There has been an explosion of new summer camps, providing everything from gardening to literacy to Lego. There's also an appetite for cross-pollination – surfing and French, anyone? Below is
LOUISE HOLDEN's selection of some of the activities available to entertain and, in some cases, seriously enhance CVs
LANGUAGES
French and Surf Academy
Surf lessons in the safe bay in Hendaye, near Biarritz. Targeted at Leaving Cert students, there are 2.5 hours French a day, including a 20-minute individual oral class. Irish surf team and local French instructors. Cultural day trips. For 3rd/4th/5th years, starts June 20th. Students stay from 10-14 days. From €999. frenchandsurf.com, alec@frenchandsurf.com
Stein Summer Language Travel
Two weeks of Spanish or French lessons in Marbella or Cannes, and a full activity programme, including excursions. Full board in the student residence, €1,450. Available throughout July until mid-August. 24-hour supervision. steinstudyabroad.ie
Gael Linn Summer
Irish Schools
Gaeltacht Summer Colleges located in the Cork, Mayo and Donegal Gaeltachts in June, July and August for students aged 11 to 18. gael-linn.ie
Ógras
Five-day Irish language summer camps for six to 12-year-olds in July and August. Venues in Dublin, Mayo, Kildare, Derry, Donegal, Cork, Galway, Kerry. eolas@ogras.ie, ogras.ie
Alliance Française
Summer camps for 5-12 years old in July and August. The theme this year is ‘Tour de France’. From 10am-2.30pm alliance-francaise.ie, primary@alliance-francaise.ie
MUSIC, DANCE AND THEATRE
The Independent Theatre Workshop
Weekend and one or two-week courses in Ranelagh, Clonskeagh and Drumcondra, Dublin; June, July and August in all aspects of the performing arts and even a little cookery. 4-18 years old, independent-theatre-workshop.com itwschool@o2.ie
Kinetix Dance
Five-day dance camp in Rathgar, Dublin, for 4-12 year-olds, 10am to 1pm. €20 per day or €80 for five days. Also five-week summer term starting Saturday, May 28th. Ballet, hip hop and musical dance theatre. Tel: 086-6638037, Kinetixdance.ie
Starcamp
Nationwide performing arts summer camp for 5-13 year old boys and girls. Acting out movie scenes, hip hop, vocal techniques, and games in a non-competitive, exciting and energetic environment. One week in July, 50 locations, €90. starcamp.ie
Wicklow School of Music and Drama
Leslie Dowdall and David Hingerty run a two-week rock school for 10-15 year-olds. Band formation, song-writing and basic intro to voice (mic technique); bass and lead guitar; drums; keyboard. Last day performance. €295. wicklowmusicdrama.com
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Whizzkids
Hi-tech, college-based summer camps. Half-day, full-day and residential camps for ages 8-17 in UCD, DCU, UCC, UL and NUIG. Movie-making, “spy academy”, web design, programming. Half-day camps €80, full day camps €159. Residential camps for teenagers. whizzkids.ie
Anyone 4 Science
Hands-on educational science and engineering activities. 13-15 year-olds in IT Tallaght and UCD, June and July. This year’s theme is chemistry. Various venues in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare, Louth, Wexford, Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. 5-12 year olds and teens. anyone4science.com, info@anyone4science.com
Space Camp
The camp at CIT’s Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO) is for children aged 8-12 who have an interest in all things space. Explore a wide variety of space themes and build your own rocket. €95. bco.ie
Lego Camp
Learn science, robotics, technology, engineering and mechanics through playing with Lego. Children aged 5 to 12 work in teams to design, engineer and build structures, machines and vehicles. Camps available in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Galway and Cork. €95. learnit.ie, info@learnit.ie
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Giddy Studios
Summer art camp at Rathfarnham. Choose one to five days (€30 per day, €120 per week). Pottery painting, paper crafts, claywork in a professional art studio from 10am-3pm. Early drop off and late pick up available for €5 per hour. Ages 5 to teens. Drop and shop facility available at Giddy’s in Dundrum Town Centre. giddy@giddystudios.com giddystudios.com
Pine Forest Arts
