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The end of the school year is right around the corner, which means one of two things for Richmond-area parents: Either you've crafted detailed daily schedules packed with fun, learning, adventure—and yes, a little screen time—OR you're desperately wondering how you'll keep your children from becoming the neighborhood couch potatoes. Either way, Commonwealth Law Group understands the importance of keeping our kids active and engaged this summer, and luckily, the Richmond area is filled with fun, creative summer camps for its young residents—while also providing peace of mind (and moments of silence) for their parents.
Here are 15 unique summer camps that will pique the interest of young artists, athletes, A-students and everyone in between:
For the athletes in training:
1. American Colleges of Jiu-Jitsu and Karate Camps
Grades: Kindergarten through High School (ages 5 and up)
Focus: Martial Arts, Outdoor Activities
This high-energy, action-packed camp, run by a husband and wife team, includes two self-defense classes and a field trip EVERY DAY! With a focus on practicing respect, honor and integrity, along with outdoor fun, this camp gives your child a memorable summer with life-long lessons.
Location: 11244 Patterson Ave., Richmond, VA
Duration: 1+ week(s) – attend for the entire summer or just a week or two
Grades: Elementary and Middle School (ages 6-13)
Focus: Golf
Now that your child has mastered the art of putt-putt golf, move them onto the big green to practice their swing! Golfers of all experience levels are welcome. As a bonus, at the end of each camp session, kids get a key tag redeemable for one free small bucket of range balls OR a free round of miniature golf EVERY DAY through the end of 2018!
Location: Bogey's Sports Park, Richmond, VA
Duration: Week-long, morning sessions
3. Camp Hilbert
Grades: Kindergarten – 10th Grade
Focus: Sports, Recreation
Campers won't have time to be bored, with canoeing, archery, swim lessons, crafts, field trips and more! With an 8:1 child/staff ratio, certified lifeguards and an EMT on-site, as well as free transportation, this is a safe and convenient option for families in the Richmond area.
Location: 2240 Maidens Road, Goochland, VA 23102
Duration: 1+ week(s) – attend for the entire summer or just a week or two
For the artists-in-[your]-residence:
Grades: Middle School
Focus: Architecture, Design
Over the course of five days, students will become acquainted with The Branch House and explore Richmond's many pockets through interactive, team-based tours and activities. Collaborating with architects and designers, they will use newly learned skills to create their own projects.
Location: Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, Richmond, VA
Duration: Five, week-long sessions
5. ArtVenture Summer Camp at Visual Arts Center
Grades: Pre-K, Elementary and Middle School (Ages 5-14)
Focus: Art, Ceramics, Photography, Videography, Painting
Connect your young artist with some of Richmond's most skilled professional artists to create real art! VisArts offers more than 200 course selections in a wide range of artistic media―including wheel throwing, darkroom photography, stop motion animation and mural painting.
Location: 1812 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA
Duration: Weekly sessions (morning and/or afternoon)
6. Bach to Rock Midlothian – America's Music School
Grades: Pre-K, Elementary, Middle and High School
Focus: Music, Performance
Choose one of many available camps―Rock Band, Glee Club, Rock City World Tour … and more!―where students of all ages and experience levels learn music theory and technique. Building a band promotes teamwork, communication and social skills that lead to friendships and a lifelong love of music!
Location: 11400 West Huguenot Road, #105,Midlothian, VA
Duration: Daily, partial week and full-week options
For excelling students, bookworms and future innovators:
Grades: Kindergarten ‒ 6th Grade
Focus: Innovation, Engineering, Technology
Students will enjoy the all-new programming, including designing futuristic vehicles, a robotic pet vet module that cures pups through innovation, designing a futuristic smart home and inventing something new daily while exploring the roles of physicists, engineers and entrepreneurs. Lessons explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation. Four-day programs.
Locations and Dates:
Bettie Weaver Elementary, 3600 James River Rd., Midlothian, VA: June 18-21, 2018
St. Paul's Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Road, Richmond, VA: August 6-9, 2018
Alberta Smith Elementary, 13200 Bailey Bridge Rd., Midlothian, VA: July 9-12, 2018
Grange Hall Elementary, 19301 Hull Street Rd., Moseley, VA: August 6-9, 2018
8. CCWA Summer Minecraft/Coding/App Camps
Grades: Elementary and Middle School (ages 8-12)
Focus: Technology, Engineering
Students can design their own app, learning the basics of programming through Minecraft, creating robots, flying drones—and more. Introduce your children to the fun and interesting applications of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and watch them soar!
