Summer Camps

[BusyBee]

I am looking into summer camps for my sons and was wondering if anyone had any camps that their children have particularly enjoyed or ones that you would not suggest.

[walkthedog]

My kids did many different camps. The best was the one here given by RMA. They started on the local one before we even built here then went back for several years. One is now a counselor here. When we lived in Elk Grove we tried that one, which was the worst.

[pingtheduck]

Summer Rec (RMA) was fun!

Science Adventure Camp (at various locations- we went to the one in El Dorado Hills) was fun and educational but I'd go along on any field trips they had. I wasn't impressed by how well they kept track of the kids.

The BEST every year has been the British Challenger Soccer Camp.

Kindermusic was great last year and it was held at The Ranch Preschool which is an awfully nice setting.

[BusyBee]

Have they posted when the Soccer Camp is this year yet? I could not convince my older son to go last year but this year he has decided that it will be fun.

[pingtheduck]

Go to the Challenger Soccer Camp web site and you'll be able to register. I shoot for the earliest AM class possible.

[Martha]

RM Soccer Club is having Challenger out here July 21 - 25.

We've had kids involved with them since they were in the mini-kicker program, so we're really pushing for Challenger to step up the skills for the older aged kids.

Best to register on-line with them at Challenger Sports - Home Page

RMSC registration packets will go out after April 1, and we'll have walk-up registration in May. Of course, you are encouraged to get your registration form filled out ASAP (fees are $125), and mail it to our p.o. box or drop it at our registrar's house or mine. If you've been involved in soccer, you know who we are (so I'm not gonna post our info on the www!). (and if you don't know who we are, please pm me and I'll get you the info you need!)

Registration fees will go up (add $20 on to regular fee) on June 1, and teams will mostly be sorted out by then, so "late registrations" run the risk of not having special requests honored.

But, to reply to OP's question, depending on the age of your child(ren), you might look in to the CSUS Aquatic Center. A few years ago my son did a week-long water camp. He liked sailing the best, so the following year he did the sailing camp.

[Matt Hatcher]

Hi,
I don't know how old your kids are, but my little brother and I went to IDTech Camp at UC Davis last year for video game creation, and it was great. They have many programs for 7 and up from robotics to video game creation to website design, etc, all things electronic.

I also went to Squaw Valley Extreme Sports and Soccer Camp, but that is an overnight week by week camp. I loved it and I learned a lot and did things I wouldn't ever think I would do.

The BEST summer camp ever, though, is the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Camp. It's for one week each year, you have to be 11-13, you have to apply and be accepted, and you can only go one time, period.

You do real firefighter drills, go to the training center, wear real equipment and help put out the fire in the fire training room (so cool!), go on the American River to practice the water safety and rescue things you learn while spending a day at Sunsplash, ride on patrol and rescue water vehicles, climb in and out of smoky buildings, watch USAR dogs in action, I could go on for days. This camp was the best thing ever and solidified my choice (I decided when I was 4) to become a firefighter.

My brother (he's 9) says the best camp is the Sacramento Zoo full day camps. He went for one week last year, and is going for 2 weeks this year.

Just some ideas of things that we have gone to and really liked. I hope you find something fun for your kids.

Matt Hatcher

[Matthew]

Thanks Matt. Those are great reviews.