Camps ensure active, educational, awesome summer

Even though fourth grade is pretty cool, Ann Marie Williamson is excited for her summer weeks at the Thomas Gymnastics day camp.

The 9-year-old attends the Gold Medal Summer Camp that includes gymnastics, field trips, crafts, games, movies and more, while her mom, Melissa Russell, goes to work. Russell, a single mother from Rock Hill, likes the affordability of $125 per week and the diversity of activities offered at Thomas, located on Mt. Gallant Road in Rock Hill.

“They keep them busy, active and far from bored during the week,” said Russell. “It’s a wonderful environment for the children.”

Last summer, Thomas introduced a new jump rope club that Ann Marie joined. She also enjoyed practicing gymnastics and tumbling on-site at Thomas and field trip days away at Carowinds amusement park, the movie theater and zoo.

The Boys and Girls Club of York County and the Upper Palmetto YMCA offer similar day camp programs at Thomas.

For the kids of York County, there is a 10-week summer break, and local summer camps are offered for all interests – from police training to dance, canoeing to cooking, Legos to archery.

Summer camp is a place to meet friends, renew old friendships, try something new, improve skills and just have fun. Many families look forward to picking out and registering for summer camp.

Gaining popularity are the Bricks 4 Kidz camps that promote STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – through Legos. Camps – themed in pirates, Chima, Minecraft and superheroes – are planned at two Fort Mill locations. A girls-only camp is being offered at the Leroy Springs Recreation Complex.

“It’s far from sitting in a room playing with Lego bricks and sets,” said Brad Chatham, executive director of the local Bricks 4 Kidz, coming upon its fifth summer.

Campers combine their creativity with customized project kits to build moving and motorized models, 3-D character models, mosaics and crafts. There is friendly competition along the way.

“Our program is just so amazingly different and beneficial,” Chatham said, “from seeing and hearing how excited they are when they turn on their battery packs and motors to see their creations come to life, to seeing them learn to work in teams and think through and resolve problems, to making new friends who share a common interest.”

Also preventing the “brain drain” of summer are the Winthrop University camps offered through the computer science department. There is a heavy emphasis on robotics and computer programming.

Writing camps, including college essay, are offered at the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill along with a range of camps geared for kids who don’t mind getting dirty along the trails and creeks.

For those who prefer the thrills of life on a 100-acre island along the Catawba River, Camp Canaan has added camps to its adventurous lineup.

Bethelwoods in York offers day and overnight camps for the quintessential summer camp experience of a fun day of recreation, concluding with songs around the campfire. Gaga ball is the game of choice and the pancake breakfast is popular.

4-H in York, Chester and Lancaster counties offers camps for sewing, cooking, baking and science. It’s all about dinosaurs at camps offered through the Culture and Heritage Museums of York County.

For the creative kid, the Arts Council of York County has artist-led camps throughout the summer, and Showtime Theatre in Rock Hill offers acting, music and modeling camps.

Champions Gymnastics offers a variety of dance and tumbling camps. Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism, coaches at Winthrop athletic programs and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes host sports camps.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Camps ensure active, educational, awesome summer."