Friday, April 23, 2004 (SF Chronicle)
Hot days, cool camps/Unusual summer programs cater to kids' creativity

By DAWN YUN
Special to The Chronicle

Summer camps aren't just for traditional activities like sports and painting anymore. For children with more specific interests, some camps offer the chance to act like anyone from a circus clown to a rock star to a scientist to a hobbit.

"Kids today are different than they were 10 years ago," said Mel Ochoa of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. "They're more technologically savvy. They know more about the world. They know more about pop culture, music and movies. Kids are interested in unique camps because they speak more to them."

And that gives parents plenty of alternatives they didn't have years ago -- as long as their wallets can hold out. Here are some of the unusual specialty camps offered in the Bay Area this summer:

San Francisco

Back to nature: In partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Association, the Crissy Field Center offers a series of one-week camps. Kids may sign up for a single week or the entire summer. "The camps are an extension of the mission of our center," said Sue King, manager of public programs for Crissy Field Center. "They're designed to link kids in a San Francisco city environment with a natural environment."
The camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $299 to $399 per week.

They include:
-- Animal Adventures, where kids will learn to locate the critters that live in the Presidio. They will examine raccoon skulls, learn how to track animals and create animal habitat maps. Camps run June 21 to 25 for kids ages 6 and 7, 8 and 9, and 10 and 11.

-- Raptor Camp, where kids will find out how to care for birds of prey, basic hawk identification, how to use field guides and why birds migrate. It is July 12 to 16 for ages 10 and 11.

-- Planet Patrol, which helps campers turn trash into treasures and learn creative ways to save the planet. Kids will make insects out of solar cells, wind-powered pinwheels and even a solar oven built out of pizza boxes so they can make nachos. Camps operate July 26 to 30 for ages 6 and 7, 8 and 9 and 10 and 11.

-- Junior Rangers, which lets kids visit a different park each day, including all-time favorite Alcatraz. The camp is designed to give campers a behind-the-scenes look at how parks are run and to learn what rangers do. Campers can also earn a Junior Ranger badge. The camp is Aug. 9 to 13 for ages 9 to 11. Crissy Field Center Camps, (415) 561-7762, www.crissyfield.org.

Summer bard: The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is offering two-week Shakespeare camps for youth from 7 to 13 and 13 to 18. The camps, held throughout the Bay Area, give an introduction to Shakespeare's plays as well as the principles of voice and movement, and production and design. The sessions are led by a team of Bay Area directors and actors selected for their extensive backgrounds and accomplishments in drama. Each session concludes with a performance for family and friends.

The camps for ages 7 to 13 meet Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., from June 14 to Aug. 20. Childcare is available at most locations from 3 to 5:30 p. m. for an additional fee.

The teen camp meets during the same hours from Aug. 9 to Aug. 20. San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, (415) 422-2222, www.sfshakes.org.

Joy of cooking: Apron Strings is offering cooking camps for children 10 years and older lasting four to five days throughout the summer. The goal of the camps is to help children learn to cook and bake, work safely in a kitchen, and explore creative ideas in meal preparation. All classes are "hands on" and designed to be fun and encourage a lifelong appreciation for food. At the conclusion of every class participants prepare and share a family-style meal.

Apron Strings, (415) 550-7976, www.apronstringssf.com.

You're on the air: Those in grades nine through 12 who enjoy listening to public radio may want to tune in to Radio Active camp, which offers an opportunity to learn how to be a radio journalist. Teens will learn how to use audio recording equipment, conduct interviews, write and produce stories for public radio, and record their own voices within a professional studio. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in weekly increments beginning June 14 to 18 and ending Aug. 16 to 20, and cost $1,050 per week. Radio Active, (415) 515-1331.

Under the big top: Circus Center in San Francisco teaches the skills that make the circus fun, such as stilt walking, juggling, the trapeze, acrobatics and clowning. There will also be circus performances for family and friends. The camp for those ages 7 through 15 runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 to Aug. 20, and costs $210 for one week and $185 per week thereafter. Circus Center, (415) 759-8123, www.circuscenter.org.

Marin County

Hobbit pretenders: The Discovery Museum has an array of unusual camps. Kids in love with J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" can re-create the book in the form of a play during a two-week summer camp called Playmakers: The Hobbit. Kids will learn about costuming, set design and acting as they journey with Bilbo and friends to the Lonely Mountain. The camp offers an opportunity for siblings to act in a play together. For ages 5 to 12, the camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon, July 12 to 23, and costs $310 for members and $370 for nonmembers.

-- MusicMakers: Rappin' to the Rhythm will teach campers the fundamentals of poetry, language and the rhythm of words. Kids will study the evolution of this genre in music, learning how to rap and how to create their own songs. Two camps are offered: one for 4- and 5-year-olds; one for 5- to 7-year-olds. It runs from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 2 to 6, and costs $155 for members and $185 for nonmembers.

