Camps & courses
Keep the kiddos busy this holiday
When it comes to extra-curricular activities in the UAE, we are spoiled for choice. From horse-riding and football to drama and even coding, there is something to suit every child’s passions.
That means that holidays are never boring and kids can always be kept entertained (phew!).
Check out our round-up of the coolest camps and courses to make sure the children enjoy their school holidays.
Absolute Gymnastics
Tumbling tots from the age of three can sign up to this cool gymnastics camp. Kiddos of any level will learn some cool gymnastics skills with coaching courtesy of a fully-qualified team. And if they enjoy it, they can up for some extracurricular at the club during term time too.
→ Dhs157.50 (day), Dhs577.50 (week). Apr 4- Apr 8. GEMS Wellington Academy, Al Khail (Dubai Hills) and GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis, gymnastics@ absolutesportsuae.com (050 117 8227).
Aventura Parks
Taking place every day from 9am until 6pm from March 28 to April 15, the holiday camp is aimed at kids between six and 14. Highenergy kiddos can sign up to the camp for a day, two days or for the full week with day passes costing Dhs200, two-day passes Dhs350 and weekly passes costing Dhs699. The focus is on fun, fitness and embracing the great outdoors and will include activities that focus on team-building, survival and getting back to nature.
→ From Dhs200. 9am-6pm. Until Apr 15. Mushrif Park, Gate 1, Dubai, www.aventuraparks.com (052 178 7616).
Courtyard Playhouse
Courtyard Playhouse is running two spring holiday camps from March 28 with a focus on theatre. Aspiring performers between eight and 11 can join the Junior Actors Spring Camp, while kids between four and seven can join a storytelling camp that will run Sunday to Thursday over three weeks from March 28 to April 15. Both camps cost Dhs1,215 per child for the week and siblings pay Dhs1,155.
→ Dhs1,215. Until Apr 15. 4B Street, Al Quoz, Dubai, www.courtyardplayhouse.com (050 986 1760).
Code Brave Tutors
Little ones can get their code on and learn the language of tech at these five-day online learning camps. From Scratch and Arduino to JavaScript and Python, IT-obsessed kiddos between six and 14 can choose between nine different courses including Game Developer, Junior Coder, and Intro to Python. The daily hour-long courses will teach kids the basics of coding, and they will get to create a cool retro game that they can play with their friends or build their own app or website. Fun. And as an added bonus, every session bought will fund a session for a child who cannot pay in Lebanon.
→ From Dhs760 (five days), Dhs1,020 (two weeks). Mon-Fri Apr 5- Apr 16. www.codebravetutors.org.
Diverse
The performing arts academy will be welcoming wannabe stars to its HQ in Al Quoz from Sunday March 28 to Thursday April 1 and again from Sunday April 4 to Thursday April 8 for the Diverse Spring Camp Spectacular. There are two separate camps divided into age groups with one aimed at little ones aged five and six kicking off at 9am until 2pm and another for kids between seven and 14 happening from 9am to 3pm.
→ From Dhs750 (kids five-six), from Dhs840 (kids seven -14). Apr 4- Apr 8. Entrance A, The Curve Building, Al Quoz, Dubai, admin@diversechoreography.com, www.diversechoreography.com (04 330 7338).
Dubai Holiday Camps
Got active kids who are into sport? Dubai Holiday Camps has plenty on offer including football, basketball, dodgeball, hockey, table tennis, climbing and archery. But it's not all high energy, kids can also chill out doing arts and crafts, role play, storytelling and sensory play. There is also a bouncy castle and music and movement classes on offer. The camps run from March 28 to April 8 and take place across three venues – Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills, Collegiate American School, Umm Suqeim 2 and Ranches Primary School in Arabian Rances 2. Kids can sign up to a half day from 8am to 2pm for Dhs790 for
the week or Dhs200 per day, or go for the full day option, which starts at 8am and finishes at 5pm and costs Dhs950 for the week and Dhs225 for the day.
