Patch Picks: Digital Arts, Theater, Other Summer Camps

It may seem early to be thinking about summer possibilities for your children, but June will be here before you know it.  We've scouted out some local options in various parts of the Sacramento area to keep your children both mentally and physically active.  Whether your child is a techie, prefers basic arts and crafts or wants to be on stage, there's something for every Tom, Dick and Harriet; the hard part will be to pick which one to attend.  Contact each individual camp for additional descriptive information regarding dates, course overview, pricing and availability, as offerings are subject to change.

Summer Camps

1.  Digital Arts Summer Computer Camp - Hosted by California-licensed vocational school OSC Computer Training, this weeklong camp for 8 to 14-year-olds features a balanced mix of computer instruction and kids' activities, including drawing and dancing, designed to stimulate young minds and encourage exercise as well.  Enroll more than one child and you'll be eligible for a discount. Ready to sign up?  The course list comes out in May, so hang in there for a couple of months and your patience will be rewarded.

2.  Kinder Care Learning Centers - Wilderness 101, Gross and Gooey Science and Dig Ancient Egypt are just three of the 12 camps offered by this kid-oriented establishment for pre-schoolers through grade-schoolers, and go from May through August.  For 12 weeks, your children will learn about animals, teamwork and survival skills, explore the history of mummies, Pharaohs and hieroglyphics and even use yarn and wax to create body parts.

3.  Sacramento Theatre Company  - What can your budding thespian expect from attending this two-week long camp?  Improvisation, scene study, voice and movement, theater history, mask work and more, according to STC's website.  Three sessions of ACT*DANCE*SING! are offered for two different age groups, and run from the end of June through the beginning of August—Perfect for the child with a rich and imaginative fantasy life.  Reserve a spot now, as they'll go quickly.  Lights, camera, action!

4. Fairytale Town -  Bet you didn't know that this place has a summer camp!  FunCamps are available for 3 to 4-year-olds, 4 to 6-year-olds and 6 to 12-year-olds.  At $130 per camp, the weeklong sessions cover the topics of gardening, animal, drawing, music and even cooking.  Member discounts are available and member registration begins March 15, with nonmember registration commencing April 1.  Pre-registration is required.  "Children learn through play," is Fairytale Town's motto–come see it in action.

5. iD Tech Camps/Sacramento State - Have children from 7 to 17?  Enroll your future Steve Jobs in one of this organization's computer camp courses, where he or she will learn about programming, video game design, video editing or web design, to name a few topics.  The weeklong camps go from June through the beginning of August, and are broken down by age and course.  Presented by experienced adult staff and with approximately six students per instructor, personalized attention is guaranteed.  Both day and overnight camps are available.

Plus one more...

6. Cordova Recreation and Park District - Don't want to wait until summer? The Cordova Recreation and Park District has a spring camp for ages 5-13 starting April 18. The weeklong camp includes cooking, arts and crafts, games and surprise guest speakers. More information on the district's other camps is available here.