Summer camps in Mountain Brook and Beyond
Birmingham Zoo Camps
The Birmingham Zoo offers camps throughout the summer for children ages 4K through eighth grade. Camps are either half day or whole day and offer children opportunities for special behind-the-scenes tours, up-close animal encounters, arts and crafts and other fun. These camps also include train and carousel rides and fun playing in the water fountains. The full-day camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and half-day camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Brand new camps for the year include Top Chef, Animal Style, Jr., Z.S.I. (Zoo Scene Investigator), Dirty Jobs, Nature Explorers, and Mommy and Me (2 hour camp). Classic favorites such as Art, ZooKeeper and African Safari are back. For more information and to register online, call 397-3887 or visit their website.
McWane Science Center Camps
McWane Science Center Camps make learning an unforgettable adventure that you just can’t experience anywhere else. Various themes and activities allow children to experience something new each day. Start off the morning with Chemistry Capers and finish the afternoon with Dino Discoveries. Become a mini meteorologist and be a part of a science circus! Camps are offered to children ages 4K to sixth grade. Full day and half day programs are available, and there are preferred rates for member of McWane Science Center. For more information and to register online, visit their website.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Camps
Choose from a variety of different topics including nature and the outdoors, plants and our environment, cooking, art and more. Programs are designed to actively promote your child’s natural sense of creativity and discovery with fun learning experiences in the unmatched setting at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Camps are offered for ages 4 through the six grade. All sessions are taught by certified or otherwise qualified teachers. Bring a lunch and a water bottle; a light snack is provided. Pre-registration is required. One of the most popular camps is Garden Adventure with American Girls. Campers explore the gardens through the eyes of their American Girl dolls with arts and crafts, stories, songs and recipes. Other camps include Exploring the Garden with Winnie the Pooh, Monet’s Garden and Paper Art. Camps are weekly from May 29-July 27.
For a complete list of camp offerings, times, recommended age groups and to register online, visit www.bbgardens.org/summercamps. If you have any further questions, contact Ellen Hardy, education program coordinator, at 414-3953 or ehardy@bbgardens.org.
Summer Show-Offs
If you have a born performer at your house, this camp might be just what you are looking for. This popular camp is for boys and girls ages 5K through twelfth grade. Morning or afternoon sessions are offered at Birmingham Metro Church. Summer Show-Offs teaches confidence and character, stage presence, singing and dancing. Each child is given a solo and shown that everyone can perform on stage. Campers are allowed to experiment and develop their talents without feeling insecure or intimidated.
Every day, campers will rehearse group singing, choreography, solos and the correct way to speak and use the microphone. On Friday, there will be a grand performance for friends. Camp will be held from June 4-June 8 at the Indian Springs School in Birmingham and from June 18-22 and July 16-20 at Metro Church in Birmingham. For more information and to register, visit their website.
YMCA Camp Cosby
Camp Cosby’s 90th season will open on Sunday, June 2. They will have week-long sessions for eight weeks, beginning with the first session from June 3-9 and ending with the last session from July 22-28. Each week will end on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. With 137 acres nestled in east Alabama, Camp Cosby provides the perfect summer camp atmosphere to over 2,000 campers each summer.
Camp Cosby’s facilities and activities include: 22 air-conditioned cabins, an air-conditioned dining hall , a waterpark, swimming pool, over 10 miles of trails for BMX, mini-bikes, horses and hiking, an open air gym, a 22-stall horse barn, a 55-foot alpine tower, Cosby Zoom (Cosby’s own zipline), a media center, and ski boats. Summer camp counselors and staff attend leadership training before the summer so that they will be sure to meet every need for every child.
Camp Cosby has an “I am third” motto, which places God first, others second, and yourself third. The combination of a fun and caring staff and strong camp values guarantees campers to have a great experience. Kids aged 6-16 can register for camp. Camp Cosby is located at 2290 Paul Bear Bryant Road in Alpine, Al. For more information and to register, visit their website.
Mountain Top Community Church Camps
Mountain Top’s Family Life Center offers numerous summer camps for your kids. Camps are held weekly beginning on June 4 and lasting until August 3. Camps include two sessions of an adventure camp for the outdoors type of kid who loves hiking, climbing and team challenges and two sessions of an all sports camp, as well as a performing arts camp for the dramatic and artistic as well as the talented dancers. Also, there will be a world mission camp with a focus on other people, cultures and needs, a basketball camp, a cheer/dance camp, and a random camp with a variety of fun and whacky games. Camps are for kids who have completed the first through the sixth grades. Mountain Top Community Church is located at 226 Centerview Drive in Vestavia, AL. For more information and to register, visit their website.
YouthServe Birmingham’s Urban Service Camp
YouthServe Birmingham is hosting three five day sessions of summer camp to engage youth in community service and team building activities. YouthServe’s Urban Service brings together a diverse group of youth, ages 13 -18, to spend time in downtown Birmingham and get to know each other.
Campers stay at the YMCA downtown and take a tour of historic Birmingham. Campers will play games in the park, basketball at night, scavenger hunts and artistic expression workshops, and they will also participate in social change workshops.
The Urban Service Camp will help get teens out of their comfort zones and inform them of community issues as well as train and empower them to become effective leaders.
Session 1 will take place from June 25-29; session 2 will take place from July 9-13; and session 3 will take place from July 23-27. For more information, visit their website.
Girl Scout Camps
Girl Scout camps are the place to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and create memories, but also to conquer challenges, develop leadership skills and improve self-esteem by practicing teamwork and decision making. This year's camps include Service Education, Community Action, Urban Service, Youth Action Council, and Youth Philanthropy.
Camps offer experiences for everyone, even non-members. Start and end dates are May 29 to August 3.
For more information about Camp Coleman, Camp Cottaquilla, Camp Trico or Kanawahala Program Center, visit their website.