Find your summer fun

Local summer camps offer everything from ‘Shark Week’ to fencing to theater arts

By Kelly Moyer
April 11, 2019 5:30 am
Life

Treesong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center founder Michelle Baumann (second from left) and four children immerse themselves in a "community circle" of trees by the Washougal River in 2016. Treesong will host a variety of "Nature Adventures" day camps that include storytelling, art, movement, singing and nature awareness activities this summer. (Post-Record file photos)

Whether your youngster wants to build robots, perfect their tennis serve or learn how to cook a culinary masterpiece, local and regional summer camps have you covered.

The Post-Record has compiled a list of summer camps in Camas and Washougal to help local families find the perfect fit for their child this summer.

Camas Community Education
camascommunityed.org

If you’re looking for local, half- or full-day options for children entering kindergarten through 12th grade, look no further than the Camas Community Education camps. Held at various locations throughout Camas, these camps offer a wide range of activities. Below are a few of this year’s summer camp options:

Summertime Fun Art Camp: Designed for children ages 5 to 10, entering kindergarten through fifth grade in the fall, this camp focuses on summertime art projects using watercolors, acrylic paint, chalk and other mediums. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, July 29-Aug. 1, at Prune Hill Elementary School. The cost is $130 per child.

Missoula Children’s Theatre “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”: For children ages 6 to 17 entering first through 12th grade in the fall, this camp will teach theater skills, and children will get parts in the cast or crew for two presentations of “Snow White.” Auditions for the production are at 10 a.m. Monday, July 15. Times for class vary depending on the child’s role in the play, but the camp runs Monday through Saturday, July 15-20, with two productions of the play at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the last day of camp. The cost is $90 for the first child and $75 for each additional sibling.

Glee Club “Mary Poppins”: For children ages 4 to 11, this camp teaches students to sing, dance and act in “a fun and encouraging environment,” while they prepare to present “Mary Poppins” to parents on the last day of camp. Children ages 4 to 6 will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, July 8-12, while those ages 7 to 11 will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 8-12. Both groups meet at the Zellerbach Administration Center. The fees are $120 for children ages 4 to 6, and $170 for children ages 7 to 11.

Camp Invention: Children who love inventing and saving the world will enjoy this camp, designed for students entering first through sixth grades this fall. The camp literature promises “superheroes, deep sea adventures, smart farming, dancing bot and more.”

Campers will learn hands-on skills through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities. Taught by local educators at Liberty Middle School, this camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 8-12. The cost is $255 per camper.

Coding with Legos: This camp features a variety of building projects — everything from robots to cats to guitars — using Legos and electronic tablets. For children ages 7 to 12 who are entering second through sixth grade in the fall, this class will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Aug. 19-23, at the Zellerbach Administration Center. The fee is $170 per camper.

Robotics: There will be at least two robotics camps offered this summer in Camas. A beginner camp, for children ages 7 to 12 who are new to robotics, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 24-27, at Helen Baller Elementary School. The fee is $200 for the first child and $180 for each sibling.

An intermediate camp for children ages 8 to 12 who have already taken robotics and programming classes will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 24-27, also at Helen Baller Elementary School. The fee is $200 for the first child and $180 for each sibling.

Sports camps: There are several sports-related summer camps for children of all ages offered through Camas Community Education. A few of those offered this summer:

Camas Papermaker Girls Basketball Shooters Camp for children entering third through ninth grade in the fall, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon (for grades 3-5) and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (for grades 6-9), Monday through Thursday, July 22-25 at Liberty Middle School. The cost is $75 per camper.

Camas Papermaker Girls Basketball Offensive Skills Camp for children entering third through ninth grade in the fall, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon (for grades 3-5) and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (for grades 6-9), Monday through Thursday, July 29 to Aug. 1, at Liberty Middle School. The cost is $75 per camper.

Fencing Camp: for children ages 7 to 12, this camp will introduce campers to fencing. The teacher, Julia Tikhonova, has been a competitive fencer since she was 9 years old, and was a member of the Israeli national fencing team. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, June 24-27, at the Zellerbach Administration Center. The cost is $170 per camper.

All American Wrestling Camps: Split into two camps — one for children entering first through fifth grades this fall and another for those entering sixth through 12th grades this fall — these camps will teach the fundamentals and tricks of wrestling. There is a limit of 40 athletes per camp. The camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 21-22 (grades 1-5) and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 23-24 (grades 6-12) in the wrestling room at Camas High School. The fee is $60 per camper for either camp.

Camas Parks and Recreation
register.cityofcamas.us

Busy Bees: Camas Parks and Recreation has a variety of summer camps for children of all ages June through August, including five Busy Bees preschool summer camps for ages 3.5 to 5 years:

Shark Week will explore biology through hands-on activities and shark-themed camp games. This camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, June 25-27.

Construction Crew Camp lets children build structures and other items using Legos, Magnatiles, PVC pipes, brick, wood and other building materials. This camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, July 9-11.

Candyland is a camp described as “sweet and amazing … filled with all things that make you smile.” The Candyland-themed camp will end with campers walking in the Camas Days Kids Parade in downtown Camas on Friday, July 26. The camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, July 23-25.

Camping at the Lake: Campers will bring a sleeping bag and set up “camp” by the lake, then go hiking, have a scavenger hunt and make and eat s’mores. This camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 6-8.

Aqua Adventure: Filled with water obstacle courses, sprinklers, water balloons and more, this camp is for those children who love the water. The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, Aug. 20-22.

