2012 Summer Camp Guide

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Welcome to the Mail Tribune's 2012 guide to summer camps in Southern Oregon and Northern California. If you know of a camp in the area that's not on this list, please email avalencia@mailtribune.com to let us know. Summer camp information is updated periodically throughout the summer.

Medford

Medford Parks & Recreation Department, Santo Community Center at 701 N. Columbus Ave., offers summer camps from June 11- Aug. 31, with weekly sessions that run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Cost is $79 per camper per week, and partial scholarships are available. For $59 weekly, parents also can choose a camp running Tuesdays through Thursdays. Parents can “extend” camp hours to 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for an extra $10 weekly. Camps are open to kids 4-12 and include activities such as crafts, sports and games. Kids swim at nearby Jackson Pool, and special events or outings are planned on Fridays. The parks department also has a Leaders in Training program that allows kids 13-15 to learn the basics of being a camp counselor. Details: www.playmedford.com, parks@cityofmedford.org or 541-774-2400.

Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts, P.O. Box 1359, will offer its 11th season of Magic of Theatre summer camps beginning June 18. There will be four camps during the summer for ages 7-19. Camps will be held at Central High School, 815 Oakdale Ave and at St. Mary's School, 816 Black Oak Drive, Medford. Students will learn about acting, singing and dance. Each camp will culminate in a performance. No experience necessary. Fees range from $349 to $450. These are day camps Monday through Friday, 3-5 weeks in length. Details are at www.oregonconservatory.org You can also call 541-776-9118 or email OCPA at oregonconservatory@q .com

Rogue Gallery & Art Center , 40 S. Bartlett St., Medford, offers summer camps from June 19 -Aug. 24, with weekly sessions that run from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Kids 7 to 17-years-old can attend the sessions that focus on hands-on exploration of art, art mediums and techniques at the nonprofit community arts center. The cost is $105 to $125 per weekly session. Some financial aid is available. Details: www.roguegallery.org or rgaceducation@roguegallery.org.

Rogue Valley Family YMCA, 522 W. Sixth St., Medford, offers a Day Camp from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays June 11 to Aug 30 for youth entering first through sixth grade. Participants are divided into two smaller camps and mock “cabins” to provide individual attention to each camper. This year's day camp will be offered at Central High School (the old South Medford). Camp fees start at $90 per week or $25 per day. Many scholarships are available; no one will be turned away for an inability to pay. Scholarship applications are available at the YMCA and pre-qualified lunch letter scholarships require no application, just your child's lunch letter. Cost is $21 per day with Reduced Lunch letter and $17 per day with a Free Lunch letter. Campers take part in weekly field trips plus Friday swim days, nature activities, arts and crafts, skits, songs, scavenger hunts, cooking and sports. Two daily snacks are served and the free summer lunch program is available to all families each day of camp. The YMCA also offers a wide variety of overnight camps including rafting, geo-caching, coast camp, backpacking, and a traditional residential camp. Details: www.rvymca.org, gtaylor@rvymca.org or 541-772-6295.

Missoula Children's Theater,The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater hosts the Missoula Children's Theater's traveling children's theater workshops, the week of June 18. Children who audition and are selected for a role in its end-of-the-week production attend theater sessions all week. Auditions for this year's production, “Hansel and Gretel,” are at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 18, at The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Auditions are free and open to children entering first through 12th grades in the fall. If selected for the production, the registration fee is $35 for the full week. Performers will attend sessions at various times Tuesday-Friday at the Craterian, 23 S. Central Ave. and at South Medford High School in Medford, and then perform the show at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, at South Medford High School. For details or to register for the audition: 541-779-3000.

