Summer Camps Guide 2011

Spring break is just around the corner, and Summer is not too far away. Local organizations are gearing up to welcome your child. Several registrations are on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill up quickly. So be sure to enroll your child before it’s too late.

Check out Westchase Patch's guide to area camps divided by category – Sports, Theatre & Arts, Adventure and General. 

SPORTS

Name:  Westchase Impact Martial Arts Summer Camps

Address:  9652 W. Linebaugh Avenue (across from Westchase Elementary)

Phone:  (813) 600-5260

Specialty:  Martial Arts designed to enhance confidence, balance, strength, agility, teamwork, stamina, posture, and discipline. 

Dates:  Week-long camps run from June 13th through August 19th

Ages:  Ages 5 and up

Time:  9am-12pm Monday – Friday

Notes:  $150 per child; families enrolling 3+ children receive a discount. 

Name:  Ravens Basketball Camp

Contact:  Todd Price, Camp Director, CoachPrice@RavensBasketballCamp.com

Address:  All activities are held at the Alonso High School gym – 8302 Montague Street

Phone:  (813) 310-4827

Specialty:  Hoops, of course!  All levels, from beginners to advanced, are welcome to join in on instruction, games and contests.

Dates:  Session one runs from June 20th-23rd, and session two runs from July 11th-14th

Ages:  7-14 years

Time:  8am-1pm

Notes:  The first 60 applicants are guaranteed a spot, a t-shirt and a basketball.  Campers compete based on their size, age and ability.  Members of the Alonso Ravens basketball team will participate in camp sessions.  $125 per session.

Name:  Westchase Swim & Tennis Summer Activity Camp

Address:  10405 Countryway Boulevard, 33626

Phone:  (813) 855-0662

Specialty:  Includes a variety of activities including swimming, sports & fitness, field trips, games, arts & crafts, and more. 

Dates:  June 13th-August 5th

Ages:  5- 12 years

Time:  Full day sessions from 8am-6pm; half day sessions either 8am-1pm or 1pm-6pm

Notes:  Counselor to camper ratio is 1 to 8.  Westchase resident sign-up begins April 11th, and open registration starts April 25th.

Name:  Extreme Youth Sports Camp

Address:  4920 Newkirk Drive – Tampa, 33624

Phone:  813-817-KICK (5425) or 877-318-9620

Specialty:  Karate, dance, additional sports (flag football, soccer, etc.), arts & crafts, monthly field trips, guest speakers, and more.  Continued education is also part of the curriculum; daily lesson plans include educational activities focusing on required reading, math, science and history.

Dates:  Camp begins June 13th and runs through the entire summer

Ages:  4 and up

Time:  Full day programs run from 7:30am-6pm and half day sessions are 9am-12pm

Notes:  Weekly payments are accepted and their brand new game & media room includes flat screen plasma TV’s, Nintendo Wii’s and age appropriate movies. 

Name:  HorsePower for Kids, Inc.

Contact:  Armando Gort, Executive Director, 4dreams@horsepowerforkids.com

Address:  8005 S. Racetrack Road – Tampa, 33635

Phone:  (813) 855-8992

Specialty:  Horse riding and equine education

Dates:  June 13th – August 19th

Ages:  6-16 years

Time:  Full day sessions run from 8:30am-6pm and partial day sessions are 8:30am-2:30pm. 

Notes:  Weekend Camps (Saturday and/or Sunday from 9am-5pm) are also available.

FINE ARTS, THEATRE & DANCE

Name:  Dawson Dance & Theatre Academy

Address:  12615 Race Track Road (in front of Pump It Up)

Phone:  (813) 814-7500

Specialty:  There are four camps to choose from: Princess Camp (June 20th-24th); Rockette Training Camp (June 27th-July 1st); Musical Theatre Camp (July 18th-29th); and Triple Threat Camp which encompasses cheerleading, tumbling and hip hop (Aug. 8th-12th).

Ages:  4 and older, depending on the camp.

Time:  Princess Camp runs from 10am-1pm.  All others are scheduled from 10am-2pm.

Notes:  Campers should bring lunch Monday – Thursday.  Summer classes (30-60 min. each) are also available in jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, Broadway voice/theatre, and more.

Name:  Fleming Fine Arts Camp

Contact:  Larkie Fleming, larkieart@aol.com

Address:  4811 Kelly Road, 33615 (At Berkeley Preparatory School in Town & Country)

Phone:  (813) 230-3008

Specialty:  Fleming prides itself as the only local arts camp where students create all original works of art, including community performances (scripted, directed and performed by the campers), as well as dance, art, music, computer animation, videography, moviemaking, and more.   

