Summer Camps (6/17)

SUMMER CAMPS ...

... IN AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS

Ahwatukee Children's Theatre

Ahwatukee Children's Theatre (ACT), 5051 E. Elliot Road, is offering the following summer camps: "RENT - School Edition," grades 10 to age 19; All Ages Vocal Camp, June 29 to July 3; and Puppet Camp, grades K to 4, July 27 to 31.

For complete information or to register, call (480) 705-9319.

Summer fun with Spanish

Language Synergy is offering summer Spanish classes for children at Brilliant Sky Toys and Books, 4929 E. Chandler Blvd. In the interactive classes, children will learn Spanish vocabulary and phrases through music, songs, stories and games.

Session II will meet July 7, 14, 21 and 28. Ages 3 to 5 meet from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and ages 6 to 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. The cost is $48.

For more information or to register, e-mail info@languagesynergy, call (480) 231-5649 or visit www.languagesynergy.com.

Soccer Club offers Summer Skills Academy

Ahwatukee Foothills Soccer Club is offering its annual Summer Skills Academy at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace SW. Register online at www.afscsoccer.org.

As You Wish Pottery offers summer classes for children

Children are invited to travel around the world without leaving town at As You Wish Pottery, a painting studio located at Interstate 10 and Ray Road.

Summer classes offer artists of all ages the opportunity to create souvenirs from around the globe. Classes are designed with age groups in mind. All classes start at 9 a.m. and advanced registration is suggested. All Monday through Friday classes are $20 plus tax and include all supplies needed to complete the project, including pottery. Saturday classes are $15 plus the cost of pottery.

For more information, visit www.asyouwishpottery.com or call (480) 753-9500.

Music Maker Workshops

Music Maker Workshops, located at 3233 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 2, is offering a variety of musical summer camps.

For more information, call (480) 706-1224 or visit www.musicmakerworkshops.com.

Kimberly Lewis offers free dance

The Kimberly Lewis School of Dance, 3820 E. Ray Road, Suite 8, is offering a free week of dance July 20 to 23 for ages 2 to adult. Space is limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Call (480) 706-6040 or e-mail klsd@kimberlylewis.com for a class list and to reserve a spot.

Music camps with Rhonda Morrison

Rhonda J. Morrison of "Color Your World with Music" is hosting summer camps June 15 to 20 at the Ahwatukee Children's Theater, 5051 S. Elliot Road.

Camps include an instrument petting zoo (exploring, learning to play different instruments with a coach) and Ahwatukee Idol for children, tweens, teens and a new chapter for adults only. The camps are on alternate days, so you can sign up for both.

For complete details, visit www.iplaybyear.com and click on SUMMER CAMPS, e-mail rhon@iplaybyear.com or call (480) 460-0802.

The BAR Fitness

The BAR Fitness, 4425 E. Agave Road, Bldg. 1, is hosting a summer fitness camp for kids ages 6 to 12. Camp runs noon to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Aug. 1. The cost is $150 for a five-week session or $275 for the full summer.

Call (480) 961-5411 for more information and to reserve your space.

Kyrene summer programs

The Kyrene School district offers a variety of summer programs, including Kyrene Kids Club and Kyrene Summer Academy.

• Kyrene Kids Club - Ahwatukee is offered Mondays to Fridays through July 31, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lomas Elementary School, 11820 S. Warner-Elliot Loop. Sign-up by the week to coordinate with summer plans. K to 5 programs range from $65 to $135 (depending on number of days). Toddler to 4-year-old programs are also available for $295 to $680 per month. Register online www.kyrene.org/childcare, in person at the district office at 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe, or by calling (480) 783-7314.

• Kyrene Summer Academy - Ahwatukee is available Mondays to Thursdays through June 25. Elementary students will attend at Monte Vista, 15221 S. Ray Road, from 7:45 to 11:45 a.m., and middle school students will attend at Pueblo, 360 S. Twelve Oaks Blvd., Chandler, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (convenient transportation pick-ups will be located throughout Ahwatukee).

Register online at www.kyrene.org/summeracademy, in person at the district office or by calling (480) 783-7314.

Village Preschool

The Village Preschool, located at Desert Foothills United Methodist Church, 2156 E. Liberty Lane, is offering new and fun programs for children this summer. Weekly camps are available all summer for children ages 2 to 8 and will include messy art, cooking classes, fun with science, painting with acrylics and more.

