Summer camp guide

ACADEMIC

Astro Camp

All Saints' Episcop al Church, 209 W. 27th St. 512-961-5333, www.austinplanetarium.org

Astro Camp I

Campers learn about the galaxy through hands-on activities, building a basic telescope and spending time in the Austin Planetarium's Discovery Dome mobile planetarium.

  • When: July 22–26, 1–5 p.m.
  • Ages: 8–11
  • Cost: $210
  • Astro Camp II

During the mini space camp, campers build rockets, design rovers, talk to an astronaut and work on a fictional space mission.

  • When: June 24–28, 12:30–4:30 p.m.
  • Ages: 9–12
  • Cost: $210

Astro Camp Junior

The camp is similar to Astro Camp I, but geared toward younger campers.

  • When: July 22–26, 9 a.m.–noon
  • Ages: 6–8
  • Cost: $160

Camp Khabele

Campers spend several hours learning about art or science and the rest of the day doing activities such as swimming.

  • Where: 801 Rio Grande St.
  • When: June 10–July 12, half-day camps are either 8:30 a.m.–noon or 12:30–3:30 p.m.
  • Full-day camps are 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
  • Ages: Students entering fourth–eighth grades
  • Cost: $175 per week for half-day camp, $250 per week for full-day camp
  • Information: www.khabele.org

Growin' Together

4105 Manchaca Road, 512-537-0955,

www.growintogether.org/Growin_Together

Art of Green Technology camps

Campers work with ecologists, landscape architects, engineers and artists to design and build projects that conserve energy, water and soil.

  • When: June 24–July 26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Ages: 8–14
  • Cost: $300 per week

Hands-on summer day camps

During the three age-based camps, campers learn about hunting and gathering skills, how to use natural building materials and how people lived in the past.

  • When: June 17–July 26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: Ages 5–10
  • Cost: $195 per week

Mad Science Camp

Mad Science Camp offers nine camps that combine in-class learning, outdoor games, physical activities and hands-on applications of principles of science.

  • Where: Bryker Woods Elementary School, 3309 Kerbey Lane
  • When: Weeklong camps June 10–Aug. 9
  • Ages: Most camps designed for ages 6–12
  • Cost: Starting at $160
  • Information: 512-892-1143, www.austin.madscience.org

STEM Innovation Camps

Globaloria

  • Campers work together to invent, build and share their own interactive video games.
  • When: July 8–26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: 11–14

Future City

  • Campers imagine, design and build cities of the future.
  • When: July 8–26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: 10–14

ART/FILM

Austin Film Festival Summer Film Camp

Camps cover claymation, an introduction to filmmaking and genre-based short films. Most camps last a week.

  • Where: St. Austin Catholic School, 1911 San Antonio St.
  • When: June 17–Aug. 2
  • Ages: 9–18
  • Cost: $175–$390
  • Information: 512-478-4795, www.austinfilmfestival.com

Austin Film Society's Summer Filmmaking Camp

Austin Studios, 1901 E. 51st St., 512-322-0145, Camps cost $275 for members, $325 for nonmembers, www.austinfilm.org

Animation Creation

Campers learn about animation through activities that look into the basic history, theory and practice of the art.

  • When: July 8–12, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: 9–11

Indie Filmmaking

Campers learn how to create narrative film projects and write and film their own stories in the weeklong camp divided in three sections.

  • When: June 10–28, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: Multiple age ranges

Scary Filmmaking

Campers learn about the fundamentals of scary movies, create their own short films and learn about visual effects.

  • When: July 15–19, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Ages: 12–15

Dougherty Arts Camp

1110 Barton Springs Road, Students are put into two age groups, 7–8 years old and 9–12 years old, 512-974-4040, www.austintexas.gov/page/dougherty-summer-camp

Art Crime Scene

The camp combines crime scene investigation skills with art instruction.

  • When: July 15–26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Cost: $415 for two weeks

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Campers use materials that glow, shimmer and shine and learn about photography, painting and sculpture.

  • When: July 29–Aug. 9, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Cost: $415 for two weeks

The Fragile Earth

Campers practice printmaking, photography, T-shirt making and sculpture while learning about the impact of life on Earth.

  • When: July 1–12, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Cost: $373 for two weeks

Griffin School Arts Summer Camp

Campers participate in a variety of art workshops, work with local artists and have their work appear in an art exhibit at the end of camp.

  • Where: The Griffin School, 5001 Evans Ave.
  • When: July 15–Aug. 2, 12:30–3:30 p.m.
  • Ages: Students in sixth–ninth grade
  • Cost: $500 for three weeks
  • Information: www.studiogriffin.org

School of Rock Summer Camp

School of Rock hosts five summer camps for aspiring young musicians. The Beginner Camp is for students who are new to their instrument, while the Performance Camps are two-week intensive camps that culminate in a live performance at an Austin venue.

