With summer just around the corner it’s time to finalize where to send your children for camp. In Plant City alone there are countless options and we’ve rounded up just a few of the more unique ones you can find around town.
Check out next week’s edition of the Observer for a sneak peek at some of the sport camp offerings coming to town for summer break.
YMCA
Though the ‘Y has held a summer camp for years, this time around it’s upping the ante with a perfect blend of STEM topics, sports, swimming, games and team building skills. This year each YMCA in the Tampa Metropolitan network is introducing “activity specialists,” which will hone in on specific areas of the curriculum so youth are given the best leadership they can while at the camps.
The core YMCA values — caring, honesty, respect and accountability — will of course run as the undercurrent of every activity as the ‘Y strives to teach youth how to be not only physically fit students, but also people with exceptional character.
The ‘Y is also receiving new equipment just in time for camp to start including new structures, frisbee golf, cornhole and more. Registrations are open now online for the 10-week camp and students will start flocking to the program on June 3. The base cost for members is $119 per camper and $169 per camper for non-members and the pre-camp swim lessons are available for an additional $40 per camper in both cases.
For more information visit plantcityobserver.com/summer-camp-revamped-at-ymca/ for an in-depth article on the program.
Brick City Bricks
While not a traditional all-day program, Brick City Bricks offers a camp your child is sure to remember for years to come. Running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 3 to Aug. 9, the LEGO-themed camp is open to anyone 5 years old and up and is $25 a day or $99 a week.
Owner Greg Williams said those who wish to book a month or the entire summer will receive a special discount.
It’s the only place in all of Tampa Bay you’ll find nothing but LEGO all day long. Whether it’s building unique LEGO, racing LEGO cars, playing Spinjitzu, blind builds or elaborate LEGO contests, the camp will keep your young one occupied and inventing all morning.
They also get to take a special prize home every day, a feature most of last year’s attendees were thrilled to discover.
The youth will be given a drink and snack and Williams said he frequently finds they’re just as fascinated with the store as they are with the activities. Many will spend long moments perusing the aisle gazing at the intricate LEGO sets.
“They’ve gone to school all year, it’s time to have some fun,” Williams said. “That’s what we did growing up. And really, what’s more fun than LEGO?”
Each instructor is CPR certified and the group even occasionally does “field trips” around downtown Plant City. Because Brick City Bricks is right on Reynolds Street, they can walk around the corner to the depot to watch trains, to the Kandy Shoppe or to the park.
You can register for the camp at brickcitybricks.com or by popping in at 107 E. Reynolds St. There is a waiver parents need to fill out before the child can attend.
Camp Invention
If you want your child to have some mental stimulation this summer, Camp Invention is the place to go. This is the sixth year it’s been held in town and it averages around 120 campers.
Camp Invention prides itself on being a problem solving, hands on, minds on educational camp.
It’s a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and has received national acclimation for its ability to weave STEM concepts into fun activities.
The summer camps across the nation are led by local teachers and relies on teamwork and immersive, hands on problem solving to complete missions and tasks. It’s held at the Arthur Boring Civic Center, 2406 W. Reynolds St., and will explore everything from circuit boards to superheroes.
Based on the “Supercharged” theme, there is a variety of activities planned for the program. More information can be found at invent.org/programs/camp-invention.
Any seventh or eighth grade students can sign up for a Leadership in Training position.
The camp itself is open for Kindergarten through sixth grade.
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 10 to 14 and costs $245. Right now campers are offered a $50 discount, reducing the cost to $195, to fill the remaining 40 spots. To receive the discount they need to register with Paul Coletti by emailing pacman1988@hotmail.com. Otherwise you can register at campinvention.org.
Lots of Hugs
A classic, but nonetheless original offering in Plant City is the Lots of Hugs Summer Reading Camp. Hosted by Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Inc., the camp is for any youth ages 6 to 14 years old.
It’s a 10-week program that runs from June 3 to Aug. 2 and only costs $80 per child for the entire 10 weeks. The camp is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Monday through Friday at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road, and the youth will receive breakfast, lunch and a snack.
What’s great about Lots of Hugs is it helps mix play with learning and ensures the youth are prepared when it’s time to pick up their pencils and start the next school year. There are a variety of activities that increase children’s reading level and character development including a “Just Read” literacy program, writing, water safety and educational field trips.
Another major asset to the program is the fact that each child usually walks away with something to help make transitioning into the new school year a breeze. They are given a backpack, which is donated through the Kiwanis Club’s Stuff the Bus program, that is filled with school supplies.
Sharon Moody and her team pull off the elaborate summer camp every year and she said the goal is to help prevent the “summer slide” that can put students at a disadvantage when the next school year starts.
“We’re looking for a great summer and we’re having some cool things this year,” Moody said. “We’re having a few new activities, like we’re taking kids that don’t know how to swim to the ‘Y for lessons. There will be a few things like that coming this year.”
For more information or to register contact Moody at 813-453-7134 or email sharonmoody91@yahoo.com. The program’s open house is Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Hope Lutheran. Anyone wanting to know more about the program or sign up is welcome to attend.
City of Plant City
One of, if not the, most popular summer camps in town is the one hosted by the City of Plant City. Registration usually opens the last week in March and this year by April 17 they had reached the preregistration capacity. The camp runs from June 10 to Aug. 2 and is divided into age groups.
Youth will rotate through activities throughout the day including opportunities to do arts and crafts, games, sports, a STEM discovery area and have quiet time to relax or nap.
Recreation Supervisor Maggie Morona said there is a waiting list, but it’s already quite extensive so the odds of getting in this year are slim. However, she does recommend parents already begin planning for next year if they decide the city’s program is the best fit for their family.
One benefit of choosing to use the city’s camp is they offer payment plans for the program, which is $375 total per child for the eight weeks. Any child age 5 to 15 years old can attend as long as the five year old has completed kindergarten, you must bring a report card to prove they’ve graduated.