“I’m bored.” Is there a more annoying sentence in the English language? And when your children’s term at sleepaway camp is over and they’re back home, never going outside, playing Minecraft for days on end, you know those horrible words are coming. But don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with some smart solutions.
June 29–July 3
Lore and Legends
Where: Pigment School of the Arts
Price: $200
Ages: 6–9
It’s time to refresh that gallery wall with some works of art by your mini Manet. Pigment School of the Arts’ summer camps for the younger kids promise to get the artistic flow started nice and early. Themes vary from horse-inspired fun and eco-friendly construction to cartooning and fashion design. We especially like the sounds of the Lore and Legends-themed class. Here, kids sculpt mythical figures, paint landscapes of a fairy village, and draw winged creatures. 9 a.m.–noon. 214-352-2787. pigmentarts.com
July 13–17
It’s Fiesta Time
Where: Spanish Schoolhouse
Price: $84–170
Ages: 3–10
Are your kids sad about not summering in Barcelona? Drive to North Dallas and drop them at this immersion pre-school that offers up five week-long summer camps. Who wouldn’t love a fiesta-themed class that offers an opportunity to learn about festivals and parties rich in Latin culture? Your kids will be fluent in matters of piñatas, mariachis, maracas, paper flowers, and more. Choose two- to five-day sessions; extended hours are also available. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 972-716-2054. spanishschoolhouse.com
June 1–5
Hilltop Sports Camp
Where: SMU
Price: $300, extended day available at extra cost
Ages: Grades 2–6
When the mosquitoes take over your backyard and it’s a million degrees outside, there is only one solution: Send your children to Southern Methodist University. Your offspring will thank you as they enjoy the glorious air conditioning and state-of-the-art facilities—all indoor!— like a climbing wall, swimming pool, track, martial arts/cheer room, basketball courts, and more. You will enjoy the silence so much you may sign them up for multiple week-long sessions, which run from Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 214-768-9916. smu.edu
July 27–31
Paleontology & Earth Science
Where: Perot Museum
Price: $320 (members), $360 week (non-members), extended day available for extra cost
Ages: Grades K–6
Does your little one have an affinity for digging in the dirt? The museum’s Summer Discovery Camp offers courses, grouped by age, that cover everything from astronomy, paleontology, engineering, life sciences, and technology over a 10-week period. Your budding paleontologist will particularly enjoy this class, as he searches for fossils, rocks, dinosaur bones, and precious gems and explores the beauty of artifacts. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 214-428-5555. perotmuseum.org
August 10–14
Snow in July
Where: Dallas Arboretum
Price: $150 for members; $160 for non-members.
Ages: Grades 1–2
Day camps here include Creepy Crawlies; Splish, Splash!; and Little Critters and are grouped by age from 4 years through eighth grade. But if your little one considers Pete Delkus a superstar and prefers the Weather Channel to the Disney Channel, you have to sign her up for this weather adventure camp. Consider it money well spent and a great head start in her quest to become on-air talent on the Today show. 9 a.m.–noon. 214-515-6500. dallasarboretum.org