Kids Unlimited of Oregon, 821 N. Riverside Ave., Medford, offers day camps at three locations for kids entering first through eighth grades in weekly sessions June 18- Aug. 10. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, and kids take part in science, sports, film/movie making, photography, ceramics, cooking, gardening, fitness activities, computer programming, dance, swimming, arts and crafts, outdoor education and field trips. Groups are organized into three age groups, with first- through third-graders at Jackson Elementary, 630 W. Jackson St; fourth- through sixth-graders at Jefferson Elementary, 333 Holmes Ave., and the oldest kids at VIBES/Main 1, 821 N. Riverside Ave. Cost is $600 for eight weeks, including breakfast, snack and lunch; campers must enroll for at least four weeks. Scholarships are available. Details: 541-774-3900 or www.kidsunlimitedoforegon.org

Earth-Science Day Camp, at Jefferson Nature Center in the Medford sports park at 2931 S. Pacific Highway is a five-day camp for 5- to 17-year-olds that will include hands-on experiences with live exotic bugs. Campers will learn about birds and their nests, how to be a Bear Creek biologist and how to map their own area, track animals, build a survival shelter, make fire by friction and find safe drinking water. Partners include OSU Extension and Bug ‘R' Us Educational Services. The camp runs June 18-22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost is $195. Details: morgan@coyotetrails.org or 541-482-0513.

Ashland

Southern Oregon University Raiders Volleyball Camp,1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland; the camp features coaching staff that includes 3 state “Coach of the Year”, NAIA Division I coaches and players, NCAA Division 1, 2 and 3 coaches and players. Campers will get 30 hours of contact, a nine to one camper to coach ratio, mental aspects of the game and top player demonstrations for campers. The camp is for kids grades 7-12 and starts July 22-26. There will also be a camp July 16-18 for all incoming sixth and seventh graders. Entry of fifth graders is allowed with club volleyball experience. Details: www.souraiders.com or 541-552-6728 or rohlfingj@sou.edu

ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, 1500 E. Main St., Ashland, offers a series of weekly science- and art-themed camps for kids ages 4-12, June 18-Aug. 31. Camps focus on different themes each week, from chemistry to geology to theater. Campers are divided by age group. Camps for kids 4-6 run from 9 a.m. to noon, and older kids can sign up for morning sessions, afternoon sessions or a combination that also includes a supervised lunch and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost for most sessions is $140 for non-members, $125 for members. Details: www.scienceworksmuseum.org or camps@scienceworks.com or 541-482-6767 ext. 226. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week over summer.

Le Cirque Center, in the Hersey Street Business Park at 280 E. Hersey St., No. 12, Ashland, offers weekly circus arts camp sessions June 18 to 22, 25 to 29; July 9 to 13, 16 to 20, 23 to 27; and Aug. 6 to 10, 13 to 17, 20 to 24. Kids 5 to 11 years old learn skills in unicycling, ball walking, flying bungees, flip bungees, trapeze, aerial silks, trampoline, rock climbing, cloud swing, aerial hoops and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. The cost is $130 per week. Details: 541-301-6804, circusacademy@yahoo.com

Earth Kamp for Kids, offered through the Ashland parks department at North Mountain Park Nature Center, 620 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland, is from 9 a.m. to noon, June 18 through June 21, for kids 8-12. The registration deadline is June 15. Cost is $60, and activities include creating crafts using natural and recycled materials, harvesting and preparing snacks using edible plants from the gardens and natural areas, and harnessing the sun's energy to bake cookies after building a solar oven. Details: http://www.ashland.or.us/Files/NMP_Summer2012Online.pdf or 541-488-6606.

Ashland Family YMCA, 540 YMCA Way, Ashland, offers a variety of summer camps for area children, including weekly all-day camps based on themes and part-day sports camps. The daylong camps run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays all summer and cost $115 for Y members, $135 for others per session. They are open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. The Y also offers preschool camps for kids 3-5 from 9 a.m. to noon June 18-22; June 25-29; July 2,3,5,6; July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-Aug. 3, Aug. 6-10, Aug. 13-17, Aug. 20-24, Aug. 27-31; and Sept. 4-7. They cost $75 for Y members, $90 for others weekly. The half-day sports camps run from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and focus on gymnastics, swimming, tumbling, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, water play, basketball, volleyball, flag football, archery and fencing and dodge ball. They cost $90 per session for Y members, $105 for others. Details: 541-482-9622 or childcare@ashlandymca.org or www.ashlandymca.org.

