Summer Camps and Workshops for Kids

AMERICAN STAGE, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-1600, xt. 201) Campers explore the art of musicals and perform their own production in Making Marvelous Musicals (ages 5-17, May 30-June 23, $500); in Drama-Rama!!, campers learn about acting, design, stage craft and more (ages 5-17, June 26-July 7, $300); Puppetry Under the Florida Sun has campers making puppets and writing scripts to star them in (ages 5-11, July 10-21, $300); Audition Workshop, in which young actors hone their audition skills (ages 12-17, July 10-21, $300); and a Shakespeare camp, Bill's the Bomb (ages 5-17, July 24-28, $150). Visit www.americanstage.org for more information.

THE ARTS CENTER, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-7872). The Arts Center offers summer art camps in one-week sessions for ages 5 to 15, and these camps cover ceramics, sculpture, painting, jewelry making, photography, digital imaging and printmaking. Weeklong sessions run June 5-Aug. 4 and are $130 per week per child; discounts available for two or more siblings attending on the same week. Call for a brochure or more info about any programs. www.theartscenter.org.

BIG CAT RESCUE, 12802 Easy St., Tampa (813-323-3265). Summer campers ages 10 to 15 learn about big cat habitats, diets, adaptations and conservation issues; enjoy explorations of the 45-acre "campus," scavenger hunts, and keeper demonstrations of feedings and behavioral training with the cats. Other diversions include arts and crafts, games and movies. Four-day sessions run June 5-July 28. Class size is limited; cost is $175. www.bigcatrescue.com.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TAMPA BAY, Day camp activities include field trips, indoor game rooms, swimming lessons, computer labs, arts and crafts, and athletics. Participants must be members of a Boys & Girls Club, and prices vary from club to club. Camps run May 30-July 28. Call 813-264-9000 your local club for more information. www.bgctampa.org.

CAMP CRISTINA, a YMCA camp, 9840 Balm Riverview Road, Riverview (813-677-8400). Children ages 6 to 15-and-above enjoy horseback riding, rock climbing, high ropes, canoeing, drama, shooting sports (BB gun, riflery and archery), arts and crafts, environmental education, sports and team building ($155-$185 one-week session, $265-$295 two-week session). There are also one-week Leaders-in-Training programs for ages 13-15 ($95) and Camp Ophelia, a camp exclusively for girls ages 11-13 ($130-$175). May 30-July 28. Transportation is offered from YMCAs in Carrollwood, New Tampa, Seffner, Valrico, South Tampa and West Tampa, and is included in the fees.

CARROLLWOOD PLAYERS THEATER BY YOUNG PEOPLE SUMMER CAMP, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-265-4000). Students ages 8 to 12 play theater games, and learn monologues and improvisation. The week-long class ends with a stage presentation for parents and friends. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 19-23 and 26-30; $250 per child for one week, $450 for two weeks. For more information, call 813-389-0214.

ECKERD COLLEGE SUMMER WATERSPORTS CAMPS, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg (727-867-1166). The Eckerd College Waterfront Program offers instruction in sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, saltwater fishing and exploring marine life for students of various ages (6-18) at various levels; located on Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg. May 29-July 28. $140-$260. Call for details or visit www.eckerd.edu/waterfront.

FLORIDA AQUARIUM AQUACAMPS, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-367-4087). On-site camps include interactive activities, crafts and detailed aquarium tours. Aquatots and Aquakids are cool programs for toddlers and kids ages 3-6 (fees begin at $25 for members). There's also a variety of day camps for grades 3-8, including Summer Survivor, Beach Party and Fish Camp (fees begin at $115 for members). Field trip camps cover animal rehabilitation, kayaking, water sports, fishing, scuba diving and more (fees begin at $230 for members). Camps take place May 30-July 28. www.flaquarium.org.

GULF COAST MUSEUM OF ART, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (727-518-6833). The museum collaborates with Abrakadoodle to offer classes in painting, sculpting, digital design, collage, mosaics, drawing and more for ages 5-11. Each week follows a different theme: Castles and Dragons, June 5-9; Around the World, June 12-16; Puppet Show, June 19-23; and Do Your Chores, June 26-30. $120 per week, includes art supplies.

GREAT EXPLORATIONS: THE HANDS-ON MUSEUM, 1925 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-821-8992). Great Explorations offers day camps for ages 5-15. Different weeklong camps explore various art and science themes through hands-on activities. May 29-Aug. 4. Camps start at $175 for nonmembers (discounts offered for five weeks or more).

HERITAGE VILLAGE, 11909 125th St. N., Largo (727-582-2123). Kids 5-11 can enjoy traditional arts and crafts activities from the 1850s though the 1940s, hiking, storytelling, games, cooking, field trips, historical house tours and more. Weeklong sessions run June 12-July 21 ($125 general/$100 members). www.pinellascounty.org/heritage.

INSIGHT STUDIO, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., Studio 305 (813-390-3422). Children 8 to 17 are invited to come and familiarize themselves with the art of photography. Supplies and field trips are included, and returning students enjoy new experiences each week. Weeklong sessions begin May 29 and run through the week of Aug. 7; hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and cost $150. Call for more information.

IN THE BREEZE RANCH 13TH ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP, 7514 Gardner Road, Tampa (813-264-1919) Each summer camp student (ages 5-16) is assigned their own horse, and in addition to plenty of horseback riding and horse care learning opportunities, students enjoy picnics, arena games and hayrides. May 29-Aug. 12; hours are 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily. Cost is $250 a week or $50 per child per day. Call for more information.