For more information or to register, call (480) 221-5404 or e-mail frangill@aol.com.

God's Garden

God's Garden Child Development Center at 1401 E. Liberty Lane has begun enrollment for its summer program. The program runs weekly through July 16, each week running Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Children can register for just one week or all weeks.

This year's theme is "Travel Around the World," and each week will highlight a different country or state. A storyteller will read to the children once each week and include music and games and a basic introduction to drama.

Enrollment is open to everyone ages 2-and-a-half (potty trained) to 6.

For more information, call Beth or Hanna at (480) 460-0081 or e-mail Godsgarden@horizonchurch.com.

Primrose School of Ahwatukee

Give your child the fun and excitement they want this summer, surrounded by a safe, nurturing and highly educational environment. Camp Primrose will take place through Aug. 7 at Primrose School of Ahwatukee, 3922 E. Chandler Blvd., featuring the themes What's Cooking?, Passport to Adventure and When I Grow Up!

Campers will take field trips to Makutu's Island, Tempe Theater, Superstition Farms, Arizona Puppet Theater, bowling, Pecos Park, Ironwood Library and the Children's Museum for Youth.

For more information, call (480) 460-1575.

... IN THE VALLEY

South Mountain Community College

High school athletes, as well as middle-schoolers, will get the chance to improve their basketball skills in two summer camps offered by the South Mountain Community College Athletics Department.

SMCC coaches and players will host two basketball camps in June: one for individual players (boys and girls) and one for teams (girls only). The three-day camps will follow the same general training regimen used by the college men's and women's teams, including a focus on fundamentals such as dribbling, shooting, rebounding and defense. Both camps will be led by SMCC Head Women's Coach Cassie Sawyer.

The individual skills camp takes place June 17 to 19 and is open to boys and girls in grades six to 12. The fee is $80 per participant.

The girls team camp takes place June 15 to 17 and is open to boys' and girls' teams and their coaches. It is intended for high school varsity and junior varsity teams, but freshman teams may be accepted at the discretion of staff. Teams must consist of eight to 12 players and at least one coach. The fee is $200 per team.

Registration for both camps is now underway. All camps will take place in the SMCC gym, 7050 S. 24th St. (just north of Baseline Road).

For more information, contact Pat Mooney at (602) 243-8239 or pat.mooney@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

For additional information and an application form, visit www.southmountaincc.edu.

Seton Catholic Preparatory High School

Seton Catholic Preparatory High School, 1150 N. Dobson Road, Chandler, is offering a variety of summer camps:

• Agility/Strength Training for grades seven to 12, Monday to Thursday through July 23 (off June 29 to July 3). Contact Coach Jerry Mullin at bbitler@setonchs.org or (480) 963-1900, ext. 2020.

• Football - Agility/Strength Training for grades nine to 12, Monday to Thursday, through July 23 (off June 29 to July 3). Contact Coach Rex Bowser at rbowser@setonchs.org or (480) 963-1900, ext. 2016.

For additional information, visit www.SetonCatholic.org.

Junior Golf Camp at Whirlwind

Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler will host a Junior Golf Camp from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. June 22 to 25. The camp is open to all juniors ages 6 to 17 and the cost is $80.

For more information, e-mail Justin Lake at jlake@troongolf.com, call (520) 796-8465 or visit www.whirlwindgolf.com.

East Valley String Workshop

East Valley String Workshop is offering a summer 2009 Music Camp for teenagers ages 11 to 14 at Arizona Community Church, 9325 S. Rural Road, Chandler. The week-long, half-day intensive workshops are designed for violin, viola, cello and bass students from throughout the Valley.

Session A runs June 22 to 26, and Session B from June 29 to July 3. Sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Class will meet July 3. Tuition for each session is $150 per week if registered before June 10. For those who register after June 10, tuition is $175 per week. 

For more information, visit www.evstringworkshop.com or e-mail evstringworkshop@yahoo.com.

Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, is offering a variety of summer programs.

For complette information, visit www.dbg.org or call (480) 941-1225.

Chandler Regional Medical Center

Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, members of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), are looking for volunteers between the ages of 14 and 18 who are interested in helping others, gaining work experience and making new friends at either hospital or one of the CHW Urgent Care centers in Ahwatukee, Gilbert and Queen Creek.