Camp Gesher Jewish summer day camp is offered by Havurah Shir Hadash and Temple Emek Shalom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6 to 10 at the Havurah, 185 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland. The camp is for kids entering kindergarten through seventh grade and includes arts and crafts, sports, music, drama, field trips and much more. It integrates Jewish values, themes and practice into all activities from eating lunch and playing games to arts and crafts. The theme this year is, "Celebrate the Jewish Holidays!" Each day of camp will celebrate a different Jewish holiday with activities and foods. Cost is $200 per child. For details and to enroll, contact the Camp Director Andrea Shupack at 541-218-6766 or at andreashupack@gmail.com, or visit www.CampGesherAshland.com

Camp Gan Israel 804 Hillview Drive, Ashland. Camp is held at Garden Way Park. Camp includes Hebrew songs, crafts, story hour, mad science, swimming, challah baking, sports, music, drama, field trips and more. The camp runs July 9-20, for ages 3-12 years old from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. sign up is per week. Cost is $160 per child. Special discount for signing up for both weeks. Limited scholarships available. Details: 541-482-2778 or www.chabadofashland.org.

Flying L Ranch Ashland's Summer Horse Camp offers a summer of weekly day camps that teach kids to ride and care for horsesl; June 13-17 June 20-24 June 27 - July 1, July 5-8, July 11-15, July 18-22, July 26-30, and all through Aug., ending Aug 30. Based on CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) instruction, each session includes mounted lessons, lectures on horsemanship theory and safety, horse related crafts and activities, as well as an introduction to ranch life. Campers participate in the routine care and handling of horses and find out what it really means to own a horse. For kids ages 6 to 15, beginner through intermediate. Rates start at $225 per week. Details: 482-9842 or www.ashland-tours.com

Dancing People Company offers four one-week intensives for children and teens at 310 Oak Street in Ashland. In the Musical Theatre Workshop for teens, participants will learn the opening song and dance from CATS, with Roberta Stiehm who played Cassandra on Broadway. Cost is $175 and the session runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 16-19. Dancer Alonzo Moore will teach teens and adults in the Modern African Movement camp from 10 a.m. to noon, July 23-27. Cost is $75. Kids 11-13 years old can learn about aerial dance and hip hop dance from 1 to 4 p.m. July 30-Aug. 3. The same camp is offered to kids 7 to 10-years-old, 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 20-24. Cost for these workshops is $150. Details 541-488-9683 or info@dancingpeople.com www.dancingpeople.com

Teachers from Willow Wind Community Learning Center, 1497 E. Main St., Ashland, will offer day camps at the school exploring continents, and a woodworker will offer woodworking camps at the school. The continent camps, which include art, language, games, garden exploration and more, are from 9 a.m. to Noon. June 18 to July 20 for 5 to 11-year-olds. The cost is $125 per session. Extended care from noon to 3 p.m. daily is offered after any of the camps at a cost of $65 per week. Details: robinhawley@charter.net or vernonpew@yahoo.com or Sue Pindell at 541-482-2647.

Ashland Children's Theatre offers a series of summer children's theater camps at 905 Skylark Place, Ashland. “Make Believe Explorers,” a session for kids 4 to 6 that includes makeup, puppets and stories to act out, is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 25-29 . The fee is $60 for the week. “Imagination Travelers,” a camp for kids 6 to 8 that includes theater exercises, improvisational games, puppets and poems, is from 9 a.m. to noon, July 2-13 and costs $270 for two weeks. “TeenProv,” a camp for ages 12-17 in which teens will learn improvisational games and skills, is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. July 16-20 and costs $100. “Young Performers” is for ages 7-11 in which kids learn the craft of acting while rehearsing and performing a play. It runs July 2-13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $270 for two weeks. “Spontaneous Superstars” has a strong emphasis on theatre improve and is for ages 9-11 and runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 25-29 and costs $180 for the week. “Teen Mystery Theatre,” a film noir production camp for actors 12 to 17 that culminates in two public performances, is from 12:30-4:30 p.m. July 30-Aug.10. The fee is $350 for two weeks. Details: Call 541-414-8676, info@ashlandchildrenstheatre.com or www.ashlandchildrenstheatre.com

Urban Naturalist: Nature Immersion Day Camp North Mountain Park Nature Center, 620 N Mountain Ave. Aug. 27-30, from 9 a.m. till noon participants will gain hands-on opportunities for learning the wonders of nature through quiet observation and active exploration. Naturalist subject areas to be addressed: survival necessities (shelter, fire, water, food); local wildlife/plant studies; environmental ethics and awareness through games/crafts. Participants will journal their nature immersion through writing, art, and storytelling performance. For ages 4 to 12, cost is $100. Register online at www.ashland.or.us/register. Learn more at www.coyotetrails.org.

