The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Discover summer camps for kids to play, learn
Indoors or out, keep them entertained and learning on vacation.
Whether your child loves bugs, dirt and canoe rides, writing poetry, exploring the Atlanta’s rich past, or simply completely different like circus art, here are some fun camps worth considering for summer 2018:
Atlanta History Center
History comes to life as Atlanta History Center summer campers explore the past through games, historic simulations, immersive experiences, performances, crafts, and hands-on activities throughout exhibitions, historic houses, and Goizueta Gardens. With fun new themes each week, campers ages 6 through 11 enjoy a variety of immersive camp experiences all summer long. Themes include “Dear Mr. Hamilton” and “1968” and “America at War.” $250 per week for Atlanta History Center members; $300 per week for nonmembers.
Margaret Mitchell House
Margaret Mitchell House writing camps provide an opportunity for 9 to 14 year olds to discover the power and excitement of writing while honing their skills in a fun, interactive environment. With 10 to 15 participants per camp, each young author receives individual attention while learning how to create meaningful prose through a variety of techniques, like stream-of-consciousness writing, games, journaling, free verse poetry, and other forms. $325 per week for members; $375 for non-members. 130 W. Paces Ferry Road NW., Atlanta. www.AtlantaHistory.com/ SummerCamp
Chattahoochee Nature Center
A Chattahoochee Nature
Center tradition since 1993,
Camp Kingfisher has provided an unforgettable camp experience. Kids see wildlife, canoe, investigate and even state. travel Activities throughout and science the themes encourage personal growth, teamwork and environmental stewardship in campers. For kids from the ages of 4 years old to rising ninth-graders. May 29-Aug. 3. Free extended care available 8-9 a.m. and 4-6:15 p.m. Price starts at $224. The Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. www.chattnaturecenter.org/camp-kingfisher
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
Fill your days exploring nature, chasing bugs and critters, unearthing Native American knowledge, programming Lego EV3 robots, learning to live off the land like a pioneer, creating art inspired by the environment, fine-tuning your outdoor survival skills, performing a play, zipping through the tree canopy, and much more.
Camps vary according to age and are available for children ages 4-13. With camps full of fun, engaging activities, and (don’t tell them) educational material, campers will enjoy themselves and discover something that they love about the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center and better yet, the world around them. Camp prices vary depending on the specific camp but range from $150 to $250.
Camp season at the GEHC begins May 29 and ends on Aug. 3. Camps run each week except for the week of July 4. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford. www.gwinnettEHC.com
Adrenaline Climbing Summer Camp
For kids ages 7-13, each one-week program is jampacked with field trips full of fun and outdoor climbing adventures at Tallulah Gorge and Arabia Mountain. Other activities include tubing down rivers, hiking to waterfalls, and stand-up paddle boarding. One- and two-week programs. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free early and late pick ups offered. $250 per week. May 29-Aug. 3. Adrenaline Climbing, 460 Brogdon Road, Suwanee. 770-271-1390, www.adrenalineclimbing.com.
Circus Camp
With Dunwoody locations and in Sandy Decatur, skills, Springs, including kids learn trapeze, circus tightrope walking, juggling and magic. They’ll get to watch the pros perform a live show every day and will perform their own grand finale circus show. Advanced campers who can choose to take an intensive program that focuses on advanced aerial skills, and an Xtreme Magic Camp is also offered. Camps start at $275. June 4-July 27. www.circuscamp. org
Young Chefs Academy
With three locations in metro Atlanta (Marietta, Midtown and Sandy Springs) — is once again dishing up a summer of culinary adventures, helping kids learn their way in the kitchen. Kids will learn how to safely chop, dice and slice — while whipping up everything from homemade gelatos and pastas to Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Skewers. The menu and activities vary at each location. Some camps are designed for kids as young as 3, while other camps are aimed at older kids (11 and up) with more experience. Most middle schoolers would fit into the Sr. Chefs classes. The sessions include everything from “Summer Road Trip” to “Global Gastronomy” to “Candy Bar Enterprise.” Cost typically cost $200 and last three hours, but can vary depending on age, program and franchise. Camps are held from the end of May and run through August. www. youngchefsacademy.com.
Girl Scouts Day Camps
Camp Timber Ridge, established in 1924, is located in Mableton near Six Flags Over Georgia, is home to Girl Scouts day camps over the summer. The property features 220 acres of rolling terrain with both hardwood and pine forests, natural streams, a small lake, wildflowers and a bamboo forest. Camp Timber Ridge is a place your camper can relax, have fun, and live in the moment. Various themes including equestrian and STEMthemed camps and camps also catered to different age groups for K-grade 9 campers. Cost also ranges from as little as $50 to $1,750 for two-week-long specialized camps. Financial assistance also offered to help campers attend the camp. Girl Scouts also offers several sleepaway camp opportunities. Camp Timber Ridge, 5540 N. Allen Road SE, Mableton. girlscoutsummer.com.
The Decatur Writers Studio
The Decatur Writers Studio, a project of the AJC Decatur Book Festival, hosts four weeks of Summer Writing Camps for Teens and Tweens this summer at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. Limited to 12 students per session, the weeklong camps are led by Rebekah L. Goode, a high school creative writing teacher, journalism adviser and director of student publications at Woodward Academy. Students will receive instruction on writing fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with plenty of time devoted to writing and sharing their work with each other.
Tween camps, reserved for rising sixth-eighth graders, are held June 11-15 and June 18-22. Teen camps, reserved for rising ninth11th graders, are held July 16-20 and July 23-27. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. MondayFriday. $400. Camps are held on campus of Agnes Scott College. www.decaturwritersstudio.com.