2017 Summer Camp Guide

Since 1997, Arts In Reach (AIR) has been providing arts and mentoring programs to teen girls in the Seacoast-area. AIR’s programs are completely free, and they also help with transportation. AIR strives to use the arts as a vehicle for empowerment, critical thinking, and community building. They hope that teen participants gain confidence and new skills for healthy creative self expression.

During the summer AIR offers three different arts programs, each two weeks long running Monday-Friday 9a.m.-3p.m. All of the programs are open to teen girls ages 13-18. AIR welcomes beginners, as well as teens with previous artistic experience. Teens from all three programs are invited to take part in an end of summer showcase for family, friends, and the community!

Since 1944, Brookwoods for boys and and our partner camp, Deer Run for girls, have served generations of campers by introducing them to the joys of a Christian outdoor experience. The camps are located on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire and offer two and four week experiences for campers ages 8-16.  Campers can enjoy a variety of specialized activities including camp classics like archery and sailing, sports instruction in tennis, soccer, golf and more, and even SCUBA diving and equestrian sports.  

The aim of Brookwoods and Deer Run is to provide every one of their campers with a unique Christian community that fosters individual spiritual growth while kids have the time of their lives. The core of the Brookwoods and Deer Run experience is revealing the Gospel to campers through the words and actions of the staff. Over the years, they have seen the approach to spiritual development yield some remarkable fruit. Each year, many campers come to know the Lord; while countless others have developed intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Camp ENCORE! is a musical theater day camp experience at Prescott Park Arts Festival in downtown Portsmouth providing campers of ages 8-17 with the opportunity to participate in a fully-staged musical, both onstage and behind the scenes. With its staff of professional teachers and artists, Camp ENCORE! encourages ensemble and teamwork while building self esteem.
Afternoons at Camp ENCORE! provide unique opportunities through specialized workshops, community outreach experiences, and so much more. Campers receive over 100 hours of learning, rehearsing, and fun culminating with performances on the Main Stage at the end of each session.
Session I – Disney’s Camp Rock (presented in special collaboration with Camp Overture): June 26-July 14 with performances on July 15 and 16
Session II – Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids: July 17-July 28 with performances on July 29 and 30

For 12 years, ChildLight Yoga in Dover has been offering unique camps for kids focused on the development of the whole child. The summer camp counselors are experienced educators and kids’ yoga teachers who LOVE, connect with, and inspire children and teens every day. ChildLight Yoga’s camp themes and activities are specially chosen for their enriching qualities and alignment with the goal of offering children a fun, empowering, educational, and creativity-boosting camp experience. Children will enjoy a nurturing, supportive, non-competitive atmosphere. They will stretch, strengthen and energize their bodies and minds, while learning to express themselves creatively and compassionately. They will practice working cooperatively in large and small groups, be introduced to activities they may not have tried before, learn self-regulation techniques, develop special friendships and have loads of fun!

• GirlPowerment Camp (for girls 8-12 yrs) Aug 7-10, 2017 Mon-Thurs 8:30-2:30 $225
• Yoga & Mindfulness for Kids Summer Camp (for kids 5-8 yrs)  August 21-24, 2017 Mon-Thurs 9-12 $180

Dance Innovations Dance Center is proud to offer summer camps and classes for ages 2.5 and up. There are summer camps and classes available to all levels, and with so many themes, there’s something for everyone:

• Dancin’ Darlings – Ages 2.5-4 – All Levels
• Ice Princess Camp – Ages 3-6 – All Levels
• Ballerina & the Beast (Inspired by Beauty and the Beast) – Ages 3-6 – All Levels
• Under the Sun Dance Camp (Inspired by Ariel, Lilo & Stitch, Moana, and Finding Nemo & Dory) – Ages 5-8 – All Levels
• American Dolls Camp (Inspired by American Girl Dolls) – Ages 5-8 – All Levels
• Rock ‘n’ Trolls Camp (Inspired by Trolls) – Ages 5-8 – All Levels
• DANCE! Performance Camp (Inspired by SING!) – Ages 8+ – All Levels
• Workshop Wednesdays – Ages 8+ – Beginner/Intermediate
• Summer Dance Intensive – Ages 8+ – Advanced

Fleur de Lis Camp is a classic sleepaway camp for girls ages 8 to 15, located on the shores of Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam, NH. For more than 85 years, girls have made new friends, developed self-confidence, learned cooperation and tried new things, all while having fun. They offer 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-week sessions, during which campers can try activities like sailing, swimming, ceramics, knitting, tennis, stained glass, and more. Whether it’s learning to serve a tennis ball, practicing lines for a play, swimming, or playing Capture the Flag, it’s about gaining confidence and independence. Fleur de Lis is committed to fostering leadership skills, citizenship, and self-confidence while helping each girl reach her full potential. The community is intentionally “age-blind”; they believe that each girl, regardless of her age, can help and learn from fellow campers during activities, eating together in the dining hall, and living with peers.

Colonial Living History Program: Children will immerse themselves in the colonial era and assume the roles of a real 18th century Exeter residents, complete with colonial clothing.  The week’s activities may include: hands-on games and crafts; colonial mannerisms, speech, and culture; learning about different aspects of colonial life from re-enactors, and more!

Junior Historian Program: How do we learn from and preserve the past? Explore different facets of work in the history profession, from archaeology to architecture to genealogy. Activities may include visits to local museums and galleries and hands-on demonstrations and discussions from history professionals.

Muster Day Program: Enlist in the Junior Militia and learn from a real militiaman!