Courses July and August. Two-week courses for ages five to 12 and 13 to 16. Also two-week and four-week portfolio preparation courses for ages 17-plus in August. Private buses from suburbs for summer courses. pineforestartcentre.com
Christian Camp of the Arts
Camp for children from 1st-6th class in Oranmore, Co Galway. Sports, games, art, woodcrafts, survival course, soccer tournaments, dance, portrait drawing, pirate fencing and fantastic puppets to teach children character and moral courage. €55, July 11-15th, 9am to 3pm. christiancampofthearts.ie
FOOD
Foodactive
Two-week courses in Dublin’s southside – cooking, healthy eating, sport and educational field trips. Qualified chefs in supervised hands-on cookery classes. Extensive sporting activities in the afternoon. €495. foodactive.ie
Juniorchef
One-week courses in Blackrock in a cookery school designed for kids aged 3 to 12. Running throughout June, July and August. €175. juniorchef.ie
SPORT
Trinity College Dublin
Multi-Sport
Weekly camps in July and August for 6-13 year olds. Half-day camps run for children aged 5 and 6 years. Pre- and post-camp care option. Activities include climbing, swimming, trampolining, basketball, football, cricket, tennis, school yard games and quizzes, tcd.ie/sport, e-mail sport@tcd.ie
Shreddies Parks Tennis
160 venues in public parks nationwide. Tennis coaching for 6 to 17 year-olds at subsidised rates. parkstennis.com
National Aquatic Centre
Swimming and diving skills, water team games and field trip. Caters for ages 5-13 years. €135 non-members, €125 members. From July 4th-August 15th,
10am-4pm. aquazone.ie or nac.ie
SportWays
One-week hockey clinics in Rathfarnham and UCD, 10am-3pm for players aged 7-16. Also residential camps in Amsterdam and Barcelona. sportways.com
An Post FAI Summer Soccer Schools
Week-long soccer camps for 6-14 year-olds throughout July and August, 10.30am-3pm. Delivered by Garda-vetted, FAI-qualified coaches. Goalkeepers camp also available. Kit supplied. summersoccerschools.ie,
1890 653653.
VHI Cúl Camps
Skills coaching and games throughout the summer, Monday to Friday, 10am-2.30pm, in all 32 counties and overseas, for children aged 6-13. vhiculcamps.gaa.ie
Let’s Go!
Diverse range of sporting activities for children aged
5-13 years with a variety of inflatable games in several venues. 9.30am-3.30pm. Zorbee ball, KMX karts, eliminator, human table football and wobbly ladder. letsgo.ie, 1890 538746
Newpark School Sports Centre
Multi-activity sports camp and intensive swimming courses in Blackrock. €100 per week, €80 for four-day camp. newparksportscentre.ie
Kids Golf
At East Cork Golf Club, July 4th– August 29th, with morning sessions for five to 16 year-olds. Golf professional Don MacFarlane keeps it fun and enjoyable. Tel: 021 4633667
Delphi Mountain Resort
Surfing, coasteering, archery and high ropes. Fully residential and includes seven nights BB in hostel accommodation, all meals and an activity programme from 9am-9.30pm. Camps run Sunday to Sunday from June 26th to August 21st. €499. delphimountainresort.com
MIXED ACTIVITY
Columbus Club
Four camps from June to August for girls and boys age 3-13 and a summer programme for teenagers. Arts and sports camp includes drama, dance, singing and music, arts and crafts and sports. Also, animation, film and photography camp, multi-sports and fitness camp and creative writing workshop, all in Dublin. From €100 per week. columbusclub.ie, anne@columbusclub.ie
Camp Rathdown
Adventure and creativity for girls and boys ages 3-12 years, 10am to 3pm in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Hockey, tennis, basketball, athletics, football, creative writing, drama, fun science, digital stories and mindlab. Extended day programme from 8am-10am and from 3pm-6pm, €5 per hour. jkeogh@rathdownschool.ie
Westport House and Pirate Adventure Park
New camp running from 9am to 4.30pm daily during July. Art, history and music in the house, soccer and nature walks in the parkland grounds as well as the thrills ‘n’ chills rides. westporthouse.ie
NATURE
The Dangerous Camp for Boys
Exploring the rivers and mountains of south Dublin, also survival skills. Also Dangerous Science Camp and Dangerous Language Camps in Irish and Spanish. Camp fee is €90 per week with 15 per cent reduction for a second child or a subsequent week. rockbrook.ie, admin@rockbrook.ie.
