Painting, bugs and more at local camps
Whether kids like worms, cheerleading, soccer or pottery, they can try almost anything they like at local camps this summer.
Science, sports, theatre and art are all topics of summer camps for kids in kindergarten through high school.
Creeping and Crawling Critters Camp
St. Anthony’s Outreach will host a summer learning and enrichment institute entitled “Creeping and Crawling Critters” for students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.
This year, the program is all-new and all-inclusive. The creepy-crawly camp will focus on all things animal and will include field trips to the Audubon Insectarium, Aquarium and Zoo. Students will also get to ride on a New Orleans streetcar. Kids will get the chance to interact with ants, bees, worms, lady bugs, snakes, lizards, turtles, butterflies and more.
Carol Heard, St. Anthony camp director, said that students will get to dissect a worm, keep an ant farm and plant a bean.
“The hands-on stuff will definitely be the most exciting part for the kids,” Heard said.
Heard said that students will also expand their horizons and meet kids from other parishes during the field trips, when the group will be meeting up with others using the same summer curriculum.
Heard said the program hopes to have about 40 students sign up.
The camp will run from June 6 to July 15, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. After care will be available. Camp registration takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the St. Anthony Outreach Youth and Family Restoration Center on Paul Maillard Road in Luling. Registration is $60 and the weekly camp fee is $50.
Fine Arts Camp
For kids with an artistic flair, the St. Charles Art Guild will host its 16th annual summer Fine Arts Camp. Kids attending this camp will get the opportunity to try out many different mediums, including water colors, oil, pastels, clay modeling, 3D modeling and more.
Laurie Abadie, camp director, said that the highlight of the camp will be when the students’ art is displayed in a special exhibit at St. Charles Parish libraries.
“The children choose one of several pieces they have created and we mat them and they have a showcase,” Abadie said.
She said that creative camps are important for childrens’ development.
“Creative camps are important because kids need the outlet to express themselves in visual ways, to use color and observe nature and express their feelings about all sorts of things,” she said. “Art is a form of communication and expression, and kids need the opportunity to be able to express themselves in ways that they don’t normally get a chance to do.”
She said the end-of-camp showcase is also enjoyed by parents and friends who can visit the library and see the students’ works on display.
Abadie said that the camp directors strive to treat the students as real young artists.
“Some of the kids adore one medium because we teach them to do the art as real artists would,” she said. “It’s not an activity where everyone’s work will look the same. We actually teach them how to use the medium as artists so that their personalities come out in their work.”
At the end of the week-long camp, each student will have their own collection of artwork to take home. The camp is open to students in grades 2-4 and runs from June 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon at the East Regional Library in Destrehan. The camp is free and open on a first-come, first-serve basis to 30 students. Applications are now available at all St. Charles Parish Public Libraries.
Animation Camp
For the first time, animation students across the state will have a chance to take their skills to the next level during a camp offered by Louisiana State University. The Stop Motion Animation Summer Camp will run from July 11-15 and is open to high school students.
Stop motion animation is a technique used to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own.
During the camp, students will learn to create a story line and develop characters, shoot scenes and create a movie by editing, adding music and adding effects.
At the end of the camp, students can submit their work to the Red Stick International Animation Festival Best of the Fest competition.
The camp fee is $125 and admission will be on a first-come basis. Visit www.cct.lsu.edu/StopMotion for more information or to register.
Cheerleader Kiddie Camp
Both Destrehan and Hahnville high schools will host an annual Cheerleader Kiddie Camp this year.
The HHS camp will take place July 18-21 at R.K. Smith Middle School from 9 a.m.-noon. The camp is open to all girls ages 3-12 and costs $50 for the week or $15 per day. All participants will be invited to perform with the high school cheerleaders before a varsity home football game. Registration begins July 18 from 8-9 a.m. To register, pick up a form at the HHS main office.
The DHS Cheerleading Kiddie Camp will take place July 18-22 from 9 a.m.-noon each day. The camp is open for kids ages 4-12. Registration forms can be downloaded at the DHS Web site. Campers will cheer at the Sept. 2 DHS football game.
Hi-Stepper Camp
The HHS Hi-Steppers will host their annual kiddie camp from July 25-28 from 9 a.m.-noon each day. All girls ages 3-13 are welcome to attend. Cost for the camp is $50 for the week or $15 per day. Those who attend all four days of camp will have the opportunity to perform with the Hi-Steppers before a varsity home football game. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on July 25 or participants can register early by printing a form from the HHS Web site.
Music Festival Camp
The HHS Choir and St. Charles Parish Music Teachers will host the Summer Music Festival at HHS from July 18-22.
Students will get to try out the guitar, compose music, practice vocal techniques, sing with the festival choir, play the piano and learn to sight-read.
The camp is open to all students who will be in grades 2-9 in the fall. The camp will run from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for students in 2nd and 3rd grades and will cost $60.
Camp will run from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for students in 4th through 9th grades for $85.
Before and after care will be available.
Students can pick up applications from any St. Charles Parish choir teacher or download the forms at www.stcharles.k12.la.us/webpages/cmatherne2.
Sports Camps
Hahnville High is offering many sports camps this summer, including those for aspiring soccer, football and basketball players.
The HHS Football Camp will be held from May 31-June 2 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The camp is for boys ages 7-14 and costs $50. Early registration packets can be picked up at the HHS main office. Registration will be held on May 31 at 8 a.m. and campers should wear t-shirts, shorts and either tennis shoes or football cleats. For more information, contact Coach Lou Valdin at (985)758-7537.
The HHS Basketball Camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-15. Campers will be taught, observed and corrected in all phases of the game. The camp runs from July 11-15 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The camp costs $110 before June 7. Before and after care is available. Visit the HHS Web site to register.
Finally, the HHS Girls Soccer Camp will be held on July 5-7 for girls in grades 3-8. Registration forms can be found in the Hahnville High main office or at www.stcharles.k12.la.us/hahnville.
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