Location: CCWA Workforce Development Center, 1651 E Parham Rd., Ste 103, Richmond, VA
Duration: Week-long sessions, morning and/or afternoon
9. Heartwood Grove School Language Immersion Camps
Ages: Elementary and Middle School
Focus: Spanish-language immersion, Gardening, Cooking
Learning a new language is always more fun and successful when it's paired with food and consistent practice! This summer, Heartwood Grove School is offering an Immersion Spanish Gardening camp that will include lessons on nutrition and cooking with summer vegetables, as well as additional indoor activities.
Location: Patterson Avenue Baptist Church, 4301 Patterson Ave., Richmond, VA
Duration: Two weeks, July 11-22, 2018, with an option to register for one week, if preferred.
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary and Middle School
Focus: Reading Proficiency, Indoor/Outdoor Activities
Happy Reading Camp will assess your child's skills and provide a personalized plan of study. Each camper gets two hours of individual or small group instruction every day, in addition to playing sports, making art and more! It's an ideal environment for students who are improving their reading proficiency―balancing instruction with fun.
Locations: Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Petersburg, Midlothian
Duration: 1-8 weeks (full-day)
For those with sleeping bags at-the-ready (sleep-away camps):
11. CharacterWorks Performing Arts Camp
Grades: Elementary, Middle and High School
Focus: Musical Theater, Christian Fellowship
In addition to providing day camps for aspiring performers, "Spectacular! Viewpoint Camp" is a four-day, three-night retreat for students ages 14-19. Go all-out in water games, mountain hiking, and intense team building in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plus, spend time in worship, devotions, Bible-teaching specially curated for high school students, as well as theater workshops culminating in an inspiring musical showcase on the last day.
Locations:
Sleep-away: CrossRoads Camp & Conference Center, Lowesville, VA; August 15-18, 2018
Non-sleep-away camps in weekly sessions: Richmond, Midlothian and West end
Grades: Elementary, Middle and High School (ages 8+)
Focus: History
Travel back in time to the 1860s and enter the world of a Civil War soldier. As a newly enlisted private, you will don your uniform, shoulder your musket, and march off to a new adventure! This immersive experience provides a vivid window into history. Camps are customized for the skill levels of each group.
Location: Pamplin Historic Park, Petersburg, VA
Duration: Custom; Daytime adventures also available
13. Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Grades: High School (ages 14-17)
Focus: Conservation, Environmental Stewardship, Community Engagement
Is your teen community-minded and environmentally aware? YCC offers a three-week opportunity for teens to live and work on field-based projects in Virginia state parks while earning a small stipend. This program is more environmental stewardship than camp. Students should be physically fit and ready to work hard on field-based projects that improve Virginia's public lands. Check out this video of former participants.
Location: Various Virginia state park locations.
Duration: Two 3-week sessions: June 24-July 14 or July 22-Aug. 11
14. Junior Journey on the James
Grades: Middle School (ages 10-13)
Focus: Ecology, Cultural History
Follow a portion of the VCU "Footprints on the James" course. Campers will paddle from Osborne Park to Shirley Plantation, staying at Dutch Gap Conservation Area, Presquile National Wildlife Refuge and the Rice Rivers Center. Learn more about the James River ecology and its cultural history and explore tidal creeks along the way!
Location: The James River to the VCU Rice Rivers Center, Charles City, VA
Duration: Five days, four nights July 9-13 or July 23-27
15. Camp Friendship
Grades: Elementary, Middle and High School (ages 7-17)
Focus: Indoor/Outdoor Activities, Personal Development
Camp Friendship remains a popular option for many Central Virginia families whose children want to explore 37 activities, make new friends and experience summer adventures. Check out their four programs: Junior Village, Senior Village, Equestrian Camp and Counselor in Training.
Location: 573 Friendship Way, Palmyra, VA 22963
Duration: One and two-week sessions
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