LARGO RECREATION & PARKS SUMMER CAMPS, at various sites in Largo (727-518-3016). Largo Recreation, Parks & Arts offers a huge variety of weeklong summer camps and sports camps for preschoolers through 17-year-olds. May 22-Aug. 4. Prices vary. Visit www.largo.com for details.

MARCIA P. HOFFMAN PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTE, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater (727-712-2706). Ruth Eckerd Hall's arts education institute offers a variety of classes for ages 3-18 in one- through four-week sessions. Areas of instruction include music, visual arts, dance and creative dramatics. Classes are designed to encourage creativity, imagination, self-expression and exploration of the arts. Prices range from $88 to $600. www.rutheckerdhall.net.

MOSI SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS, Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6000). MOSI easily offers more of a variety of summer camps than anyone else in the Bay area, with programs for pre-schoolers to grade 10. Activities start May 30 and run through July 28. Cost is $119-$360 per week; discounts apply for MOSI members. Space is limited. www.mosi.org.

NATURE CAMP SERIES, Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater (727-462-6024). The park offers a series of five-day camps that include exploration of Moccasin Lake Park, games, crafts, and activities aimed at introducing children to nature and science. Camps for ages 6-11 run May 22-Aug. 4. Prices vary.

NATURE'S CLASSROOM, 13100 Verges Road, Thonotosassa (813-987-6940). The environmental studies center offers weeklong camps to Hillsborough County children entering grades 4 to 7. Activities include programs on outdoor survival, native flora and fauna, and photography. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. June 5-30. Camps are $80 each; one free camp sponsored by Florida Water Management. Call for details.

PATEL CONSERVATORY, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-222-1002). Chill out with the Patel Conservatory's offering of summer programs, including an arts sampler, ballet camp, rock and hip-hop schools, and musical theater. Programs run May 30-July 29. Prices Vary. www.patelconservatory.org.

THE PIER AQUARIUM, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-895-7437). Students enjoy a basic marine education in addition to marine-related arts and crafts, and field trips on floating classrooms and to local museums, nature preserves and seashores. May 22-26, ages 9-12; June 5-9, ages 6-8; June 19-23, ages 13-15; July 10-14, ages 10-12; and July 17-21, ages 9-11. Half-day camps are $75; all others are $175. Call to register. Limited space available.

SUMMER ART & DRAMA CAMP, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, SPC-Tarpon Springs Campus, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs (727-712-5226). This camp — for ages 6-13 — offers an array of art and drama experiences to its campers. Weeklong day sessions run June 12-16 and 19-23, and are $150 per week (museum members receive a $50 discount). Call for more information.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS BASEBALL CAMP, One Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg (727-825-3306). Ages 6-13 learn all the basics of baseball from the city's best baseball coaches. May 29-July 21, $200. Satellite hitting clinics occur at various locations June 12-23 ($60).

TAMPA'S LOWRY PARK ZOO, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552, xt. 232). At Zoo School, students grades K-8 learn about nature, science and animals while trekking through the zoo, exploring the behind-the-scenes workings and cooling off in water play areas. Adventure camps include animal encounters, keeper talks, educational shows, games, crafts and more. May 29-July 28. $145 per week members/$165 per week nonmembers. www.lowryparkzoo.com.

TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-7328). The museum offers week-long, full- and half-day art camps covering a wide variety of media, including photography, drawing, sculpting and painting. Ages 6-10; June 5-July 21. $175 half-day, $275 full-day (members receive a $50 discount). Call for details. www.tampagov.net/dept_museum/.

TAMPA THEATRE, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-274-8287). The Kids Make Movies camp shows students how to create movies on Mac computers with iMovie and Garage Band programs using footage they shoot with film and digital cameras. Grades 3-12; date and time vary depending on age. June 19-July 24. Cost is $125 per session. www.tampatheatre.org.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2014). USF offers dozens of impressive summer programs and camps in a variety of subjects, including sports and science. There's also Summperplay, an interdisciplinary three-week program for students of the arts; courses cover theater, dance, web design, photography and fine arts, music, story writing and an introduction to Spanish through the arts. Prices vary. Camps occur May 31-July 21. www.usf.edu/ur/summer.

WEEDON ISLAND PRESERVE, 1800 Weedon Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-453-6500). The preserve offers three separate camps: Island Explorers, which has campers hiking, wading and canoeing through various coastal environments at Weedon in addition to taking a field trip to Shell Key Preserve to study a barrier island system (grades 6-8, June 12-16, 26-30 and July 10-14, $125); Wild About Art, at which campers enjoy the outdoors while taking part in a variety of artistic activities (June 19-23, grades 8-10, $125); and herpetology camp, at which campers learn about amphibian and reptile ecology and conservation and enjoy up-close encounters with gopher tortoises, frogs, lizards, and snakes (July 17-21, grades 2-6, $125). Call to register.

YMCA CAMPS-ST. PETERSBURG, (727-541-5951). Camps are available for grades K-8. Activities include games, swimming, hiking, canoeing, field trips, arts and crafts, and athletics. May 22-July 28. Costs and programs vary; scholarships are available to low-income families.

YMCA CAMPS-TAMPA, (813-229-9622). Camp programs provide full-day activities for ages 5-15. May 3-Aug. 4. Call your nearest YMCA for more information. Costs and programs vary by location; scholarships available to low-income families. tampaymca.org.

This article appears in May 10-16, 2006.