Happy campers

Summer sessions offer kids plenty to do while out of school

Jerry Henkel/viewFrom left, Gabriel Kovac, Carl Hood and Maddox Mast look through their "periscopes" while pretending to be on a submarine at the Lit?l Scholar Academy. The academy, which has two locations in the Summerlin area, is offering summer camp sessions June through August. jerry henkel/viewJason Jaing, left, Leo Land, second from left, and Julian Rivera-Gonzalez, right, watch as visitor Jacob Land, 2, puts together a puzzle at the Lit?l Scholar Academy. View file photoChildren can test their culinary skills during Creative Kids Camps at Little Pastry Chefs, 9440 W. Sahara Ave., June 22 through July 30. Advertisement

Whether due to work or just to keep children occupied while school is out, parents often turn to summer camps.

Summerlin resident Renee Goldman already has her daughter Nitza, 8, signed up for a Jewish sleepaway camp in California.

"I went to camp as a kid, so I have fond memories of it," Goldman said.

Nitza attended the one-week camp last year. She liked it so much that this summer she signed up for two weeks.

Her brother Noah, 6, has attended day camp at the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. Goldman said she didn't have to look any further than the JCC.

Not every parent has a ready list of options. For those who don't, here are some ideas:

YMCA DAY CAMPS

The city of Las Vegas Durango Hills Community Center, operated by the YMCA at 3521 N. Durango Drive, offers a summer day camp program that has variety and physical activity. The 12-week schedule is a mix of traditional and specialty camps. Campers 6 to 15 are divided into age groups for swimming, arts and crafts, games, gym time and character development.

Parents who work long hours will appreciate the free before- and after-hours care. The cost for traditional camps starts at $99 per week.

Specialty camps include tae kwon do, hip-hop, cheer, Top Chef and Abracadabra Magic. The cost starts at $161. A $25 deposit per week holds a spot. Balances are due the Wednesday before the start of camp week.

YMCA day camps run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 7 through Aug. 27. For more information, call 240-9622 or visit www.lasvegasymca.org.

CAMP K'HELAH 2010

Camp K'helah 2010, the largest Jewish day camp in Nevada, runs June 28 through Aug. 13 for children ages 2 to 14 at the Adelson Educational Campus, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road. Camps are designed for each grade and are run by the JCC. Activities promote Jewish identity while being challenging and fun.

JCC membership is required to participate. An annual amily membership is $75. To register, visit www.jccsn.org, click the day camp icon and follow instructions to download the camp brochure and registration form.

PRIVATE SCHOOL CAMPS

The Alexander Dawson School, 10845 W. Desert Inn Road, is hosting a summer camp for children ages 3 to 5 June 21 through July 16. Students may sign up for as many weeks as they would like. The camp is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and includes a snack. The cost is $250 per week. Each week will feature a different theme, including camping fun, transportation, fairy tales and ocean fun.

For more information and to enroll, call 949-3600.

Lit'l Scholar Academy also offers summer camps. The school has two locations in the Summerlin area: 8951 Hillpointe Road and 1951 S. Rainbow Blvd. Its website, www.littlescholar.com, describes its sessions as a chance "to do the fun and messy activities that there isn't enough time for during the rest of the year."

Camps last 31/2 hours a week June through August at both campuses. The cost starts at $87 a week. Siblings receive a 10 percent discount.

For more information, call 256-5300.

COOKING CAMPS

Kids can be chefs, too. Creative Kids Camps are offered at Creative Cooking School, 7385 W. Sahara Ave.

"Our kids camp is not Play-Doh time," founder Catherine Margles said. "We teach the same things as at Le Cordon Bleu."

Children will learn how to read a recipe and cook healthy dishes with an emphasis on nutrition and food science.

The four-day course also introduces planning a menu, basic etiquette, how to set a table and proper serving techniques. Terminology is another aspect.

"A cookie sheet is not a cookie sheet," Margles said. "It's either a half sheet or a full sheet."

Graduation day has the children preparing and serving their guests.

Classes run June 22 through July 30. Space is limited. The cost is $300.

For more information, call 562-3900 or visit www.creativecookingschool.com.

Little Pastry Chefs, 9440 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 145, is baking up some fun for summer, too. Five-day camps are scheduled to begin June 14 and end Aug. 20. Classes accommodate children ages 6 to 11, and each camp has a limit of 20.

The cost is $249. For more information, call 869-2922 or visit www.little pastrychefs.com.

This summer, the facility is joining forces with Drama Kids International, 7412 Midnight Rambler St., and Mad Science to allow children to "run wild but with a purpose," according to office manager Heather MacRae. During Variety Camp-Palooza, campers can experience all three programs in one camp each week throughout the summer.

For more information about Drama Kids International, call 870-4354 or visit www.dramakids.com/nv1.

MAD SCIENCE CAMPS

If you want your child to come home excited, try a Mad Science summer camp. The hands-on, green-goo-can-be-fun company is known for helping children understand the wonder of science.