-- For more ecologically concerned campers, there is Tool Time: Green Machines. Kids are taught how to build sustainable energy toys and tools that run on solar energy, including a race car and a robot. The camp is for ages 8 to 12 and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2 to 6 and Aug. 9 to 13, and costs $215 for members and $255 for nonmembers. The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, (415) 339-3931, www.baykidsmuseum.org.

School of Rock: Rock star wannabes can try at Rock On! Music Camp at the Jewish Community Center in San Rafael. Kids will learn to play in a real rock band, record a CD and then have a rocked-out performance. At least one year of practice on an instrument is required. The camp is for those in grades five to nine is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 28 to July 2, Aug. 9 to 13 and Aug. 16 to 20, and costs $235 for members and $260 for nonmembers.

"This camp appeals to kids that are musically inclined and kids that are past traditional summer camp and interested into diving into something with a specific focus," said Paul Geduldig, director of the center's youth and family department. "It really serves the kids who need something for one week, who are unable to commit to a three-week session."

-- For kids with inquiring minds, Fast Forward Journalism Camp in San Rafael may be the broadsheet for them. Campers will learn how to conduct interviews, write an article, create a magazine and make a Web site. The one- week camp is for children 5 and older, and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14 to 18, June 21 to 25, July 5 to 9 and July 12 to 16, for $450 per week. Another class runs from 9 a.m. to noon July 19 to 23 and costs $225. Jewish Community Center in San Rafael, (415) 444-8055, www.marinjcc.org.

The Peninsula

Rock-It Science offers 24 one-week camps at locations primarily around the Peninsula. The Santa Clara nonprofit was started by John McChesney in 1987 to get kids interested in science with a twist. Droid Wars camp is being offered in Los Altos for kids entering grades three through six. Campers become junior robotics engineers, creating bi-motor sumo bots that compete against each other in battle. The camp runs from 7:30 a. m. to 6:30 p.m. June 28 to July 2 and costs 375 for YMCA members and $415 for nonmembers.

In Bottle Biology Creeper Crawlers, campers use an old soda bottle to create a sealed biosphere complete with bugs, sludge and grass. Kids learn the right balance of what is needed to sustain the creatures within their bottles. "All kids have great curiosity," McChesney said. "We don't tell them the answers. We give them the opportunities to make discoveries on their own. They get to be scientists."

The camp is for those entering grades two through six, and runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 19 to 23 in Palo Alto. It costs $275 for YMCA members and $315 for nonmembers.

In Amazing Aerodynamics & Rockin' Rocketry camp, kids learn how to mix Newton's laws and air pressure to fly plastic bottles. Bicycle pumps are adapted to pressurize plastic soda bottles, allowing them to fly as far as 100 feet. Designed for kids entering kindergarten, the camp is offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 to 30 in Sunnyvale, and costs $229 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.

Rock-It Science camps in Santa Clara, (408) 969-1900, www.rockitscience.org.

Something for everyone:
South Valley Family YMCA in San Jose offers three specialty camps:

-- Adventure Seekers lets kids rock climb, skateboard, boogie board and rope climb. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 to 13 for those in grades four to six, and costs $295.

-- Off-Broadway Camp is for budding thespians who want an in-depth look at the theater. They will learn all aspects of acting and theater production, ending with a performance and a special field trip to a theater to check out sets and the backstage area. For kids in first through third grade, the camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 5 to 9. For those in grades four through six, the camp runs at the same times July 19 to 23. The cost is $245.

-- Rocket Science Things that Boom lets campers experiment with soap bubbles, turn film canisters into intergalactic rockets and launch parachuting astronauts with a pop. A field trip to the Discovery Museum in San Jose is also included. The camp is for first through third graders and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21 to 25. It costs $275. South Valley Family YMCA in San Jose, (408) 226-9622, www.scvymca.org.

Daily amusement: For kids who cannot get enough of amusement parks, the Palo Alto Family YMCA is offering a weeklong camp that pays homage to it. During Action Attraction camp, those in grades seven and eight will visit a different amusement park daily. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 to 13. Cost: $325. The Palo Alto Family YMCA, (650) 856-9622, www.ymcamidpen.org.

Inventors' adventure: The Southwest YMCA in Saratoga has an array of unusual specialty camps, including Inventor's Lab camp for those in grades one through six, which lets young Ben Franklins mix designer slime, construct giant marble mazes, use slam luge-powered vehicles, and fly a large-scale paper helicopter, among other experiments. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21 to 25 and June 28 to July 2, and cost $270.

-- A dentist's dream, Wonka Camp is for kids who really, really, really love candy. Kids become like Willy Wonka when they visit the Jelly Belly Factory for inspiration -- and jelly beans -- and then return to camp to make all kinds of candies on their own. A toothbrush is not included. The camp for those in grades one through six goes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12 to 16, and costs $255.