Kids' Art Camp at Ashland Methodist Church: Ashland's First United Methodist Church will offer “Music Camp” with Jennifer Schloming July 30 – Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Filled with arts, crafts, games, healthy snacks and fun, the camp is for kids 9 to 17-years-old. Cost is $250 for two weeks. For information and registration call 541-482-3647 or visit www.ashlandmethodist.org.

Talent and Phoenix

Rogue Valley Farm to School offers four summer camp options for children 7 to 11 years old at Rogue Valley Brambles in Talent. New this summer is an overnight camp for 8 to 11 year olds Aug. 21-23. One-week day camp sessions for 7 to 10 year olds are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 9 -13, July 23 -27 and Aug. 6 -10.The camps take place on a working farm. Children learn where their food comes from through hands-on activities. A day camp for 5 to 7-year-olds will be held at Eagle Mill Farm in Ashland, July 30 - Aug. 3. Week long day camps are $175 and include a farm fresh lunch. Overnight camp is 3 days and 2 nights for a cost of $270. All camps require a $75 deposit in advance. Details: Susan at 530-902-5251 or www.rvfarm2school.org

Boys & Girls Clubs The Talent branch is offering a wide range of programs including: sports, fitness and recreation, art, healthy habits, character and leadership development, and education and career development. Participants take daily and weekly local trips to parks, bowling alleys, Science Works, Immigrant Lake, the Rrrink, Roller Odyssey, Rogue Rock Gym and more. Registration is currently open and camps start on June 18 and run through Aug. 24. Extended summer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Club hours are from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cost for members is $60 per week for one child and $40 each week for additional children. Non-members pay the same cost but must also pay a one-time $25 membership fee. Details Brooke Newsom at 541-292-4851 or Brooke@begreat4kids.com

The City of Talent Parks and Recreation , present summer camps for performance art and sports. Starting May 23, 30 and June 6, Tumbling Kids camp will be offered for ages 4-9 from 3 to 4 p.m., as an introductory tumbling class for building confidence and safety. Cost is $25. For ages 8-16 Lui-G, founder and trainer of Wicked FX Crew will be teaching a 4-day class for beginning breakdance 4 to 5 p.m. July 2, 3, 5, and 6. Cost is $40. Kids ages 8-15 can learn to play guitar from instructors Paul and Lucia Hadella in a three-week session July 10-26 from 10 to 11 a.m. Cost is $40. Ages 6-12 can learn fun and adventurous art projects that consist of four 90-minute classes, Aug. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Cost is $30. Details www.cityoftalent.org or brian@cityoftalent.org

Jacksonville

Little Pioneers Schoolhouse , 525 Bigham Knoll, Jacksonville, offers weekly summer camp sessions June 4 to Aug. 31, with weekly themes including dinosaurs, pirates, castles and more. The sessions are open for kids ages 3-8 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., daily. Early drop off is available from 8 to 9 a.m. Cost is $25 a day. Details at www.jvilleschool.com.

Southern Oregon Historical Society, plans a week-long history day camp at Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, between Central Point and Jacksonville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 16-20 and July 23-27. Kids 6 to 11 will make pottery, take photos, prepare traditional food, hike and pan for gold. They will learn traditional songs and games and learn about famous local residents including Peter Britt, Carrie Beekman and James Poole. The week will include a trip into Jacksonville for a woodland hike, exploration of the Jacksonville Children's Museum and a visit to the pioneer cemetery. The cost is $195 per child. Registration begins May 10, and ends July 9. Details: 541-899-8123 ext. 225, or educate@sohs.org.

Britt Festival's Summer Rock Camp The Britt Festivals first annual Summer Rock Camp will be offered July 13-18 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Rock Camp is geared towards regional musicians, ages 13-18 with at least an intermediate skill level on guitar, bass, drums, or keyboards. Campers will get hands on instruction on their instrument by professional musicians, as well as instruction in song writing, recording techniques, using sound systems, band dynamics, and a wealth of other information. The Rock Camp staff is comprised of some of musicians from the West Coast and collectively has decades of national and international touring, recording and instructional experience. Registration for Rock Camp is $350. For more information and how to apply please visit www.brittfest.org/rockcamp.

