Registration underway for area summer programs

Published 7:00 am Thursday, April 13, 2023

As the school year winds down, there are already several camps and activities planned that will keep the learning and fun going for local children all summer long.

Georgia College & State University will offer five types of camps this year. Kids University is for rising kindergarteners though rising sixth-graders and will include nine themed weeks. Early bird pricing for the popular camp is available.

GCSU athletic camps will also be held throughout the summer and will consist of pee-wee basketball, Little Bobcats softball, youth baseball and youth soccer, all for ages 5 to 12, and youth tennis for ages 5 to 17.

In addition, Creature Camp will welcome rising fourth through sixth-graders on June 26-30. Campers will get to search the woods and waters for baby animals of all sorts, learn about life cycles and much more.

Songwriting camp is set for July 17-21 for fifth through eighth-graders and is open to musicians of all levels. Campers will work with the college’s music therapy staff as well as students with notable music industry experience to learn basic songwriting techniques and gain knowledge about the technological side of the craft.

Teen Theatre Camp is scheduled for July 10-14 for sixth through 12th grade students. The five-day workshop will focus on acting and stage production training and will offer students a personalized learning experience.

Georgia College will also host a science camp this summer with a student-chosen theme of “Mysteries.” Campers will explore the unknown, look into the past and solve a few mysteries while having fun at this academic camp. Science Camp Jr. is for rising third- through fifth-graders and will be held June 5-9. Science Camp is for rising sixth- through ninth-graders and will be held June 12-16.

Angie Woodham, director of Continuing and Professional Education at Georgia College, said registration for summer camps is underway.

“We’re excited to offer a variety of summer camps for the Milledgeville and surrounding communities this year,” she said. “From Kids U, to sports camps, to our new specialty camps, we offer something to feed your children and teen’s bodies, minds and souls.”

For more information, visit https://summercamps.gcsu.edu/.

Kristin Allen, program coordinator at Allied Arts, said the organization is partnering with Lockerly Arboretum for its summer camp program this year. Billy Jonas, family and children’s musician, will visit on June 28 and 29. The first day will be exclusive to the children participating in Lockerly’s summer camp, but the second day will be open to the public. Jonas will begin the day by having children make their own instruments out of recyclable materials, followed by a songwriting session. Afterward, they will have a performance using the instruments they made. The event will be for sixth- through ninth-graders.

Adrin Free, education director at Lockerly Arboretum, said the camp theme this year is “Tiny Creatures.” The first session will be for third- through fifth-graders on June 12-14. The session for sixth-through ninth-graders will be from June 26-28, and the last session will be for first and second grade on July 10-12. The cost of registration for the first two camp sessions is $75, and the last session is $50.

Free said the camps will focus on native flora and fauna found in Georgia with an emphasis on slowing down and enjoying the smaller things nature has to offer. Those interested in registering can call the Lockerly Arboretum office.

Elite Gym will host a Kidz Zone Summer Adventure Camp that will include a new adventure every day. The camp will be held weekly beginning on May 30 and run through the end of July. Themed adventure weeks will include special guests, inflatables, trampolines, arts and crafts, water activities, obstacle courses and more. Those interested can register at eligegymusa.com or by calling 478-454-3446. Camp is for ages 5 to 11.

Tre Top Training and Dynamic Movement Academy will host a camp for kids ages 9-14. Fun activities will include dodgeball, basketball, cornhole, nerf wars, parkour, ping pong, chase tag, movies and much more. Camp will be June 5 through July 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call DMA Parkour at 478-456-4940 or Tre Top Training at 478-295-0291.

All three branches of the Twin Lakes Library System have full calendars of events already set for summertime.

At the Mary Vinson Memorial Library, a Summer Reading Program kick off will be held on June 6 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free games, prizes and activities. Events scheduled throughout the summer will include story times, yoga story times, family movie events and family game times, a STEM story time and even a magic show, among other exciting activities. At Lake Sinclair Library on Log Cabin Road, summer programming will include Storytime: Stay & Play, Wonderfully Colorful Wednesdays and All-Together-Now Lego Building. All events require an adult to be present with any child under 13 for the duration of the event.

At the Hancock Street Branch, an array of programming is planned for teens and families. Teen events scheduled for the summer include both teen and family movie nights as well as anime club and book club opportunities. In addition, teens will have opportunities to take part in activities such as tie dying shirts, playing board games, card games and corn hole, making sandwiches and care kits for Milly Free Fridge and participating in Escape Room and indoor camping activities. Teen programs do not require a sign-up to participate. Teens can drop by any time during the program.

“The theme for Summer Reading Program 2023 is ‘All Together Now,’” said Dana Portwood, branch manager of Twin Lakes Libraries. “So, we’re partnering with a wide array of community organizations this summer to create a program about working together as a community. Our hope is to provide a fun and creative way for people of all ages to learn more about each other and more about ways we can all work together to build a better world.”