Summer Music Camps

Posted on June 5, 2011 by

Summer is a great time for your child to have a week filled with musical fun. Many, many camps incorporate some sort of music into their regular day. But some children can really enjoy (and benefit from) a week that is primarily about music. “School of Rock” type camps are becoming more and more popular for school-aged children and up, and can be a great time to experiment with playing in a band.

For middle school and high school students, music camp may even be required for school participation in band, orchestra or choir. Such a week of strong focus can really result in a boost in skill, advancement in theory understanding and increased confidence playing alone and in different ensembles.

There are many, many types of music camps. Here’s a sample of music camps (and specialized camp sessions) from SignUpForCamp.com. Many more camps of all types are listed on the website, so make sure to browse there too. For additional ideas, particularly for older children and teens, check with your local schools and music schools. This article about some prominent music camps may give you some ideas of what to look for.

School of Rock, Fort Washington and Berwyn, PA
Summer Performance Camp focuses on improving performance and musical skills by covering music theory, instrumental and rehearsal techniques and performance practice. It’s a great way to learn a lot in a short amount of time but is meant for students who, at a minimum, are able to play basic chords and rhythms. Grades 6th-12th.

Summer Spree at Community Art Center: Rock and Roll Summer, Wallingford, PA
This program is an introduction to rock band performance, open to musically-inclined students ages 10-17 who are interested in developing multi-instrumental skills. Some previous experience is necessary and the goal is for each student to work toward performing one song on every instrument (vocal, guitar, bass and drums).

Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music, Philadelphia, PA
Music instruction in keyboard, percussion, voice, dance and recorders with weekly camper performances. In the afternoons there are chess tournaments, Scrabble, swimming, cultural trips and recreational activities. Sliding fee scale and scholarships available. Ages 5-13 years.

United Friends Summer Camp: Born to Drum, Quakertown, PA
Got a kid who loves music? Let them embrace their “inner Ringo” at Drum Camp. From Tito Puente to Ringo Starr, learn to play at the beat of your own drum. Campers will create their own percussion instruments and take several walking field trips to explore the hidden music all around them. There’s also a performance by guest African Drummers. Ages 4-9.

Search for more music camps at Sign Up For Camp.

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Free Summer Camp at ESF

Posted on March 24, 2011 by

Win a free week of summer camp at ESF.

All parents with accounts at Sign Up For Camp are automatically entered into a drawing to win a free week of camp at ESF.  You can receive an additional entry each time you tell a friend about Sign Up for Camp and they sign up for the newsletter.

Signing up is easy!

Sign Up For Camp is easy and free. The site provides free information on camp registrations, discounts, and offers a handy camp calendar you can share with friends. You can sign up for just the newsletter, or jump in and create a free parent account to participate in the drawing!  Then you too can tell a friend and get more chances to win.

Dates and prizes:

The winner will be chosen on April 30th.   For more details see the Official Rules.

ESF Summer Camps ESF Summer Camps offer a unique assortment of customized camps that appeal to children of all ages with varied interests. We have filled our camps with the perfect blend of education, sports, and fun. 

ESF Summer Camps have 9 locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland.

 

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Old-School Art

Posted on July 26, 2010 by

It seems that today’s form of art is flooded with visual media and computer animation, and hey there’s nothing wrong with that. However, a lot of kids are losing touch with what some may call “old-school art” or the typical drawing and painting art that has been used for centuries, in caves and hyroglyphics and medieval paintings. To rejuvinate this old art and to have kids develop their motor skills and sense of creativity, send them to a basic painting camp or drawing camp and they’re sure to have a ton of fun.

There are tons of art camps in the greater Philadelphia area that accomodate kids of all ages and offer full and half day programs. Everyday Artists Camp holds creative art camps for ages 3-13 and has kids painting on anything from a canvas to a coffee cup to a miniature dog statue. These camps run from $125-195 based on the subject nature and camp duration.

Darlington Arts Center’s Summer Arts Camps hosts painting and drawing camps that are specifically focused on cultural topics. Your child would be recreating art in the spirit of the pilgrims, the Southwest Indians, the 60s and other memorable eras and peoples. This is a great way for your child to learn and appreciate different cultures while creating unique art.

Moore College of Art and Design also offers a high quality artistic experience for grades 1-12 where boy san dgirls can attend morning or afternoon sessions and learn the essentials of art. Kids will advance their skills and take classes Monday through Thursday for a month for this camp, making the camp a little more pricey at around $590 per session.

No matter where you send your child, they’re sure to enjoy the simple arts no matter what age or skill level!

