Summer camp guide 2016

It looks like the snow is gone for good, and that means it’s time to start thinking about summer camps. From sports to science to sculpture, summer is a great time for kids to improve their skills or try something new. Or maybe they just need a rustic retreat free of tablets, TVs and Playstations.

Whatever you’re looking for, there’s probably a camp for it right here in mid- Michigan. We’ve put together a list of some of the area’s best summer camp offerings.

June 11-July 29 >> Summer Art Camp Ages 6-11 (split into two age groups). The Broad Art Museum offers three weeklong camps, each with a specific focus. Topics include humor in art, art inspired by fantasy and how art communicates ideas. $250. 9 a.m.-3p.m.

Aug. 1-12 >> Middle School Art Camp Ages 11-14. Two weeklong camps, each with a specific focus. Topics are experimentation in art and art as documentation of daily life. $250. 9 a.m.-3p.m.

Aug. 15-19 >> High School Summer Residency Grades 9-12. One weeklong camp. Students create a line of thematically connected art while investigating processes and ideas of contemporary artists. $250. 10 a.m.-4p.m.

Discounts available for museum members, multiple session registration and multiple child registration. Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing. (517) 884-4800, broadmuseum.msu.edu/summerartcamp.

June 20-Aug. 12 >> Kids Camp and Double Digits Camp Ages 5-13 (split into two age groups). Lansing Parks and Recreation offers eight week-long camps, each with its own theme. Examples include Super Heroes, Robot Ridiculousness, Amazing Animals and more. Programs are offered at six locations. $30-$55. 9 a.m.-3p.m. (517) 483-4277, lansingmi.gov/things_to_do

Locations: Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster Ave, Lansing. Cumberland Elementary, 2801 Cumberland Road, Lansing.Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall St., Lansing. Letts Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. Lewton Elementary School, 2000 Lewton Place, Lansing. Schmidt Southside Center, 5815 Wise Road, Lansing.

Impression 5 Science Center

June 13-Aug. 26 >> L.A.B.S. Camps Ages 3-12 (split into four age groups). Learning About Basic Science. A variety of weeklong and single-day camps exploring scientific topics. Examples include Pirate Adventure, Space Cadets, Advanced Video Games and more. $55- $250. 9 a.m.-noon for ages 3-5; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for ages 6-12. Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 485-8116, impression5.org.

Mystic Lake YMCA Camp

June 26-Aug. 20 >> Mystic Experience Ages 7-14 (split into four age groups). Traditional sleepover camp experience. Age-appropriate activities include rock climbing, canoeing, arts and crafts, fishing and more. Horseback riding activities available for an additional fee. $490 (one week) or $930 (two weeks).

June 26-Aug. 20 >> Specialty Camps Ages 6-16. Mystic Lake offers a variety of sleepover camps with a specific focus. Examples include Drama Camp, North and South Manitou Backpacking, STEM, Technical Tree Climbing and more. $285- $950.

June 26-Aug. 20 >> Equestrian Programs Ages 7-16. Mystic Lake offers two camp experiences with an equestrian focus. Wrangler Camp includes trail rides and instruction in horse grooming, horsemanship skills and horse ownership. Rancher Camp, for advanced riders, is a unique experience that simulates ranch life. Campers prepare their own breakfasts and spend most of the day riding. $570.

June 26-Aug. 20 >> Teen and Leadership Programs Ages 13-17. For older campers, Mystic Lake offers a teen camp, as well as two leadership camps: Leader in Training and Counselor in Training. The latter prepares teens for potential employment as a YMCA camp counselor. $490-$790.

Mystic Lake Camp, 9505 W. Ludington Drive, Lake. (517) 827-9650, mysticlakecamp.com.

July 25-30 >> Take it from the Top Ages 7-25 (divided by age and skill level). A unique musical theatre workshop where students learn music, dance and theatre from Broadway professionals and perform for an audience at the end of the workshop. Participants learn the craft of musical theatre — including basic to advanced skills, industry history and practical content — in an exciting, fast-moving, interactive setting. Audition required for some programs. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for advanced program, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for basic program. $315- $415. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.

Lansing Sailing ClubJune 20-July 22 >> Junior Sailing Camp

Grades 5-12. Kids participate in an exciting water sport on Lake Lansing, have fun & gain confidence while learning skills useful for a lifetime. Weekday afternoons for one week sessions, sessions available June 20, June 27, July 11 & July 18th. Junior and family sailing opportunities continue all summer long, ­ boats provided. Non-member fees: $200 first camper, 2nd camper reduced. Club members – boat fee only, instructional fees waived. Lansing Sailing Club, 6039 E. Lake Drive, Haslett. lansingsailing.org.

June 12-Aug. 5 >> Pre-K Half- Day Camps Ages 4-5. Fenner Nature Center provides a variety of weeklong half-day camps for budding nature enthusiasts. Camp themes include Sensational Animals, the Art of Nature, Delightful Dirt and more. 9 a.m.-noon or 1 p.m.-4 p.m. $70-$85.

June 13-Aug. 5 >> K-5th Grade Full- Day Camps Variety of three-or-five-day-long, fullday camps for growing nature enthusiasts. Camp themes include Nature Detectives, Prairie Homesteads and more. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $100-$180.

Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-4224, mynaturecenter.org.

July 11-15 >> Kids Camp: Cooking

Around the World Ages 8-16. Campers learn how to safely prepare and cook foods, including baking bread and outdoor grilling. 9 a.m.-noon. $275.

Aug. 1-5 >> Kids Camp: International Cooking Ages 8-16. Le Chat Gourmet’s hands-on cooking camp introduces students to a variety of cuisine. Campers will learn to cook foods from around the world, including Japanese sushi, Mexican enchiladas and more. 9 a.m.-noon. $275.

Le Chat Gourmet, 11874 Bunker Highway, Eaton Rapids. (517) 663-7322, lechatgourmet.com.

June 20-Aug. 12 >> Zookambi Summer Camp Grades 1-12 (split into two age groups). This unique camp experience includes a variety of hands-on experiences, animal presentations, and adventures to places in the zoo that typical visitors don’t get to see. Weekly themes include Artistic Animals, Exhibit Design and Animal CSI. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (half days available). $95-190. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 342- 2713, potterparkzoo.org.

July 5-Aug. 19 >> Day Camps Ages 4-13. Sherman Lake YMCA offers a variety of weeklong day camps, ranging from traditional camp experiences to sports camps to music and drama camps. Bus service is available from Maple Street YMCA, Portage Centre Street YMCA, Battle Creek YMCA, Comstock Gull Road School and Battle Creek Riverside Elementary School. Before- and after-camp care available at some locations. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $176-$415.

July 5-Aug. 19 >> Overnight Camps Ages 6-16. Weeklong sleepover camps with a variety of activities. Campers can choose from traditional camp experiences or specialized camps, including Culinary Academy, Robotics, Theatre Camp and Rodeo Wranglers. $320-707.

June 19-Aug. 5 >> High School Leadership Camps Grades 9-12. Advanced programs in leadership for high school students. Application and program acceptance required. $1,150-1,250.

Sherman Lake YMCA, 6225 N. 39th St., Augusta. (269) 731-3000, shermanlakeymca.org.

July 3-Aug. 6 >> Summer Camps

This sleepover program combines elements of a traditional summer camp (swimming, sports, campfires, hikes, theater, dance, arts and crafts) with cooperative work projects (construction, organic gardening, trail maintenance and cleaning). In addition, educational activities focus on topics like climate change, food politics, social justice, ecosystems and the importance of critical thinking. One-week and two-week sessions available. $650-$1,200. Circle Pines Center, 8650 Mullen Rd, Delton. (269) 623- 5555, circlepinescenter.org.

June 20-Aug. 12 >> Akknd Youth Summer College Grades 2-9. Students can take age-appropriate classes in science, math, arts and more. 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4p.m.

June 15-July 24 >> Akknd Summer Youth Sports Camps Grades 4-12 (split by age group). Three weeklong day camps in basketball and volleyball include evaluation of players by coaches and a draft for teams. Instructors provide daily input for skill improvement. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $135.

June 20-24 >> Akknd Summer Youth Police Academy Grades 7-11. Based on the Lansing Community College Mid-Michigan Police Academy curriculum, cadets will learn personal pride and discipline through this course with hands-on experience, physical activity and real-life observation and participation in the criminal justice system. 8 a.m.-noon. or 1-5 p.m. $239.

Akknd Summer Youth Programs, Lansing Community College, 2827 Eyde Parkway, East Lansing. (517) 483-1860, lcc.edu/seriousfun.

MSU’s College of Arts and Letters offers over 55 summer programs, including foreign language programs for students and adults and topical programs on filmmaking and fashion. See web for complete listings and dates. camps.cal.msu.edu.

Reach Studio Art Center offers a wide variety of summer classes and day camps for aspiring artists of all ages. See website for schedule and tuition information. (517) 999-3643, reachstudioart.org.

June 20-Aug. 19 >> Camp Discovery Grades Pre K-7. Eight five-day-long day camps with a different weekly theme, including Wild Animal, Wilderness Survival and more. Before and after care options available. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 9 a.m.-noon for younger children. $90-195.

June 20-Aug. 5 >> Teen Camps Grades 8-10. Day camps that tackle either ecology adventures or counselor training. The Eco-Adventure camp features overnight camping trips and activities as well as backpacking. Counselorsin-training attend for two weeks and assist with leading camp activities for younger campers. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $210-305.

Woldumar Nature Center, 5739 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (517) 322-0030, woldumar.org.

June 13-Aug. 19 >> Drama Camps Ages 5-15. All-of-us Express offers 18 classes ranging from one day to two week long sessions. Camps and workshops follow a wide variety of themes, including Disney’s “Frozen” and the popular video game “Minecraft.” All-of-us-Express Children’s Theatre, 819 Abbott Road, East Lansing. (517) 319- 6957, cityofeastlansing.com/allofus.

June-August >> Summer Music Classes Five different camps are available for young musicians of all ages taught by MSU faculty and local musicians. Students can work on a variety of instruments and musical skills. Financial aid is available. Detailed schedules to be announced soon. $100-300. MSU Community Music School, 4930 S. Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. (517) 355- 6957, cms.msu.edu.