Some of the service areas where volunteens can participate include delivering flowers, mail and newspapers; working in the gift shop; performing clerical duties; assisting at the nursing stations; and running miscellaneous errands around the medical centers.

In addition to a positive attitude, smile and enthusiasm, CHW requires volunteens to serve a minimum of 40 hours over the summer. Upon successful completion of the program, they will receive a certificate, a copy of their hours and a letter of recommendation.

To learn more, visit www.chandlerregional.org, select Volunteer Information on the left-hand navigation bar and then select Application Information. The volunteen application is due May 1. 

Chandler Tennis Center

The Chandler Tennis Center is offering a variety of tennis camps in June for the beginning youth to advanced teen player. Classes will be offered in the early morning for one-week increments.

The center is located at Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road.

For more information, call (480) 782-2650.

Youth Summer Camps in Chandler

This year's Youth Summer Camps will be held at Tumbleweed Recreation Center and Snedigar Recreation Center through July 24 for youths entering grades one to six.

For specific times and costs, go to www.chandleraz.gov/breaktime.

School of Ballet Arizona

In comprehensive three- and four-week programs, students begin each day with a ballet class, followed by study in Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Flamenco, Pilates and "Music Intensive." They will strengthen and develop technique, work with guest teachers and learn classical repertoire. Programs are held at 3645 E. Indian School Road.

For details or to register, call (602) 381-0188 or visit www.BalletAZ.org.

Camp Zoo

Camp Zoo at the Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, is for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Choose from nine weeks of full-day (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or half-day (8 a.m. to noon) sessions. (Note: only full days are offered for grades seven and eight, and only half days are offered for kindergartners.)

Each age-appropriate, weeklong session is filled with up-close animal encounters, hands-on activities, games, in depth investigations and organized free-time.

For complete details and to register, visit www.phoenixzoo.org.

Arizona Science Center

Camp Science is being offered this summer at the Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St. Each day campers will explore a different area of science - Chemistry Cabin, Biology Bunk, Physics Field, Geology Back Packs and Planetarium Playground.

Camp is for ages 6 to 7, 8 to 9 and 10 to 11. BrainCake Girls-only Camp Science is for ages 11 to 13.

For more information on either camp, call (602) 716-2055. To register, call (602) 716-2028.

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre

Children and teens are invited to join Scottsdale Desert Stages Academy for its popular Summer Camp for Young Actors ages six to 13 and Summer Camp Jr. for Little Actors ages 3 to 5. Learn all about musical theater in a fun, non-competitive environment, then show off your new skills in a performance.

Session 2 will be held June 22 to July 10, with the theme The Aristocats; and Session 3 takes place July 13 to 31, themed Seussical Jr.

All activities are held at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road.

For more information or to register, call (480) 483-1664 or visit www.desertstages.com. 

National Comedy Theatre Phoenix

National Comedy Theatre Phoenix, 1111 S. Longmore Drive, Mesa, will spend the summer training and entertaining kids of all ages. Improvisation teaches kids valuable skills while keeping them entertained and having fun. Things like team work, listening skills, having confidence, overcoming failure and thinking on your feet are taught through fun and games in improv comedy classes.

For kids ages 8 to 13, NCT offers Improv Summer Camp for Kids: a six class session teaching basic improv skills through exercises and games.

For teens ages 14 to 18, NCT offers High School Improv League: Summer School: an eight class session expanding on the fundamentals of the High School Improv League. Classes can be taken individually or as a complete eight class session.

For more information or to register, call (602) 374-5638 or e-mail info@nctphoenix.com.

Mesa Arts Center

The Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., offers a variety of summer camps for students entering first grade to 18-year olds, such as Summer Arts Camp for Kids, Young Adult Broadway Review program, and several dance camps.

For details, call (480) 644-6541 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com.

GateWay Community College

GateWay Community College offers a variety of summer experiences for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The summer programs, most of which are conducted on the campus at 108 N. 40th St., allow students to have fun, explore career opportunities and earn college credit.

Registration and information available at www.gatewaycc.edu/summer or by calling (602) 286-8672.

Kiwanis Recreation Center

Kiwanis Recreation Center, 6111 South All America Way, Tempe, is offering summer camps in volleyball, soccer, basketball and tennis, coordinating with coaches from local Tempe high schools and Kiwanis Recreation Center staff. Advanced registration is required.

