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Adventure

Adventure camps are a great way for kids to explore the great outdoors while learning important lifelong skills. “Instead of being outdoors playing against one another in a sport, our Outdoor Adventures camp brings kids together in a unique, noncompetitive way,” notes Brandon Worthington, director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Outdoor Adventures department. “The self confidence, comradery and friendship that blossom from outdoor recreation last well beyond their weeks of camp.”
Kids face their fears and are blown away by what they’re capable of, like getting to the top of the climbing tower. “While kids learn what we call ‘hard skills’ in each activity, like how to paddle a canoe or tie themselves into a climbing rope, it’s often the interpersonal and individual development that’s most impactful,” says Brandon.

Adventure camp options…

Adventure Camp
Camp Li-Wa, Fairbanks
campliwa.org
Canoe, hike and learn survival skills in the wilds of Interior Alaska.

UAF DRAW Adventure Camps
UAF Campus, Fairbanks
uaf.edu/draw
Campers rock climb, hike, kayak, canoe and more.

Kincaid Adventure Camp
Kincaid Park, Anchorage
muni.org/parks
Learn about animal tracking, hiking, kite and
rocket building, map making, orienteering, outdoor cooking, canoeing, beach combing and more.

Animals

Camps with an animal focus engage kids from the start – who can resist adorable furry or feathered critters? “The children have the opportunity for lots of hands-on animal education,” says Deborah Baines with The Learning Farm. “They learn about what the animals eat and proper care and handling.”
For more in-depth learning, each camp day at The Learning Farm includes an “animal of the day” featuring an activity and craft that ties into that main topic, explains Deborah. “On goat or cow day, we make cheese or butter. On sheep day, we do a wool project and even get to observe and help some with the shearing in the spring. They learn about the oil that comes from a sheep, called lanolin, and we make lanolin hand cream for them to take home.”

At camps with animals, kids are able to interact with (sometimes fragile) animals. They gain a new sense of compassion and tons of knowledge about animal care, responsibility and the animals themselves.

Animal camp options…

Summer Farm Camp
The Learning Farm, Anchorage
thelearningfarm.net
Fun-filled days of riding horses, feeding animals, games and crafts.

Ranch Camp
Camp Li-Wa, Fairbanks
campliwa.org
Learn horsemanship from the ground up, including riding, grooming, tacking and caring for horses.

Farm Camp
Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, Fairbanks
calypsofarm.org
Start the day with fun (age-appropriate) farm chores; learn about nature journaling, fort building and life in the field and forest; and get creative.

Art

Art camps inspire kids to reach beyond and create art that is unique to them. At Anchorage Waldorf, kids are immersed in different areas of study through art, all specific to the age group, says Wendy Turner. She explains, “Art is integral for learning. Sometimes the kids will do art and not realize they’re doing language arts or math. Older students will do cross-stitching, making a grid, outlining and counting the stitches and creating the cross-stitch. Younger students will do finger-knitting and weaving, practicing their fine motor skills.” Each week at Anchorage Waldorf, there will be a different theme that the students build upon, beginning with a story and evolving into art projects over the days for campers to really digest the information.

In this day and age, using the arts for learning is sometimes taken for granted. “Art is being seen as less and less important,” says Wendy. “We still hold onto it heavily. We feel like art helps develop the will and the heart of a child.”

Art camp options…

Wild About Art
Kenai Watershed Forum Summer Camp, Soldotna
kenaiwatershed.org
This camp will use art to encourage a love of nature.

Pottery Camp
Art Building, University of Alaska Fairbanks
uaf.edu/summer/programs/camps
Learn how to make and decorate pots during this hands-on, educational week of fun with clay.

Summer of Wonder Big Kids Camp and KinderCamp
Anchorage Waldorf School
waldorfak.org/summer-camp
Five week-long camps rich in art and craft activities.

Wild Rose Summer Camp, Fairbanks
wildrosesummercamp.com
An outdoor educational camp coupled with a creative art program.

Career Exploration

Career exploration camps offer a great way for kids to learn about career paths, whether they know they want to pursue that career, or if they know nothing about it. Andy Rogers, Executive Directory of Alaska Business Week (ABW) says, “ABW students – many for the first time – learn that they don’t have to go looking for a job. They can make one of their own. They meet other Alaskans that have started companies doing what they love.