It offers six different themed camps: Rockin' Robots!, Secret Agent Lab!, Make it, Move it, Prove it!, Discovery Lab, Galactic Groove! and Crazy Chem Works!

Mad Science offers full-day camps from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parents may drop off their children between 8 and 9:30 a.m. and pick them up between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

There are two locations in the Summerlin area: Lakes Lutheran Church, 8200 W. Sahara Ave., and Indoor Soccer, 1400 N. Rampart Blvd.

Full-day camps start at $199 per week. The price includes before and after care, supplies and take-home experiments. To enroll, visit www.madscience.org. For more information, call 257-6231.

FAIRY TALES AND TUTUS CAMPS

Fairy Tales and Tutus, 7071 W. Craig Road, offers six summer camps. The dance studio caters to children ages 3 to 7 and offers dance done to enchanting stories with professional costumes. Camps are scheduled to begin June 7. Themes include Ballerina Barbie, Fancy Nancy and Angelina Ballerina.

"Children can dance their way through the summer with lots of pretending and magic," founder Alene Hochstetter said.

Three-day camps cost $128. The cost to add a fourth day is $37.

For more information, call 489-3603 or visit www.fairytalesandtutus.com.

THE SUMMERLIN COUNCIL CAMPS

The Summerlin Council offers summer camps for children of Summerlin residents, including Summerlin Idol, Princess and Pirate, Mystery of Puppetry and Playhouse.

Proof of residency, such as a Summerlin ID card, driver's license or a utility bill, is required at registration. For more information, call 341-5500.

CITY OF LAS VEGAS CAMPS

Not far from Summerlin, the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 Brush St., offers Summer Youth Dance Camp 2010, designed for intermediate to advanced dancers ages 11 to 18. This four-week camp runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, July 6-30.

Instruction is set to include Pilates, ballet technique, modern, lyrical, jazz and contemporary jazz dance. The camp is set to conclude with a performance for friends and family.

Students must provide their own dance shoes, dance attire and snacks. The cost is $175.

Auditions are scheduled for 1 p.m. June 26 at the center. Early registration is June 1-12. Register early and save $25 in fees. Registration will continue until the camp is full or through June 26. For more information and to register, call 229-6383.

The city of Las Vegas also offers summer camps through its recreation and arts and community events divisions. Registration is being taken until camps are full for youths ages 4 to 15.

Tot Kamp is for children ages 4 and 5, Kids Kamp is for children ages 6 to 11, and Teen Kamp is for children ages 12 to 15. Age-appropriate activities include field trips, sports, special events, arts and crafts, nutrition, physical fitness and games.

Camps run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and begin June 7. The cost is $65 per child per week and $60 for an additional child from the same household.

In the Summerlin area, locations include:

* Becker Community School, 9110 Hillpointe Road (229-2482).

* Johnson Community School, 340 Villa Monterey Drive (229-6175).

* Molasky Community School, 7801 W. Gilmore Ave. (229-5345).

Camps at all three locations end Aug. 6.

A themed specialty camp is planned from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 7 through Aug. 20, for children ages 4 to 11 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive. The cost is $100 per week for the first child and $90 for an additional child from the same household.

For more information, call 229-1100.

The city of Las Vegas also will offer recreational sports camps focusing on one sport each week and ending with a scrimmage. Camps are planned from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at:

* Brinley Community School, 6150 Smoke Ranch Road (229-2642), ending July 30.

* Charleston Heights Community School, 6438 Celeste Ave. (229-4440), ending Aug. 6.

* Gibson Community School, 3990 W. Washington Ave. (229-5096), ending Aug. 6.

* The Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave. (229-2488), ending Aug. 20.

The cost is $65 per child per week and $60 for an additional child from the same household.

To register, call 229-5445 with the Leisure Access (family account) number, a personal LeisureLink number and the program code. These may be obtained by calling any of the facilities or at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/city_lv_2010_summer_camp_registration_codes.pdf.

The city of Las Vegas also has performing arts summer camps for youths at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, and the Charleston Heights Arts Center. Each offers arts-only activities that conclude in public performances.

Registration for The Arts Conservatory camp is open at Reed Whipple. The eight-week camp is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 7 through July 30, for children ages 7 to 16. The theme is Time Warp -- Arts through the Ages, and the camp is divided into two acts.

Act I, June 7 through July 10, offers children a variety of arts disciplines, including visual and language arts, dance and music and Thrilling Thursday workshops, interactive workshops with local professional entertainers.

Act II, July 12-30, includes theater games and drama taught by Rainbow Company Youth Theatre staff.

Each act is set to conclude in performances for the public July 10-31.

Act I is $550, and Act II is $350. The cost to combine both acts is $800. Experience in the arts is not required. Registration must be in person at Reed Whipple.

Orientation dates and times will be scheduled during registration.

A $50 discount is available for registering each additional child from the same immediate family for each act. For more information, call 229-6211.

Contact Summerlin View and South Summerlin View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.