Dates:  Choose from one or two-week sessions throughout June and July

Ages:  3-14 years

Time:  Half-day programs for 3-5 year olds from 9am-12pm.  Full-day programs are from 9am-3pm.

Notes:  Children do not need to be students of Berkeley to enroll.  Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Fleming is Tampa’s longest-running summer arts program.  Teens in 9th-12th grade may be eligible for the Counselor-in-Training program where they can earn community service hours.

Name:  Curtain Call Performing Arts Theater and Acting School’s Summer Camp Experience

Contact:  Steve Henry, Director, curtaincallpat@verizon.net

Address:  5253 Ehrlich Road, 33624

Phone:  (813) 962-7538

Specialty:  “An introduction to all aspects of the performing arts in a real off-Broadway style theater.”

Dates:  Weekly camps are scheduled for: June 20th-24th, July 4th-8th, July 18th-22nd, and August 1st-5th.

Ages:  6 and up

Time:  8am-5pm

Notes:  Topics/highlights include: method acting, recording your own CD, a faux ‘American Idol’ competition, voice and notation, professional stage makeup, video production, and more.

ADVENTURE

Name:  Busch Gardens Adventure Camp

Address:  10001 N. McKinley Drive – Tampa, FL

Phone:  (813) 248-2267

Specialty:  Animal interaction and care.  Choose from six-day Resident (sleepover) or Day camps. 

Dates:  Dates vary greatly depending on age and camp type

Ages:  Resident camps are for children grades 5 and higher; day camps accept preschoolers (‘Camp Busch Babies’) to 12th graders (‘Counselors in Training’).

Time:  Camp Busch Babies runs from 8am-1pm.  All other day camps generally start at 8am and end at 3pm (though field trips to SeaWorld for some camps may extend the day).

Notes:  Looking to camp out as a family?  Busch Gardens offers Summer Nights Family Fun –a sleepover from 6pm-9am!

Name:  MOSI Summer Science Camp

Address:  4801 E. Fowler Avenue – Tampa, FL

Phone:  (813) 987-6000

Specialty:  Science, technology, engineering and math.  Camps include: Gifted & Talented, Science only, Technology & Engineering, Residential (week-long) and Travel.

Dates:  Dates vary depending on the program, but all fall within June 13th – August 19th

Ages:  2 years – High School students.  Residential camps are for 11-17 years only.  Travel camps are open to those who have completed 4th grade – 9th graders. 

Time:  Full day camps are from 9am-4pm with extended care available starting at 7am and ending at 6:30pm.  Half day camps are from 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm.

Notes:  MOSI’s all-inclusive program  - taught by certified teachers and experienced science and technology educators – does not require additional fees or admissions.  Click here for the full catalog.   

Name:  Lowry Park Zoo 

Address:  1101 W. Sligh Avenue – Tampa, 33604

Phone:  (813) 935-8552 x268

Specialty:  Learn about nature, science and animals.  Itineraries include adventure camps, zoo hikes, classroom lessons, arts & crafts, animal feedings & shows,

Dates:  Camps run on a week-to-week basis from June 13th – August 19th

Ages:  Kindergarten – 12th grade

Time:  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Extended Care is available from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. for an additional fee.

Notes:  Online registration is available.  Prices range from $170 per week for members up to $350 for specialty camps for non member.  Click here for the printable color brochure.   

GENERAL

Name:  Northwest Hillsborough Family YMCA

Address:  8950 W. Waters Avenue, 33615 

Phone:  (813) 249-8510

Specialty:  In addition to “standard” day and sports camps, the Y hosts numerous week-long niche camps, including: Mad Science, Cheer/Dance, Vertical Adventure, Magic, LEGO, Princess, and more. 

Dates:  Day, sports and aquatics camps are held from June 13th-August 19th.  Specialty camps are one week long; dates vary per camp.

Ages:  Ages 3-14 years, depending on the camp

Time:  Full day camps run from 9am-4pm with early and late supervision available from 7am-9am and 4pm-6:30pm at no extra charge.  Half-day camps are four hours.  Specialty camps are held from 1pm-3:30pm.

Notes:  Click here for the full-color downloadable schedule.  

Name:  Wellspring Enrichment Program

Address:  Wellspring Church at 10701 Sheldon Road, 33626

Phone:  (813) 926-5006

Specialty:  Choose from weekly specialty camps: Art for a Cause (July 5th-8th), Wellspring Bakery (July 11th-15th), Wellspring Candy Shoppe (July 18th-22nd), Tricky Travels (July 25th-29th), and Game Show Gags (Aug. 8th-12th).

Ages:  Complete Kindergarten – 5th grade

Time:  9am-2pm, with after-care available until 6pm.

Notes:  Lunch included.  One week = $130; Two weeks = $125 each; Three or more weeks = $120 each.