At right: “Future Surgeons” Camp at Pacific Northern Academy

Whatever the career field may be – business, science, art, etc. – the students learn a lot about themselves and gain a lot of new skills. “ABW students graduate understanding how businesses work and why they are necessary for the health of Alaska communities. They know the fundamental business principles needed to run a company both profitably and ethically,” says Andy.

By being exposed to different careers, most campers gain a deep understanding of the numerous career paths out there and will consider what option is best for them.

Career exploration camp options…

Alaska Business Week
Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage
alaskabusinessweek.com
Explore the many facets of business and compete against other teams in a two-year business simulation in one fun-packed week.

Archaeology Camp
UA Museum of the North, Fairbanks
uaf.edu/summer/programs/camps
Complete a simulated archaeological dig, examine authentic museum artifacts, and learn what it takes to be a real-life archaeologist.

Crime Scene Detective
University of Alaska Fairbanks
uaf.edu/summer/programs/camps
Learn how to cast footprint impressions, identify components for fingerprint analysis, trace fiber strands and more.

Nature & Gardening

“Learning is way more than words on a page,” says Melanie Dufour with the Alaska Center for Coastal Studies, who coordinates the Junior Naturalist Camp every year. “It’s water moving around our boots. It’s mud and cold.. When a child has a hands-on experience that is led by their wonder, it remains with them and feeds a passion for continued learning.” All of the exploratory activities are led by camp counselors who the kids love working with, she adds.
Whether out in the forest, or in a garden, kids love being connected to nature. “Our campers love being outside and digging in the dirt all summer long,” says Mike Monterusso with the Alaska Botanical Gardens, which runs the Junior Master Gardener camp. Based in the botanical garden, the camp is “a safe and unique camp setting” he says, “where natural boreal forest and cultivated gardens serve as the ultimate classroom. (Campers) learn to identify common boreal plants and insects that they can’t wait to go home and teach their parents!”

Nature & Gardening camp options…

Junior Master Gardener
Alaska Botanical Garden, Anchorage
alaskabg.org
Gardening, insects, ecology and more.

LEAF camps
Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, Fairbanks
calypsofarm.org/education/LEAF
Planting, weeding, harvesting and other hands-on lessons and activities.

Junior Naturalist Summer Camp
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Homer
akcoastalstudies.org
Spend four days at the Wynn Nature Center exploring the diverse habitats and wildlife of the forests and beaches in Kachemak Bay.

Music & Dance

Above: The Music Machine

Many kids enjoy their time in the spotlight at music and dance camps. They learn new skills, enhance their old ones and let their talent shine at a final performance for their loved ones. “It is an awesome experience for all involved!” says Eileen Spezialy with Anchorage Music & Dance Center. “We’ve even been known to ‘bling out’ ballet slippers.”

Kids of all shapes and sizes also learn a ton of skills, says Colleen Franks with Aurora Kids, including “(gaining) confidence, balance, improved flexibility and coordination, how to challenge themselves and problem-solve. And, most importantly, that it’s fun to get strong and fit.”

Music & Dance camp options…

Alaska Dance Theatre, Anchorage
alaskadancetheatre.org
Dance classes and camps
for all ages.

Rock Star Camp
Anchorage Music & Dance Center, Anchorage
anchoragemusicanddance.com
Learn classic rock and pop songs from the Beatles, Santana, the Rolling Stones and more.

Dance classes
Aurora Kids, Anchorage
aurorakidsak.com
Kids ages 3 and older can learn tap, ballet, gymnastics and even more.

Theatre

Theatre camps expose children to the performing arts in a unique, fun and educational manner. “Kids involved in our programs learn much more than music and movement. They are encouraged in a healthy, supportive environment to interact with other children, to develop teamwork, and to feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments,” says Janet Carr-Campbell with The Music Machine.
“Personally, I enjoy watching each child grow more self-assured and confident in their ability to communicate with an audience,” Janet continues, “A lot of this is feeling comfortable on stage and knowing that their efforts will be applauded by an encouraging and enthusiastic crowd. We are not looking for the most talented kids, but, rather, we strive to find the talent in each child and help them develop that talent.”