  • Where: School of Rock, 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 138
  • When: June 17–Aug. 17
  • Ages: Multiple age ranges
  • Cost: $550 for one-week Beginner Camp, $1,100 for two-week Performance Camp
  • Information: 512-670-8521, www.austin.schoolofrock.com/camp-signup

PERFORMING ARTS

Hideout Theatre Improv summer camps

Children learn the basics of improv, storytelling and stagecraft, and play games, perform scenes and make crafts.

  • Where: The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave.
  • When: Weeklong sessions from June 17– Aug. 16, multiple time frames
  • Ages: Various age groups
  • Cost: $175 for half-day weeklong camp, $275 for full-day weeklong camp
  • Information: 512-443-3688, www.hideouttheatre.com/improv-for-kids/summercamp

Kids in Motion

Butler Dance Education Center, 501 W. Third St., $265 per week

www.balletaustin.org/community/camps.php

The Broadway Kids

Campers learn child-friendly choreography and songs from popular Disney musicals.

  • When: June 10–14, Aug. 5–9, 9 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.
  • Ages: 5–10

Dance Discoveries

Campers learn about what goes into popular fairy tale–based ballets.

  • When: Aug. 12–16, 8:30 a.m.–noon
  • Ages: 5–10

Performing Arts Camp for Kids

Campers are immersed in creative movement, music, singing and art.

  • When: June 17–21, Aug. 19–23, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  • Ages: 4–8

Summer Dance Camp and Breakdance Summer Camp

Break dance camp teaches children dance stances to create high-energy routines and gives participants a range of dancing instruction.

  • Where: 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 338
  • When: Summer Dance Camp is June 17– July 26 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (half day) or 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (full day), break dance camp is June 10–July 26, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • Ages: Ages 4–10 for Summer Dance Camp and 7–12 for Breakdance Summer Camp
  • Cost: Breakdance Summer Camp is $150 per week, Summer Dance Camp is $150 (half day) or $200 (full day) per week
  • Information: 512-442-5299, www.galaxydances.com/camps.html

Zach Theatre summer camps

Zach Theatre Performing Arts School, 1510 Toomey Road, 512-476-0541, www.zachtheatre.org/education/zach-summer-camps

Intro to Musical Theatre

Campers spend half the day with an acting teacher learning theater games, character creation and story structure, and the other half with a vocal coach and choreographer.

  • When: June 24–28 and July 22–26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Ages: Grades 3–5
  • Cost: $325

Story Drama

The camp focuses on a new children's story every day and has campers explore its themes and characters.

  • When: July 15–19, July 17–24, various times
  • Ages: 3 1/2–4 1/2
  • Cost: $95

OUTDOORS

Austin Outdoor Kids summer camps

This traveling day camp goes to various locations, including Hancock Springs, Emma Long Metropolitan Park and Pedernales Falls State Park, and aims to foster enjoyment and exploration of outdoor spaces.

Camacho Youth Summer Camp

Children learn archery, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, geocaching and hiking in various sessions.

  • Where: Camacho Activity Center, 34 Robert Martinez Jr. St.
  • When: Weekly sessions June 10–Aug. 16
  • Ages: 5–12
  • Cost: $75 per week
  • Information: 512-391-1863, www.austincamps.org

SPORTS

University of Texas sports camps

The University of Texas holds summer sports camps for baseball, basketball, diving, football, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, track, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Many of the camps require completed medical forms. Age range, cost, location and dates vary.

WORTH THE TRIP

Iron Horse Country Ranch Dirt Bike Camp

The camp teaches children the fundamentals of riding motorcycles and takes them on motocross-style tracks. Shuttles are available at two locations, Cedar Park High School and Steiner Ranch Elementary School.

  • Where: 9100 E. FM 243, Bertram
  • When: Weekly from June 10–Aug. 23, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Ages: 8–15
  • Cost: $460
  • Information: 512-917-5733, www.ironhorsecountry.com

WRITING/LANGUAGE

Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camp

Workshops allow children to work with a professional writer to explore fiction, poetry, nonfiction and playwriting.

Camp Vmonos!

This Spanish language camp is taught by Megan Baker, a bilingual mother with more than 25 years of child care experience. Where: 6919 Reese Lane

  • When: June 10–Aug. 16, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
  • Ages: 5–11
  • Cost: $155 per week
  • Information: 512-453-8382, www.campvamonos.com

Chinese-Spanish Bilingual Summer Camp

Hosted by Meggie Chou, this camp teaches Mandarin Chinese and Spanish to students of all skill levels. Children will learn the languages while exploring the cultures with native Chinese and Spanish instructors.

  • Where: 710 E. 41st St.
  • When: July 8–12, July 15–19, 9 a.m.–noon
  • Ages: 5–10
  • Cost: $265 per week, $25 registration
  • Information: www.chinesewithmeggie.com