Central Point and Elsewhere

The Girl Scouts, 1922 McGilchrist SE, Salem, offer three or four day resident camp sessions at Camp Low Echo in the Southern Oregon Cascades Aug. 15-22. Girls entering grades K-12 in the fall can experience swimming, canoeing, hiking, outdoor skills, archery, astronomy, crafts and other activities. Cost ranges from $75 - $330 depending on the session. Details and registration available at www.girlscoutsosw.org. Details: Call Marissa at (800) 338-5248 x6881 for general camp information, or Heidi at (800) 875-2451 for registration.

Boys & Girls Clubs, White City Branch offers a wide range of programs in Sports, Fitness and Recreation; The Arts; Health & Life Skills; Character & Leadership Development; and Education & Career Development. Participants take weekly local trips to the library, swimming and more. Registration is currently open at the White City Branch. For members the cost is $60 per child for the first week and $40 for each child after that per week. For non-members the cost is the same plus a $25 membership fee. Summer camp hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. After 2:30 p.m., programs are free if the membership fee has been paid. A free USDA lunch and snack is provided each day. For more information call Jessie at 541-830-7623 or jessie@begreat4kids.com.

Laurel Hill Golf Course Junior Golf Camp, 9450 Old Stage Road, Central Point, offers a summer golf program for kids ages 6 - 18 taught by golf professionals and featuring special guests. The camp runs from June 20 – 24, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon with a graduation party on June 29. Cost is $40 per child. Details: 541-855-7965

Central Point's parks department, 140 S. Third St., Central Point, offers a “Splish Splash” art and science residence camp Aug. 13-17 at Camp Latgawa near Lake Creek. Kids who have completed fourth through eighth grades are eligible to take part in the four-night session, which offers hands-on art and science activities. The cost is $380 and some scholarships are available. Details: www.centralpointoregon.gov or jennifer.boardman@centralpointoregon.gov or shelly.brown@centralpointoregon.gov or 541-664-3321, ext 263 or 214.

Precision Cheer Academy, 6094-A Crater Lake Ave., Central Point, in Ironwood Business Park offers several Camps this summer. Tumbling Camp runs June 20-22 and cost is $30. Cheer camp for kids ages 5-12, runs June 25-27 and costs $30, which includes a T-shirt and a performance at the Children's Festival. Dance Camp is July 16-19, and costs $40 which includes a T-shirt and a performance at the fair. Tumbling camp which runs Aug. 6-9 costs $40 and includes a T-shirt. Details: 541-830-4500 or precisioncheer@gmail.com, www.precisioncheer.com

Siskiyou Field Institute, 1241 Illinois River Road, Selma, will offer two day camps for grades six through eight this summer -- a wilderness camp for boys and a wilderness camp for girls. Both camps will teach kids about fire and shelter building, proper knife use, leave no trace principles, hiking, geology, tree identification. Campers will play challenge games, participate in skits and go swimming in Deer Creek. The boys wilderness camp runs from June 25-29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the girls wilderness camp runs from July 16-20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both camps cost $195. Scholarships are available. Details: 541-597-8530, youthprograms@thesfi.org or www.thesfi.org

White Oak Farm and Education Center, P.O. Box 450, Williams, offers two camps for kids to learn about life on the farm. There are two sessions offered for kids ages 8-12. June 25-29 and July 30-Aug. 3 is the Children's Summer Farm Stay. Cost is $400 but scholarships are available. The Children's Summer Farm Day Camp is for kids ages 5-7 and will be offered July 9-12. The cost is $100. Details: whiteoakeducator@gmail.com or call 541-846-0776.

Kidder Creek Camps, 2700 S. Kidder Creek Rd. Etna, Calif., located in Northern California, a half hour southwest of Yreka offers several different Christian camps with biblically-based teaching and core values. Residential camps which vary from Horse Camp to Classic Camp which include games, swimming and fishing, also High Adventure Camp, and Whitewater and Wilderness Camp, are for grades 2-12. The camps run from June 10-Aug 10 and cost from $313 to $579. A day camp for grades K-2 runs July 30-Aug.2 and costs $95. Details: www.kiddercreek.org or call (530) 467-3265.

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