For details, visit www.tempe.gov/kiwanis or call (480) 350-5201 or 480-350-5050 TTY. 

The Reading Clinic

The Reading Clinic, located at at 1860 E. Warner Road in Tempe, uses intensive instruction using Lindamood-BellTM method featured in Newsweek. The one-on-one instruction is also effective for children with ADD or ADHD.

Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and sessions run through Aug. 3.

For more information, contact Dr. Pamela Rupprecht at (480) 456-0500 or visit www.azreadingclinic.com.

... IN ARIZONA

St. Joseph's Youth Camp

St. Joseph's Youth Camp at Mormon Lake near Flagstaff offers kids a week of fun, trying new things and making friends. Kids 8 through 15 may participate in dozens of activities - such as archery, horseback riding, kayaking, rock climbing and arts and crafts - at an all-inclusive rate. The week also includes a generous dose of friendship and loving care from the couple who take care of the camp during the summer months and live in Chandler the rest of the year. Jim Goodall maintains the facility and his wife JoAnn cooks.

Four sessions are offered: July 5 to 11 (ages 8 through 12), July 12 to 18 (Teen Week, ages 13 through 15), July 19 to 25 (ages 8 through 12), and July 26 to Aug. 1 (ages 8 through 12).

The rate for the 2009 season has been reduced to $400 to allow more kids to attend in these tough economic times.

To learn more or to register, go to www.saintjosephyouthcamp.com or call (480) 449-0848.

YMCA Camp Sky Y

High in the Pines above Prescott, Sky Y offers camp for boys and girls ages 7 to 16. YMCA values of honesty, respect, responsibility and caring assure a quality and safe experience with dozens of exciting activities.

For information, visit www.azycamps.org.

YMCA Chauncey Ranch

The location is an hour from Phoenix among the cottonwoods and high desert and features an operating ranch with beds for 150 campers, specializing in equestrian activities and general camp fun for boys and girls ages 9 to 16.

For information, visit www.azycamps.org.

Nike Baseball Camp

This year's camp will be held July 19 to 23 at Embry Riddle University in Prescott for ages 10 to 18. Jon Wente, head coach at Central Arizona College, will direct the camp.

For details, visit www.ussportscamps.com/baseball.

Arizona Soccer Camp

The Arizona Soccer Camp will be held at Embry Riddle University near Prescott in June and July.

The camp offers a variety of sessions to challenge beginners and college hopefuls, all under the supervision of professional staff.

For information, visit www.thesocceracademy.com/arizona/index.html.

TECHNOLOGY CAMPS

Summer Technology Camps

• iD Tech Camps: Hands-On Tech Fun, ages seven to 17. Programs are located at over 60 prestigious universities in 26 states, including Arizona State University.

• iD Gaming Academy: Game On, ages 13 to 18. Two-week sessions located at Stanford, Emory, Villanova and Loyola University in Chicago.

• iD Film Academy: Create a Documentary, ages 13 to 18. This two-week intensive filmmaking summer program is located at Stanford and McGill University.

• iD Programming Academy: Code for the Real World with NASA Researchers, ages 13 to 18.  Located at Stanford University.

For more information or to register, visit www.internaldrive.com.

SEARCH THE WEB FOR THE RIGHT CAMP

CampsAtoZ.com

At CampsAtoZ.com, the Valley's original free online guide to summer camps, parents can match their child's interests to camps that range in cost from highly affordable to costly. The Web site allows them to do that quickly and at no cost. As an added bonus, the online guide has added a blog this year, and the first postings reflect on the economy's effect on summer camps and the right age for overnight camp.

The Web site allows parents to search for summer camps in Northern Arizona, Scottsdale, the East Valley, the Phoenix area and Tucson as well as camps in northern California, San Diego County, Orange County, Los Angeles and central California. The more than 600 listings include both day and overnight camps that specialize in such areas as arts, sports, music, computers, gymnastics, academics, theater, special needs and more.

The site, which requires no registration, is easy to use and free to parents who want to match a summer camp to their child's age and interests. 

For further information, visit www.CampsAtoZ.com, e-mail info@CampsAtoZ.com or contact Julia James at Corfe Marketing Group, Inc., 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite D7, Scottsdale, AZ 85255.