→ Until Apr 8. Various locations, Dubai, www.dubaiholidaycamps.com (04 420 3732).
Dubai Performing Arts
Little luvies dreaming of a life on the stage can join Lisa Scott-Lee and her team at
DPA as they explore the wonderful world of chocolate in a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed spring camp. Open to boys and girls between six and 12, the five-day camp kicks off on April 4 and runs between 9am and 2pm.
Dhs850 (kids six-12 for the week). Apr 4- Apr8. info@dubaiperformingarts.com (056 173 7445).
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club
Between March 28 and April 1, and again between April 4 and April 8, kids can play football and dodge ball, get stuck into some circuit training, dance and chill doing some arts and crafts at this cool camp that has something for everyone. Aimed at little ones between four and 14, the camp runs from 8am to 2pm and costs from Dhs210.
→ Dhs210 (day), Dhs525 (three days), Dhs780 (week). Apr 4- Apr 8 8am-2pm. Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, www.poloclubdubai.com (04 361 8111).
Dubai Skateboarding School
Whether your little ones are speed demons on two or four wheels, this spring camp will be one to try. Kids will learn skills in their chosen mode of transport, whether that be skateboarding, rollerskating, scooting on cycling. The camp runs until April 8 between 4pm and 6pm.
→ Until Apr 8 4pm-6pm. (054 490 9814).
It's Just Cricket Academy
Budding cricketers will learn a love for the game as well as all the skills required to bat a six and bowl a wicket at the academy's spring camp that takes place weekdays until April 8. → Dhs650 (week). Apr 4- Apr 8. Dubai College, Al Sufouh, Dubai, www.itsjustcricket.com, info@itsjustcricket.com (058 102 6540).
My Sports Academy
Got kids between seven and 14? My Sports Academy (a Time Out UAE Kids awards winner) is offering a variety of sporting camps for active children. Kids can choose to participate in all four sports, namely swimming, football, netball and triathlon, or they can just choose one sport to focus on. And younger kids haven't been over looked either with a dedicated Mini Black and Yellow Camp. Little campers between four and six will get to sample all four sports (football, netball, swimming and triathlon) on a basic fundamental skill level as well as get stuck into a variety of other active games and low intensity activities such as LEGO building, reading and arts and crafts. The camps run weekdays between 9am and 2pm throughout the school holidays and take place at
English College, Foremarke, Deira International School, JESS Arabian Ranches, JESS Jumeirah.
→ Until Apr 8 9am-2pm. Prices vary, various locations. To sign up or get more info email camps@mysportsacademydubai.com.
OliOli
OliOli’s Designer’s Den camp will run every day between March 28 and April 1 and then again from April 4 to April 8. Dedicated to non-screen-based game building, children between four and ten can look forward to various workshops learning all about the science behind making games.
The camp runs from 9am to 1pm and costs Dhs1,090 per week.
→ Dhs1,090 per week. Until Apr 8 Sun-Thu 9am-1pm. 62 4th Street, Al Quoz, Dubai, www.olioli.ae
(04 702 7300).
thejamjar
There is something for kids and teens at thejamjar this Spring holiday. Camp for kids between four and ten is running for ten days from March 28 and sessions can be booked per day (Dhs131.25) or for the full week, while teens between 11 and 18 will get to sign up for a camp costing Dhs722, which is running between April 5 and April 8 between 11am and 1pm. In addition there are also a variety of art workshops running throughout the holiday period for kids of any age to join.
→ Dhs722. Apr 5- Apr 8. Unit H74, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, www.thejamjar.com (04 341 7303).
Woo-hoo
Sign the kids up to this spring camp where they will learn while having fun. Kiddos will get to explore different styles of hands-on and verbal learning at this children’s museum in Al Quoz. Little Einsteins between four and eight will get to turn their hand to inventing as they explore STEAM concepts through fun, handson challenges designed to build confidence, teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
→ Dhs210 (day), Dhs890 (week). Until Apr 8. 1 6A Street Al Quoz, Dubai, hello@woo-hoo.ae (800 966 466).