Parents across the San Joaquin Valley will have to answer an important question – “What are we going to do now mom and dad?”— over the coming weeks as the region’s schools close for the summer.
Luckily, there are several summer camp programs that could help children of all ages fight off the summer doldrums and keep your sanity in check. Here’s a quick rundown of these programs and where you can learn more about them:
- Continue the learning experience: The Center for Advanced Research and Technology still has space in its builder’s workshop, cybersecurity, and optical illusions summer programs. You might also want to check out San Joaquin Delta College’s “Kids College” curriculum for a chance to learn more about music, reading, robotics, and theater.
- Explore the great outdoors: Give your children a chance to learn about nature and cool off by playing in the water at the San Joaquin Parkway River Parkway and Conservation Trust’s “River Camp” program. You might also want to try Camp Jack Hazard so your children can enjoy a full week-long experience in the woods.
- Go beyond bible school: Local churches are offering far more than the traditional mission trips and vacation bible school programs this summer. Ask around and you’ll find bicycle and motorcycle rides, movie nights, swim parties, and skeet shooting activities.
You might also want to try Camp Keola, Hartland Christian Camp, Hume Lake Christian Camps, and the YMCA Camp at Sequoia Lake for an experience that mixes canoeing and cabins with Christian values and a chance for your children to fully explore their faith.
- Try a new sport: The City of Fresno’s Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services department offers a series of summer camps where children can play basketball, BMX, flag football, skating, and soccer. More advanced athletes might enjoy programs offered by Football Club Barcelona, the Fresno Dolphins, the Fresno Grizzlies, and the Sierra Sport & Racquet Club.
- Visit a museum: The Discovery Center in Fresno offers children between the ages of five and 13 years a chance to learn about dinosaurs, space exploration and chemistry with its series of week-long summer camp programs. The Fresno Art Museum offers summer programs teaching children how to draw, paint murals, and turn garbage into fashion.
Hopefully this list of ideas will give our children ample opportunity to stay busy and out of your hair this season. And if things don’t work out, don’t worry because summer’s almost over and in just three months it will be time for them to go back to school.