Join Kaleidoscope Summer at Portsmouth Christian Academy for up to eight carefree weeks of thrilling, creative, and educational day programs for kids ages 3-14. Eagle Camp, PCA’s summer day camp, runs from 9a.m.-3p.m. (with optional extended care from 8-9a.m. and 3-5p.m.). June 19th-August 11th for ages three to fourteen. Registration is by the week. Eaglet Group (ages 3-4): $180 per week. Little Eagles-Golden Eagles (ages 5-14): $230 per week. Campers (ages 5 and up) will enjoy weekly trips to Longs Sands Beach in York, Maine and swim lessons at The Works in Somersworth twice a week!

MetroRock’s Indoor Climbing Camp provides a well-rounded introduction to rock climbing. Each day consists of a mix of climbing, games and adventure elements on the climbing walls. Outdoor Camp provides the opportunity to experience the great climbing areas of New England. A balanced blend of climbing, safety instruction, and teamwork will leave campers with a love for the outdoors and the sport of climbing. MetroRock’s Outdoor Camps are run by our experienced outdoor climbing guides. Camp sessions are run weekly, each day traveling to a different location with different climbing terrain and different challenges! Participants meet daily at MetroRock locations, travel to the day’s site as a group and return in time for pickup. Fun and games provide a break from climbing during the day so kids stay excited to climb and get a balance of activities.

New Hampshire Theatre Project has offered Summer Theatre Camps for ages 6-17 since 1995.  Fulfilling a mission of providing a nurturing environment for creating compassionate community and transformation through theatre, NHTP’s camps offer opportunities to learn about the world and work of theatre while fostering communication, collaboration, self-discipline, resilience, critical thinking and leadership skills. All NHTP programs emphasize both individual growth and working in community. Instructors have extensive experience working with students in both educational and theatrical settings. Most camps are held at NHTP’s home venue, the air-conditioned West End Studio Theatre in Portsmouth, or at the Portsmouth Music & Arts Center next door.

New Heights has been providing experiential learning programs for youth in the greater Seacoast since 1987. Over the years they have helped literally thousands of 5th through 12th grade youth develop friendships and discover talents and lifelong passions. New Heights is proud to have shaped generations of community members and leaders. Passion, curiosity, and reflection happen while actively experiencing life, so we take to the road, to the rivers, to the mountains; we build things, invent things, create things; we talk, laugh and connect; and most of all, we try new things and experience the world in brand new ways. The exciting Adventure. STEM, and Arts & Culture programs are available throughout the summer. From day trips to overnight expeditions, you’ll find your passion here.

Does your child love animals? Do you want to give your child the opportunity to learn about kindness and respect for animals in a fun and educational way? At the NHSPCA your child will learn and have fun in an indoor and outdoor environment, get up close and personal with the animals, do service projects, crafts, games and much more! NHSPCA offers three different camps to ensure customized levels of learning and interaction with animals for all ages. Little Campers Ages 6-8, Big Campers Ages 9-12, Camp for Teens Ages 12-15.

Explore your creativity this summer at PMAC’s music, visual arts, and theatre camps! No experience necessary for the art camps: choose from six different themed weeks that involve painting, drawing, sculpture and multimedia creation! Or collaborate with friends in a multi-arts theatre camp: choose set design, writing, acting, composing or any other facet of musical theatre production. If you already play an instrument and want to become part of a band for a week, try Rock or Jazz Camp. Camp Overture gives students an opportunity to play in the orchestra pit at a Prescott Park Arts Festival performance! Each music camp will perform live for the community at the end of the week – and record their own songs for an original album! If a collaborative group experience isn’t your thing, use the Summer Lesson Flex Packs to try a new instrument one-on-one with a schedule tailored just for you! Summer at PMAC has something for everyone, even for adults.

Kids love the Seacoast Science Center’s environmental day camps! With seven different habitats in Odiorne Point State Park to explore, and live animal and hands-on exhibits in the Center to reinforce learning, campers gain a great understanding and appreciation of the natural world around them. The Camp Counselors take care to engage each camper in active, hands-on lessons, which are based on different themes. Campers are grouped by age and lessons, both indoor and outdoor, are geared specifically for that age group. The Center’s Treks 4 Tots (ages 3.5-5) and Seaside Safari (grades K-5) camp programs are offered during regional school vacation weeks and Treks 4 Tots, Seaside Safari and Stewards (grades 6-8) are offered throughout the summer.

Strawbery Banke Museum offers programs for school-aged children with a wide array of interests and abilities. Participants learn about all aspects of life in the past and how it connects to our world today. Each camp is structured to be hands-on, providing one-of-a-kind interactive experiences, and minds-on, allowing kids to investigate and explore the world around them. Integrating science, sports, art, theater, cooking and history; Strawbery Banke camps are designed to get kids excited about the past and eager to be an active participant in the world around them. Camps are offered June – August and vacation week in February for ages 5-17.  Most camps run 9:00 – 3:00 and before/aftercare is offered in the summer.

At The Works Summer Camp, summer is about having fun, making meaningful connections, and building memories that bring smiles for a lifetime. Children should come home from camp tired and full of silly stories and experiences that are priceless. Childhood only happens once, it should be lived to the fullest. The Works strives to hire and retain engaging, compassionate, knowledgeable counselors who will help fulfill the vision of summer camp and give your children the best summer camp experience possible. They offer a variety of recreational and sports camps for children ages 3-14. Camp will kick off June 26th and run through August 25th. Online registration is open and filling fast, so please don’t hesitate to call for help through the process of choosing the right camp for you.