The Slug Club
Gardening club for kids, planting seeds, growing vegetables, herbs, nature trails river walks and many more adventures in Cork. From €9 per session. griffinsgardencentre.ie
Airfield City Farm
Little Wild Things (5-7yrs), explore nature and creative activities in the urban farm in Dundrum. Visual diary of adventures over the week to take home. Wild Things (8-11yrs) try out farming, survival and creative skills at Airfield with environmental and textile artist Jane Groves. airfield.ie
WATERSPORTS
Watersports Camps with Nevsail
Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, power-boating, surfing. 10am-1pm and 2.30-5.30pm, Monday-Friday, July and August in Kilkee, Co Clare. From €90. info@nevsailwatersports.com, nevsailwatersports.com
Aloha Surf School
Surfing lessons in the heart of the Burren at Fanore beach, Co Clare. Five-day kids surf camps, (non-residential), 8-16 years. enquiries@surfschool.tv, surfschool.tv
Ardmore Adventures
Snorkelling, raft building, kayaking, abseiling and rock climbing and visit 400-year-old copper mines and an old ship wreck in Waterford. €200 per week. ardmoreadventures.ie, info@ardmoreadventures.ie.
Freedom Surf School
Irish language on the beach in Tramore, Co Waterford. Learn the Irish language while learning to surf, or take part in land yachting, Nordic walking, team challenges or eco hikes. Camps in Irish and English running throughout July and August. ISA and Fóras na Gaeilge approved. info@freedomsurfschool.com, freedomsurfschool.com
Dunmore East Adventure Centre
Kayaking, rock climbing, windsurfing, archery, pedal boats, open canoes and orienteering in Waterford. Every week during July and August, 10am–3pm, 5 to 14 years. From €230. dunmoreadventure.com
LEARNING
Camp for Special Learning Needs
For children/students with dyslexia, dyspraxia or specific learning difficulties, age 8-18yrs in Tralee. Campers sample a broad range of assistive technology/software programmes. First day for parents. Sporting facilities at IT Tralee and Jamie Knox Windsurfing in Castlegregory on the last day of the camp. Families can stay at the student accommodation at a special rate for the week. July 25th-29th. aheadcamp.com, 066 7131228
Searsol
Four week summer typing and spelling camp (one hour per day) during July in Artane, Dublin 5 at 2pm and in Ballinteer, Dublin 16 at 5pm, info@searsol.com, searsol.com
EQUESTRIAN
Eclipse Pony and ‘ Activity Camps
Fun-filled week of ponies and activities in Kerry, confidence building, team games and learning. Throughout the school holidays, 1 to 5 days, 10am to 4pm. €48 per day or €200 for the week. eclipseireland.com
For detailed listings of summer camps all around the country, check out Primary Times Summer issue in schools, from May 23rd, primarytimes.ie
What parents think
Marie O'Reilly, Dublin
My only, very active, 10 year-old daughter is particularly hard to keep occupied and stimulated during the long summer holidays, especially when friends and neighbours all seem to move to Wexford or further afield.
To be able to say, "this week you are going to summer camp" – is great. She makes new friends, maybe learns a new skill, and I get four or five hours to work! Consequently I try out new camps each summer. Last year Laura did a film and animation camp at the Columbus Club in Leeson St in Dublin and loved every minute of it - from storyboard to DVD design and production. She was so proud to bring home her own produced animation. I think it is important that whatever camp you choose for your child they learn a new skill and have fun at the same time - that way you feel it's money well spent.
Tara Kearns, Navan
I have tried out a few camps with my nine year-old son and he never lasted beyond a couple of days. Last year he did a Lego Camp in Navan and loved it – he stuck with it for two weeks. He has Aspergers and is not into sports or arts and crafts, but he was totally engaged in the Lego and it was very educational. They learned engineering skills, built bridges and vehicles, learned about design. I couldn't believe that they were kept occupied for four hours a day just playing Lego. It's long overdue. I have two daughters who are well catered for with arts and music camps all summer, and there's plenty for sports enthusiasts. This was a bit different.
Joanna Griffiths-Meehan, Dublin
My daughter, Emily, has done lots of summer camps over the years but last year I decided to take the plunge and send her to a camp in France, ahead of the Leaving Cert. It was organised by Stein Travel and she spent the time with a French host family over there. She had seven hours of tuition in French each day, much of it one-on-one, and in the evenings her host family took her out and about in Montpellier, so she spent the whole time speaking French and getting to know French culture. The house she was living in was very French too, the family were keen to give her a total immersion in the local way of life. She had a really great time, learned loads of French and was sorry to come home. A success I think.
