Cool camps for the hot summer ahead

Whether you are visiting or local parents, we all struggle with the same thing... how to keep our children entertained in the summer months. We've put together a few cool camps for the hot summer ahead...check them out!

Camps for the arts...

FAVA Summer Camp

Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) is a non-profit organization in Oberlin that strives to enhance the public's education in the visual arts. FAVA does many great things for our community that people of all ages enjoy! They are offering three day camps for children in grades kindergarten through fifth, the weeks of June 9^th, July 14 and August 18. Each day camp goes from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm. Each week's camp is different from the rest!

TrueNorth Cultural Arts is a group that does theater productions and classes, musicals, and fine arts shows at the Lorain County Metro Parks French Creek Nature and Arts Center in Sheffield Village. They offer several theater camps of different lengths and for different age groups. Your children can express themselves through performing arts this summer beginning June 9th. What a fun way for your children to meet new friends!

Outdoor adventure and nature camps...

Earth Camp at Common Ground

There is a fantastic outdoor educational camp located in Oberlin! Common Ground's Earth Camp is a week long day camp for children ages 6 to 12 and has six different weeks from June 23rd through July. Each week has a new theme so that if your child wants to attend more than one session they will learn new things! Earth camp helps children learn about the environment and themselves through the new experiences they will have each day. Common Ground also offers a Teen Leadership Camp for ages 13 to 16 that has six sessions. Teen Leadership Camp helps teens to learn new skills and develop a sense of belonging. Teens will participate in Adventure Challenge activities during the week to help the teens learn how they can reach their full potential. The purpose of this is to give teens a happier healthier life at home, school, and neighborhood.

The Lorain County Metro Parks offers a variety of week-long day camps starting June 9th. These camps are designed for children whose ages range from kindergarten to ninth grade. The different camp themes include an outdoor adventure camp, a fishing camp, birding camp and more! One thing each camp has in common is the incorporation of nature and the outdoors into daily activities.

Equine Differences hosts a Monday through Thursday camp each summer for children age 8 and up. The camp is designed to teach children what it is like to own, care for, and ride a horse. The camps begin June 23rd and run through August 7th. Camp begins at 9 am with feeding the horses.  Along with learning to ride there will be a veterinarian, saddle fitter, and a blacksmith that will speak to the campers. There are 4 to 6 children per session so if your child doesn't like large groups this would be the perfect camp to sign up for!

The YMCA offers week-long day camps at the Avon, French Creek center and the Vermilion center for children pre-school through age 12 beginning June 9th from 7 am to 6 pm. These camps even include field trips. Each week has a specific theme for children to learn new things each week! If your child needs a fun-filled day that is scheduled this is the camp for you!

The City of Elyria's department of Parks and Recreation has week-long Reach & Rise summer camps starting June 10th. Each week has a different theme, from science to arts & music. There are camps for children as young as 6 and up to age 17. Camps are offered with varying start times, if your child isn't a morning person then Reach & Rise may be just the right fit.

And for the history buffs...

Your children (ages6-12)  can take a week long step back in time with Amherst Historical Society's Youth History Program - Exploring History Through Young Eyes.  The 2 hour long day camp runs August 14-18 where your children can explore Ohio history through hands-on activities