Summer Camps to Save Your Child From Boredom

Summer is creeping up and parents soon will be hearing those familiar words, “I’m bored.” Fortunately, Ashburn has plenty of interesting and exciting camps where kids can spend a few hours or a full day. The following is just a sample:

Combining yoga and the expressive arts, WholeMe! has teamed with Loudoun Country Day School to provide a camp for children, ages 5 to 10, July 11-15. The camp, designed and led by Brigitta White, runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. White, the WholeMe! Programs owner, designed the camp with the entire child in mind. 

“Summer camps are often created with a distinct theme in mind such as sports, music or art,” she said. “While these subjects are important, we believe that it is the combination of these activities that provide the most nourishing benefits for our children.”

People may not first associate children with yoga classes; however, yoga may give kids the tools they need to cope in our busy world, White said.

“Brigitta White brings a vitality and enthusiasm to her yoga program that encourages students to not only enjoy exercise, but to look forward to their classes with her,” said Susan Tucker, the summer programs director for the school.

Additional camp instructions include art therapist Suzanne Fortnum and Tasha Stratton, a specialist in art and psychology.

Parents can expect their children to spend their time at camp doing yoga, art and music.

July and August are filled with a variety of music camps at Minton’s. Students can choose from percussion, guitar, build your own guitar, strings, be a pop singer or full-day music camp. The sessions focus on technique and fundamentals to provide students with the required skills to function in a group setting. Each camp culminates with an onstage performance. Ages and times vary. 

Offering summer camps that specialize in teaching art and acting to children between the ages of 6 and 13, parents can choose from a half- or full-day program. In art camp, participants study and employ drawing techniques, application of color, color mixing and the use of various art media and tools. In acting camp, students learn and practice the fundamentals of acting, participate in improvisational skits or musical activities, and end the week with presentation. Campers also have the option of participating in a creative writing workshop. Class sizes at TCK are small, allowing instructors the ability to offer more personalized attention to their students.

With camps tailored to preschoolers and school-age children, Golden Pond School provides never-ending fun and excitement for the summer. Each week explores a different theme, from Ooey Gooey to Animal Planet and incorporates art, music, science, in-house field trips, water fun and special activities. Preschoolers have dress up days, cooking days, an in-house petting zoo, a magician, puppet shows and more. School-aged children participate in weekly enrichments such as karate, musical theatre and soccer. Each week the Canteen (camp store) offers students the ability to purchase tasty treats. Golden Pond School uses an educational approach to give campers a chance to learn something new and have fun at the same time. The weeklong programs start June 27.

IM Nikolay Andrianov will host the Ashburn Chess Club's annual camp from July 11-15. In 1980, Andrianov was the Soviet junior chess champion. Two levels for the camp are available: one for beginners and advanced beginners that focuses on foundations, tactics, positions and end game; and another for high-rated players that focuses on positional understanding, advanced tactics and creation of opening repertoire. The objective of the camp is to give students the tools to master the game of chess and play successfully outside of the camp. Last year, the camp produced the top three K-3 chess players in the State.

For a detailed list of Ashburn camps, check out our previous article .