Community Corner
Patch Picks: Summer Camps
Now is the time to start thinking summer—summer camps, that is—as registration is open (or will open soon) for great local camps for kids of all ages. Here are a few to check out.
Northern Dakota County Tri District Community Education Summer Camps
The school districts of Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan and South St. Paul will be offering more than 90 camps for local youth in areas like sports and recreation, music, academics, theater, aquatics and much more. Camps begin on June 11 and run through Aug. 26.
Catalogs will be distributed in district schools on March 30 (on April 4 in Inver Grove Heights due to spring break), but online information and registration will be available beginning on March 28 at www.celearn4ever.org.
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Dodge Nature Center Camps
At Dodge, kids (and adults) can explore and experience daily life at a nature center. Day camps for first- and second-graders include "Nature Detectives" and "Earth, Air, Fire and Water." Third- through fifth-graders can spend a week "Down on the Farm" and middle schoolers in grades 6-8 can be "Eco Explorers."
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Dodge Nature Center also offers a weeklong day camp called "All Around Dodge" for children ages 8-12 who are on the autism spectrum.
Hey parents, you can have fun at camp, too. Three-day Family Camp sessions are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bonfires and s'mores included!
Registration forms can be downloaded from www.dodgenaturecenter.org. Scholarships are also available.
Visitation Summer Camps and Summer School
A whole host of fun learning and enrichment opportunities are just waiting for kids who will be entering kindergarten through sixth grade in the fall. There are sports camps, a science and creativity camp called Camp Invention, geocaching, art, etiquette, theatre and much more.
Summer school classes will focus on reading, writing, math, study skills and test taking help and are available for students through 12th grade.
The Summer School and Summer Camp brochure is available online at www.visitation.net. Contact Julia Dale, coordinator, at 651-683-1751 for more information.
Minnesota Zoo Camps
There are many different animal adventures—and much more—planned for Minnesota Zoo campers this summer. Even toddlers can participate in fun "camp" sessions like "Rainbows and Rain Forests" with a favorite adult. Preschoolers will enjoy single day events like "Dynamic Dolphins;" there are many options for grade school and middle school students like "ZSI - Zoo Scene Investigation." For kids in grades 7-9, spend time as part of the "Farm Crew" or look behind the scenes at a "Zoo Design" camp.
For registration information, visit www.mnzoo.org.
Stepping Stone Theatre Camp
If you have a budding Broadway star on your hands, consider the Stepping Stone Theatre Summer Camp in St. Paul. There are programs available for kids ages 3 1/2 to 17 years old, including such creative options as the "Actors' Playground" and "Produce It! - Jr.," a camp focusing on all aspects of play production for kids ages 9-12.
Registration is now available online at www.steppingstonetheatre.org.