As summer approaches local kids and their parents are preparing to enjoy more fun than the past two years have allowed. Summer camps have long been something to look forward to and local camps offer everything from art and theater to sports and outdoor education. We spoke with staff at some of the local camps who are also excited to be getting back into full swing with the help of COVID protocols and spaces are filling up fast.
Although COVID variants are on the rise local camps are taking their lead from the county health officer and are ready to pivot with requirements if needed to ensure the safety of their campers. Camps are doing things like setting up sanitation stations and moving outdoors when possible and many indoor camps are requiring masks and vaccines for staff and sometimes the campers themselves in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Each camp lists its protocols and requirements with their camp information.
Local parents are ahead of the game and making sure their children get to participate by being prepared to register their children as soon as their favorite camp’s registration opens. Art Escape’s Summer camps were completely full two days after they opened up their registration. Likewise, the Boys & Girls Clubs summer camps were nearly full when we spoke with them.
Sonoma Ecology Center’s summer camps have been back in full swing since last summer since their camps are held outdoors. They’re hosting seven weeks of camps, three at Sonoma Garden Park including two Wizard Magic in the Garden camps for ages 7-11 and a new one for the little tikes, ages 5-7. They also host four camps at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for ages 8-12. Spaces are still available and they’ve got opportunities for scholarships for families in need, thanks to help from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. They want to make sure that no one is left out for financial reasons.
The Sonoma Conservatory of Dance offers dance camps for three age groups. The “Firebirds, Bluebirds and Swans” camp for ages 4-6 are almost full and the camp for ages 6-8 are filling up fast. Their camp for 9-year-olds and up is open to all levels of experience, even beginners, and it’s a great way to get a taste of what ballet is like. To be safe, temperatures will be taken, masks worn and social distancing will be observed. They also offer tuition assistance.
Rhoten Productions hosts both performing arts camps and adventure camps. Their performing arts camps take place in the Sebastiani Theater and campers get to choose from improv, Shakespeare, dance, singing, magic, juggling, tumbling, stilt-walking, puppetry, costume creation, storytelling, journalism, video, photography and more.
In the Rhoten Productions adventure camps, kids 5 years and up experience a ropes course, rock climbing, creek hiking and exploring, art, playing games and more. Campers 9 to 15 climb giant ladders, leap from high platforms, zipline, take group hikes in the redwoods, play field games and do art projects. For now, all campers must show proof of vaccination and other protocols are being followed. Scholarships are available.
The Sonoma Community Center is hosting many creative camps for ages 6-9, 10-13 and 13-17. They’ve expanded their camp options this year and offer scholarships so everyone can participate.
They follow the same COVID guidelines as the school district and will be utilizing their outdoor classroom spaces for many of the lessons and lunches. Each camp is split into groups with no more than 15 campers.
In their Fiber Arts Camp Dive campers get to dive into machine sewing and creative needlework techniques like embroidery, needlepoint and hand stitching, wet felting, pom-pom making, tassels, fabric printing, tie-dye, macrame, basketry, bracelet braids and weaving.
They’ve added an extra week to their Clay and Art Camp where campers work in clay, print and mixed media and learn to communicate and express themselves through art and movement. In their Upcycle Camp campers will be creating their own short films using all recycled materials.
They have a brand-spanking new Theatre Camp led by Creative Programs Director and former Broadway performer Eric Jackson and Backyard Kids Theatre founder Alexis Duermeyer. Campers will perform in a production of “Suessical a Musical Experience.”
The Community Center’s Self Expression Camp is back for its second year. It’s a culmination of their monthly Queer Art Club where teens make art, learn from professional artists, share a meal and create community with one another. They’re working closely with Positive Images Santa Rosa to hire instructors and build a fun curriculum for the two-week camp.
These popular camps are filling up quickly. When we spoke with them, two out of four Clay and Art Camps were nearly full and the first week of Fiber Camp was also full.
The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is still finalizing their summer plans and they encourage parents to watch their website for announcements of upcoming summer fun.
The Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley is offering a variety of camps beginning June 21. “Aloha, Summer! Aloha!” campers will be competing in limbo and hula hooping contests, creating their own leis and feasting on Hawaiian cuisine. “The Joy of Painting” will find kids learning techniques in watercolor, acrylics and in creating their own paints. “Icky, Sticky Fun” is a hands-on camp, where scientists-in-training will observe the relationships between temperature and spoilage, how smell travels, and all the fun experiments that go with it. The Boys & Girls Club’s Soccer Camp introduces the core skills of dribbling, passing and goalkeeping. And, finally, “Fear Factor” is just like the TV gameshow, where campers will be putting their fears to the test with some fearful challenges that include eating bugs, guess-what-it-is mystery box, and the cricket challenge.
There are many more fun camps happening, like Challenger Sports and O’Sullivan Soccer Academy soccer camps and Sonoma Aquatic Club’s swim camps. The Sonoma Gymnastics Academy will be offering summer camps with fun themes like Ninja Warrior Camp, Circus Camp, Marvel Camp and more.
Be sure to check out the different camp online sites so that you can register your campers in time. With COVID protocols and financial help in place there’s plenty of summer camp fun to be had in Sonoma.
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