Summer camps abound for youth in Tillsonburg

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

School’s out for summer!

While that classic line from Alice Cooper brings jubilance and joy to youngsters across the community, it is not greeted with the same enthusiasm from parents looking to keep their children busy. Don’t despair as there are a wide variety of activities in Tillsonburg, from day camps to week-long camps, covering arts, history, sports and many combinations in between.

Theatre Tillsonburg’s Summer Camp starts July 7 and runs until Aug. 22. Aspiring young actors work on the production of a play each week, plus they work on their dance, have outdoor games focused on acting skills, and indoor games as well. The camp is for ages four to 12 in the main camp. There is also a writer’s camp for 13 and 14 year-olds, where they get to write and direct a play.

“The whole camp is focused on the drama part,” said Charlotte Van Roestel, camp director.

At the end of the week, attendees present a play for their families.

The Station Arts Centre’s summer camps start the first week of summer and run for eight weeks. These include craft camp for those aged four to six, and art camp for those seven to 11.

“We do a different theme each week and do different arts and crafts based on that,” said Tabitha Verbuyst, executive director of the Station Arts Centre.

Planned themes include animal planet, comics and performing arts amongst others.

Verbuyst explained camp attendees not only create arts and crafts around the themes but also complete experiments, group projects, play outdoors and have adventures. Verbuyst said she has two experienced camp counsellors returning to lead the camp.

Parents can drop youth off at 8:45 to 9 a.m. and pick up at 4 to 4:15 p.m.

“It’s a fun week with a lot of different experiences,” Verbuyst said.

The Tillsonburg Community Centre also has a variety of programs for youth from four to 12, plus separate arts and sports camps. There are limited spaces left.

Annandale House has a diversity of programs, offering both day programs with a variety of different themes, and four week-long camps.

The day camps offer activities, crafts and adventures along a theme. Themes this summer are Swashbuckling Pirates on July 8, 9 and 10, Mythical Creatures on July 15, 16 and 17 and Colour Me Happy on Aug. 26, 27 and 28. The morning program, running from 10:30 to 11:30 is for ages three to eight, and parents must stay. An afternoon session is held for youth ages eight to 12.

The weekly camps allow participants to explore a different theme through games, activities and more. These camps are for youths aged seven to 12 and run Monday to Friday. Appropriate for Tillsonburg 200th anniversary, the first theme “Camp Homestead” looks at life in Tillsonburg 200 years ago. Week two, “Camp Nile Explorers” has a focus on ancient Egypt. The theme switches to the modern day for week three with Camp Curiosity and STEM. “Camp Hop the Decades” allows participants to look at the music and culture through the decades.

“It’s an opportunity for kids to do an educational learning at a summer camp, all themed around an idea,” said Kathleen Watkin, culture and heritage programmer at Annandale House. “It’s learning without realizing your learning.”

Tillsonburg Minor Soccer has two one-week camps, presented in conjunction with Challenger Sports. These are open to youths from ages six to 14.

Check web sites or contact the appropriate facility for availability and costs of programs.