Theatre camp options…

Summer Academies
TBA Theater, Anchorage
tbatheatre.org
Train under theatre professionals for the class specialty – options include improv, acting and behind-the-scenes technical work.

The Music Machine, Anchorage
themusicmachineanchorage.com
Make friends, grow and develop confidence and self esteem while being part of a team effort.

STEM

STEM camps are designed to encourage interest and provide exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “Kids are innately curious,” says Ranae Bookman with Pacific Northern Academy. “They love poking and prodding things, and taking them apart, and putting them back together. They are constant observers of the world around them. STEM camps harness that curiosity by providing opportunities to explore and discover, often with real-world results.”
The summer exploration camps at the Fairbanks Children’s Museum include numerous STEM-related activities, from circuitry to simple chemistry experiments like combining baking soda and vinegar. “In past camps, we have created paper mache hot air balloons in art camp, built robots with real tools in tinker camp, and explored the properties of water through building, filtering, freezing, experimenting, and playing with water,” says Jessica Farr with the Fairbanks Children’s Museum.

STEM camp options…

Anchorage Museum
anchoragemuseum.org/camps
From robotics and space exploration, camp topics are geared toward the interests of 7- to 12-year-olds.

Create Academy
Pacific Northern Academy, Anchorage
pacificnorthern.org
Kids are able to design, build and invent at this camp where science, art and technology collide with a whole lot of creativity.

Alaska Summer Research Academy (ASRA)
Reichardt Building, University of Alaska Fairbanks
uaf.edu/asra/
A fun and intensive learning experience for students with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Summer Exploration Camps
Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Fairbanks
fairbankschildrensmuseum.com
Camps focus on art, science, building and storytelling.

Sports

At sports camps, kids are kept active all summer, developing specific skills, like kicking (football and soccer), pitching (baseball) or dribbling (basketball). Some camps introduce kids to a variety of camps, giving them a brief introduction to each sport, while other camps focus in-depth on only one sport.
When exercising, the kids are learning a number of skills that they aren’t even thinking about. “Not only do they learn hand-eye coordination, problem-solving through participation in group activities, and social skills, but (they) also develop stamina, strength and flexibility,” says Debbie Little Dog with the Alaska Club, which holds summer fun camps. Kids at their summer camps also have the opportunity to be connected with a mentor in the community and swim for two hours a day. “It’s the Alaska Club’s goal to provide a place where children can be physically active and learn that activity leads them into a healthier lifestyle.”

Sports camp options…

Summer Fun Camps
The Alaska Club, Anchorage (East and South) and Fairbanks South
thealaskaclub.com
Offering healthy, active fun and a variety of sports to keep children moving all summer.

Parkour
Aurora Kids, Anchorage
aurorakidsak.com
Learn problem-solving skills, focus, perseverance while building strength, coordination and patience by running and jumping in a safe environment.

RecTennis
Locations in Anchorage and Fairbanks
rectennis.com
Game-based learning focusing on fun, a healthy lifestyle and making friends, regardless of age and background.

Breakthrough Basketball
University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau
breakthroughbasketball.com/camps/Alaska.html
Build both skill and character learning basketball. Practice shooting, ball handling and finishing.

Special Needs

At summer camp, kids get to be themselves while making friends and trying out new experiences. Kids with special needs can pursue all this – plus have a blast! – at camps equipped with adaptive facilities and skilled staff.

At Sparc, a creative space in Anchorage, all artists are welcome to participate in weeklong art projects. “(We) provide art classes and workshops in an inclusive space to people of all abilities. Artists with and without disabilities are able to work side-by-side on a myriad of projects – from painting and drawing to stained glass, ceramics and more,” says Stephanie Smith with Arc of Anchorage, who runs the program. The projects don’t have specific deadlines, so artists can play around without the pressure of a deadline, or they can focus in on one idea for the whole week.

Special needs camp options…

Sparc: A Creative Place
Arc of Anchorage
thearcofanchorage.org/sparc
Courses for artists of all abilities, where students complete projects encouraging self-expression and acceptance.

Adam’s Camp, Girdwood
adamscamp.org
A therapy camp for children who experience autism.

Alaska Diabetes Camp
Camp K, Cooper Landing
diabetes.org/adacampk
Campers learn how to manage their disease in a fun, positive learning environment.

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