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Appreciating Nature- Environmental Camps for Your Child

Posted on July 8, 2010 by

In today’s day and age, it seems that everyone is “going green.” This means that we are learning to appreciate nature, our environment, and the world we live in by making things more eco-friendly. In order for the “going green” trend to succeed in the future, the message of bettering our earth needs to reach the next generation, in other worlds your children. By sending kids to nature or environmental camps, they are not only spending time outdoors, but learning to love the earth they live on!

Environmental awareness camps, or specialized nature camps are a subcategory of the typical outdoor adventure camp. Although environmental camps may lack the adventurous appeal of an outdoor adventure camp or white-water rafting camp, there is a lot of knowledge and discovery involved in the nature camps that prove to be just as valuable and just as fun!

Camps like Briar Bush have kids go on hikes in the wilderness and encounter real animals in order to appreciate the beauty and delicate nature of their existance. They also use scientific games to “trick” kids into learning about their surroundings and making new discoveries.

 Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s Nature & Environmental Summer Day Camp also promotes the idea of appreciating nature for kids of all ages. Children get to explore the 860-acre reserve in search of new life and the little miracles of nature, whether it be a birds nest, a new plant, or a intricate spider-web.

If your kid is looking for adventure, but in a more laid-back and informative way, environmental camps will quench your child’s thirst for discovery without having to deal with the dangers of truly exploring the frontier.

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Much Variety found in Basketball Camps in the Philadelphia Area

Posted on July 6, 2010 by

There are an abundance of basketball camps in the Philadelphia region. Luckily, this great number of camps allows you to find the appropriate camp for any age, skill level, gender, price, or duration that you are looking for.

In general, a lot of the more affordable camps in the area are geared toward younger children, trying to stimulate their interest in the fun and engaging sport of basketball. Camps such as Grace Community Church offer camps for both boys and girls in grades 1-5 where they can play basketball for only $60 per week! Similarly, Betterball Camps and St. Edmonds Boys Basketball Camp offer full and partial day camps for reasonable prices (about $160-180 per week) while still catering to the needs of younger children.

If your child is older or more advanced on the courts, there are also plenty of options of camps to send your child to. These camps tend to be a little more pricey, since they hope to challenge and really teach your child the advanced techniques of the game. Philly Point Guard Camp is an excellent choice to send your child to, and with its many locations in the Philadelphia area, it is easy to find the most convenient camp for you and your child! The camp runs about 295 per week as a full day session, offering programs for both boys and girls ages 6-18. These sessions appropriately group campers based on skill.

There are also the Lehigh University Basketball Camps that offer both regular and elite camps for both boys and girls that run all day. Elite camps are geared toward high school players who are serious about the game, and thus these camps run very expensive, around $175 per day.

Golden Rams camps also host basketball camps for older players (Grades 8-12) in day and overnight camps, ranging in price (235-545) based the different sessions.

There are many more basketball camps in the Philadelphia area that may offer your child what they are looking for, like an all girls basketball camp at Moorestown Girls Basketball Academy. But, in general what you’ll find with all the variety of camps is that the perfect basketball camp is out there to suit your and your child’s needs.

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World Cup Inspired- Sending your Kids to Soccer Camp

Posted on June 25, 2010 by

The entire world stops to watch one sport for one month, that is soccer in the World Cup. If your child is one of the millions around the world truly inspired by the high-skill, high-intensity games, a soccer camp might be a good place to start.

These camps will not only prove to kids how fun soccer can be, but it teaches your child a sport that is not only an international sport, but an international language and international bonding tool. At soccer camps, your child will learn not only the importance of foot skills, passing and shooting, but also important values like cooperation, fitness, fun, and teamwork.

Many camps for all ages, skill level, and gender are located in the Philadelphia area, for example the Golden Rams Summer Soccer Camp, and all will surely promote your child’s love for the game. Send your kid to camp with some teammates and they are sure to build not only individual skill, but friendships and team chemistry as well.

If you and your child were inspired to play soccer after watching the World Cup, send your kid to a soccer camp and he or she can enjoy that same energy and passion for the game, without the buzzing of the World Cup vuvuzelas.

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Low cost camps in the Philadelphia region

Posted on June 23, 2010 by

In this economic climate, everyone is looking for ways to save money on summer camps. There are several resources that can help you save money on camps in the Philadelphia region. First, the Sign Up For Camp Blog wrote this post on affordable Philadelphia summer camps.  It lists several inexpensive camp options in the area.

Second, Action 6 news did a story on tips to save money on summer camps.

Do you know of low cost camps in the area? Please let us know about them in the comments!

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