you may want to add a weeklong culinary course to the mix this summer. Rooks to Cooks, which operates from 16 locations throughout the GTA, offers several culinary summer camps designed to teach children ages five and older about nutrition, safe food handling and life skills.
On the menu this summer are programs like Around the World, which explores culinary cultures from across the globe, and Baking for Beginners, where kids are taught the fundamentals. Each camp is led by professionals, includes a daily lunch and campers get to take home the treats they made at the end of each day. (rookstocooks.ca)
For the history lover
Whether your child is fascinated by all things dinosaur related, or curious about the history of the Toronto region, then the Royal Ontario Museum’s annual Summer Club may hold the answer for you. Designed for children ages five to 16, its one- and twoweek programs run throughout the summer.
Among the programs being offered are Frozen in Time, where kids learn how artifacts can teach us about the past, and Pharaohs and Friends, an exploration of different types of royalty that have reigned throughout history. And, of course, there is the always popular dinosaur-based experiences, like its T.rex Tales and Dino Detectives programs. (rom.on.ca)
For the science wiz
If your child likes to tinker and take things apart just to see how they work, then Upper Canada College’s Robotics Day Camp might be the perfect summer activity for them. Part of the UCC Summer Day Camps offerings, it will see participants (it is open to youth ages 10 to 15) working in small teams to design and build their own robots.
The weeklong course is focused on developing problem solving skills and teamwork and is a fun way for kids to learn some of the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math. At the end of the course, campers get to demonstrate their creations to their parents. (ucc.on.ca)
For the budding performer
Children who love being in the limelight will relish a summer camp experience where they can act, sing or dance on stage in a theatrical production. Operating since 1994, the Children’s Art Theatre School offers classes throughout the year, with a special intensive and creative two-week theatre camps during the summer months.
The half- or full-day options are for campers ages four to 13 and include introductions to drama, dance, vocals and visual arts. The programs are offered according to age groups, and each session ends with a final performance. The camps are offered in Toronto and Hamilton. (catsdrama.com)
For the growing athlete
No matter what your child’s athletic inclinations, the City of Toronto’s CampTO program includes several different sessions designed to keep kids active in the summer. At CampTO Plus: Sports, participants learn the fundamentals of everything from soccer and basketball to tennis and track and field.
Other offerings during the summer months — which are available according to three age groups — include CampTO Plus: Skateboarding, where kids learn the basics of safe skateboarding, and CampTO Plus: Swim Ultra, which offers group lessons over a two-week period. (toronto.ca)