All of the Busy Bee camps meet at Lacamas Lake Lodge, 227 N.E. Lake Road, Camas. To register, or for more information, visit register.cityofcamas.us or call 360-834-5307.

Shape NW: The city’s Shape NW summer camps offer adventures for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. There is free early drop-off and affordable aftercare available, if needed. The camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, from June 19 through Aug. 30. Weekly and summer rates are available. Pre-registration ends Monday, April 15.

A pre-kindergarten through third grade camp meets at Scout Hall in Crown Park, 621 N.E. 15th Ave., Camas. The weekly rates are $119 to $189. Daily rate is $39. A summer rate for every week is $1,299. There are pre-registration discounts available through April 15.

An Adventure Camp for children entering grades four through eight will meet at Scout Hall in Crown Park. The weekly rate is $179 with a pre-registration discount if families register before April 15. A summer option for all weeks is available for $1,499. Daily rates not available for the older camps.

To register, visit shapenw.com. For questions, call 503-867-4328.

Kidz Love Soccer: The city also offers a Kidz Love Soccer camp for two levels — for children ages 4.5 to 6 years and 7 to 10 years — from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Aug. 26-30, at Lacamas Lake Lodge Field, 227 N.E. Lake Road, Camas. The cost, $111, includes a soccer jersey. The camp is held outdoors and culminates in an age-appropriate “World Cup” tournament. To register, visit kidzlovesoccer.com. For questions, call 503-278-5377.

Evergreen Tennis: There will be a variety of tennis camps offered at Evergreen Tennis, 5225 N.E. 38th Ave., in Camas, this summer. Small-group camps are taught by professional tennis instructors and groups are divided by age and ability, from beginner to advanced. The costs range from $90 to $115 per camp. For more information or to register, visit register.cityofcamas.us.

Washougal Community Education and Recreation
washougal.k12.wa.us/wcer

Washougal Community Education and Recreation offers a wide variety of summer camps for children ages 2.5 and older, and will be adding more summer camps and programs throughout the spring. Register by mail, in the office (exact cash or check) at 4855 Evergreen Way, Washougal, or online at washougal.k12.wa.us/wcer. Following are a list of the summer camps available in 2019:

Creative Camper: For children ages 5 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, June 24-28. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

Cooking Concoctions: For children ages 2.5 to 6, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Wednesday, July 1-3. The cost is $85, with no daily rate.

Robotics Coding: For children ages 7 and older, this camp will meet from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, July 1-3. The cost is $85 with no daily rate.

Minecraft I: For children ages 5 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 8-12. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

LEGO Engineering: For children ages 7 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 15-19. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

Aqua Adventure: For children ages 5 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 22-26. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

Edible Engineering: For children ages 5 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 29 through Aug. 2. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

Minecraft II: For children ages 5 and older, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, Aug. 5-9. The cost is $45 per day, or $185 for the week.

Silly Concoctions: For children ages 2.5 to 6, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, Aug. 12-15. The cost is $120 with no daily rate.

LEGO Movie Maker: For children ages 8 and older, this camp will meet from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Aug. 12-15. The cost is $120 with no daily rate.

Flag Football Camp: For children entering kindergarten through second grades in the fall, this camp will meet from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, June 24-27. The cost is $99.

Flag Football Camp: For children entering third through fifth grades in the fall, this camp will meet from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 24-27. The cost is $99.

Skyhawks Mini Hawk Camp: For children ages 4 to 7, this camp will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, July 15-19. Another camp, also for ages 4 to 7, will meet from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Aug. 5-9. The cost for either camp is $125.

Treesong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
treesongnatureawareness.org

Treesong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center will host a variety of “Nature Adventures” day camps that include storytelling, art, movement, singing and nature awareness activities this summer. There are Nature Adventure day camps for children ages 4 to 8 (July 8-10) and ages 9 to 12 (Aug. 21-23); Fairy Adventures for children ages 4 to 8 (July 22-25) and ages 9 to 12 (Aug. 5-8); and a Survival Skills Camp for children ages 12 to 17 (July 17-20).

Treesong Nature Awareness & Retreat Center is located at 41 Tree-ific Drive W., Washougal. To register, call 360-837-8733 or email treesongnatureawareness@gmail.com. For more information about any of the camps, visit treesongnatureawareness.org.

Camp Lacamas Adventure Camp
camplacamas.com/kidscamp

Camp Lacamas, a non-denominational Christian camp, will offer a day camp for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, July 22-26. The cost is $109 per camper and includes a daily lunch.

An overnight camp for children entering third through sixth grade in the fall will be held Monday through Friday, July 29 through Aug. 2. The cost is $169 per camper and includes all meals as well an Adventure Camp T-shirt and camp picture. Children should arrive at 9 a.m., Monday, July 29, for the overnight camp, and will be ready for pick-up at noon, Friday, Aug. 2.

For more information, visit camplacamas.com/kidscamp or email kalani@lacamascreek.com.

Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy
vegagym.com

The Vancouver Elite Gynmastics Academy (VEGA) is offering several three-hour, Monday-through-Friday summer camps. Gymnastics skills, cheerleading and preschool camps are available. Tuition for the week is $160 per camper. Register before April 30 and receive a 10-percent discount.

The gymnastics academy is located in the former National Guard Armory at 840 N.W. 10th Ave., Camas, and at 240 N.E. Third Ave., Camas. For more information, visit vegagym.com, or email info@vegagym.com.

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