The List: Summer Camps

Ledyard Parks and Recreation finalizes its list of summer camps by April. According to Kim Lavigueur, the offerings will include one-week sports programs such as basketball, and soccer which are open to children ages 4 to 15. Other one-week programs can include Mad Science and Lego camps.

Ledyard’s Playground Program runs from ages 4 to 14 and is tentatively scheduled to run from June 27 to Aug. 5. The Playground Program includes about 30 councilors from high school to college age and above and goes from 9:00 to 3:00. Last year there were about 300 children enrolled, divided by age at Blonders Park, Ledyard Center and Gallup Hill—though asbestos removal will keep the latter from being used this summer. There is also a field trip once a week.

While in past years, there was a $150 fee to enroll children for the eight weeks, this summer the price is expected to go up slightly. People from out of town who would like to sign their kids up pay double. Parents will be able to enroll their children in a shorter two to three week program if they prefer.

Mystic Marinelife Aquarium

Another option for kids that are into nautical things is the Mystic Aquarium. The programs go for one week and are divided up by age. Costs are in the $200-300 range. While the programs for 3 to 5 year olds run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., programs for older students will go until 4 p.m., with extended day going until 5 p.m. for an additional fee. There are also classes for the 13 to 17 crowd, students who want to perform research and learn the ins and outs of marine biology. Mystic Aquarium’s classes will include the opportunity both to see animals inside the aquarium and to go out into the field. Programs are big on learning, which is a plus if you want the summer to be an educational one.

Mystic Seaport

If you are looking to give your kid a background in sailing, check out the programs on Mystic Seaport’s website. The Conrad summer camps are five-day overnights which rank from beginners at age 10-12 to intermediate and race weeks. The experience comes with a $635 registration fee ($690 fee for non-members). There are also themed day camps ($275 for members, $310 non-members), aimed at younger age groups, with titles such as “Secrets Serpents and Superstitions” and “A Sailor’s Life.” Currently Mystic Seaport is running a discount for registration prior to March 15 and for siblings.

Pine Point Summer Camp

During the summer month’s Stonington’s Pine Point School runs and hosts a number of programs, for “a la carte” learning. Some of these include programs for Lego building, and soccer. The “Jump and Tumble” program is a five day option in July open for grades two to nine and costs $180. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon. There are also half-day classes at the schools, which are focused on academics including “The Reading/Writing Connection” for rising first and second graders as well as the Stanford Math courses and organization and study skills class which cost $300 for a week.

Summer Nature Camp 2011

The Dennison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Stoningon offers a bunch of weeklong options for the kids who like adventure and the outdoors—that fall in the $200 range. The groups include everything from Ducklings (age three) to young Naturalists in grades Four to Six. Other weeks include the Adventurers camps for seventh to ninth graders, which are $365 for members and $425 for non-members. These weeks are chock full of hiking, kayaking and zip-lining. The “Primitive Tools” camp takes a page from The Dangerous Book For Boys giving industrious kids the chance to make everything from bolas to atlatl spear throwers. Other options include white water rafting and outdoor camping. There is also a selection of half-day camps and an option for early drop off or late pickups.