Tis the Season for Summer Camps
Moms all over Gainesville (including me) are trying to figure out the best summer camps for their children for over the summer. Some need half-day, some need full-day and some need overnight. Thankfully, Gainesville has several fun and educational camps. Below are the day camps I hear the most about from parents and kids:
- Quinlan Art Camp: They hold camp for kids that are rising 1st graders and up. The times are 9:00 to 2:00 and they offer weekly camps from June 5th through the week of July 24th. The cost per week is $135 a week for non-members and $110 for members.
https://www.quinlanartscenter.org/summer-art-camp.html
- Elachee Nature Center: They also have weekly camps held from May 30th through the week of July 24th. TheY even have camps for 3-year-old kids to 14 year old kids. They have a different theme per week and offer early care and after-camp care if you are full time working parent. The official hours for pre-school campers is 9:00 to noon and for elementary and middle school aged kids it’s from 9:00 to 2:00. The weeks’ costs vary based on age and whether you are a member of Elachee, but the costs are anywhere from $120 to $195 a week – this is also based on age.
https://www.elachee.org/fullpanel/uploads/files/campelachee-2017-postcard-events-web.pdf
- YMCA, JA Walters: They have everything! I have not done the YMCA camps before, but they look great and look to accommodate any schedule and age. They have a different theme every week and go from May 30th to the Week of July 31st from 7:00am to 6:00pm. It’s $110 per week for members and $135 per week for non-members.
https://www.gamountainsymca.org/chooseyouradventure/hallco/traditional
- Gainesville Parks & Recreation: They have some great camps as well accommodating kids ages 6-12 with day camps that range from May 22nd through the week of July 24th. I’ve heard the Chef Camp is a lot of fun and the Air and Space Camp. The normal camp time is 9:00 to 4:00, but there is Pre-Camp times and Post-Camp times as well. The cost is $85 per week for city residents and $115 for non-camp residents for the Discovery Day Camps and then there are some other sports and specialty camps as well with slightly different costs. The camps are held at the Gainesville Middle School.
https://www.gainesville.org/fullpanel/uploads/files/2017-summer-camp-guide-facing-pages.pdf
- Lakeview Academy: Lakeview offers camps for all kids who would like to sign-up (it’s not only for Lakeview Academy students). They have morning, afternoon and then a couple of weeks of all day camps available for ages starting at 3 years old. They start on June 5th and run through the week of July 17th. The costs for the half day camps are $150 and for the full day camps are $250. The camps are held on campus and have anything from Robotics camp to Princess Camp to Sports Camp.
https://lakeviewacademy.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/259/download/download_2226792.pdf
- Humane Society of Northeast Georgia: Pet PALS camp; this camp is for kids ages 7-12 and the camp is available the weeks of June 12-16, June 19-23, July 10-14 and July 17-21 based on the age of your child. This looks like a lot of fun! The camp is from 9:00 to 3:00 every day and is $185 per week.
https://www.humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org/petpals-summercamp/
Below are some overnight camps I’ve heard about as well; my daughter is still too young to participate in the overnight camps, but I know she will love them once she is old enough to go!
- Woodlands Camp: Woodlands is located in Cleveland, Georgia and I’ve heard great things about this camp from parents and kids! They have camps for kids ages 6-18 years old with the 6-8 year olds in a Pee-Wee camp from May 25th through the 27th. The camps for older kids are throughout the summer and cost anywhere from $330 a week to $390 a week based on age.
https://www.woodlandscamp.org/traditionalcamp-1/
- Camp Glisson: This camp is located in Dahlonega and is also a Christian-based camp. I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun for the kids and parents love it too! The ages range from rising 2nd graders to kids in high school. This camp has several different options for length of stay so the prices range from $275 for a Mini-Camp to $1,090 for a 10-day stay.
https://www.glisson.org/programs
- YMCA, Camp High Harbour at Lake Burton: This camp is located in Clayton, Georgia and is offered for kids ages 7 to 13 during the weeks of June 4th through the week of July 30th. The weeks are $915 to $935 plus a $50-$55 registration fee. The activities look like a lot of fun!
https://www.ymcaatlanta.org/ymca-camp-high-harbour/pdfs/dates-and-rates.pdf
- Camp Highland: This camp is located in Ellijay, Georgia and starts on June 5th and has weekly camps through the week of July 24th. The cost is anywhere from $760 to $900 a week. This camp is for older kids: Rising 4th graders to 12th graders.
https://www.camphighland.com/#experiences
Summer is going to be here before we know it and our kids are going to love going to camp this summer! I hope the websites help and if I missed any please let me know.
Have fun in the sun this summer!
Christina Jones
Financial Planner
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the organizations listed in this communication