-- For the ultimate in biking, BMX camp offers a fast ride. Campers in fourth through sixth grade will learn BMX skills and tricks. Also covered are racing, jumping, safety and bike maintenance on dirt tracks and hills. Camps are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12 to 16 and Aug. 2 to 6, and cost $255. The Southwest YMCA in Saratoga, (408) 370-1877, www.scvymca.org.

Alameda County

The Chabot Space and Science Center offers camps for young people interested in science and fun. All camps include a show in the Ask Jeeves Planetarium and the Tien Mega Dome Theatre. Half-day camps cost $200 for members and $225 for nonmembers; full-day camps are $350 for members and $375 for nonmembers.

-- The magic and mystery of what goes on in the kitchen is revealed in Crazy Kitchen Chemistry I. Junior chefs and serious scientists will learn how to make things ooze, rise and bond. For those in grades one through three, camps are from 9 a.m. to noon June 14 to 18 and July 5 to 9, and from 1 to 4 p. m. Aug. 16 to 20.

-- Natural Disasters teaches children how disasters happen. They'll track seismic activities, prepare for local emergencies, learn how to forecast impending storms and learn essential survival skills. The programs for sixth- through eighth-graders run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 to July 2 and Aug. 23 to 27.

-- In Mars Camp, kids will build and drive a Martian rover, as well as design a mission to Mars. The program, for those in grades five through eight, run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12 to 16, Aug. 2 to 6 and Aug. 16 to 20. The Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, (510) 336-7300, www.chabotspace.org.

Performance play: For those who prefer to act behind the scenes, Puppets and Pie Summer Camp in Berkeley may be just the ticket. Here kids will design and create their own puppets from papier-mâché and fabric, design costumes and make scenery and props. All will be used during an outdoor puppet show that the kids will write and direct. And everybody brings a pie to the cast party at the end of the show. The camp, for ages 6 to 12, is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 26 to Aug. 6 and costs $500. Puppets and Pie Summer Camp in Berkeley, (510) 849-1149, www.puppetsandpie.com.

-- If the sounds of the islands entice, then kids will love Rockin' & Rollin' Arts Camp in Oakland. On tap is learning how to play African-Caribbean steel drums, Congo and Zimbabwean drums. Drummers will also learn to accompany dance classes. This camp is offered by Music is eXtraordinary (MIX), which specializes in practice and performance with weekly concerts, as well as dance and gospel singing. Two-week sessions are offered for children ages 7 to 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21 through July 30, and cost $350. Rockin' & Rollin' Arts Camp, (510) 836-4649, www.m-i-x.org.

-- For rock, punk and folk music-loving kids, the Recording and Performing Workshop camp in Berkeley may be perfect. Kids practice the musical style of their choice, record a CD and then perform at the Ashkenaz club in Berkeley. "This is an opportunity for kids to play and their parents to support their incredibly loud music or soft, interesting ballads," said Lisa Zeiler, co-director of the workshop. The camp for ages 8 to 18 runs from June 14 to 25 and costs $300 a week. Recording and Performing Workshop, (510) 845-5432.

Contra Costa County Science Adventures runs a series of half-day and full-day one-week camps around the country for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. They will be offering several in Contra Costa County. Kids will create up to 20 science projects during each of the weeklong camps, which cost $249. "We make kids realize that science isn't something in a laboratory," said Paul Pooler, training manager forScience Adventures. "Your lab is everywhere. They get their ands dirty, use their brains, have fun, and don't even know they're learning."

-- In Space & Rocketry 2004, campers will learn different aspects of astronomy to figure out why rockets work. Each child will spend the week building a rocket, and will launch it on the last day of camp. "When you have 150 kids launching rockets it's an exciting day," said Pooler. The camp runs June 21 to 25 in Walnut Creek.

-- Kids will take a close look at physics and the science of motion during Newton's Motion Madness Camp. Each day they will take a different concept related to motion and learn the science of how things work. For example, one day they will create a superball factory and produce bouncing superballs. The camp runs June 28 to July 2 in Walnut Creek.

-- During the Great Dinosaur Mystery, kids will use science to solve a mystery, work with the camp's mascot, Gizmo the Gekko, and build a model dinosaur. The camp runs July 12 to 16 in Moraga.

-- Robo Tech Extreme will have kids working daily on building a robot out of K'nex. They'll learn how robots work, the tools that are needed to build them and the electricity that is needed to run them. Camp runs July 26 to 30 in Moraga. Science Adventures, (800) 472-4362, www.scienceadventures.com.

Crime scene investigators: The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District is offering Chemicals, Cells and Crime camp for those in grades one through three from 9 a.m. to noon, and for those in grades four to six from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 to 20. It costs $130 for residents and $145 for nonresidents.

Kids will learn about cells and crazy chemistry, investigate reactions and decipher DNA. They will also build cells and find out about atoms, molecules and the forces that hold them together. Then they will use science to investigate and solve a crime. Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District, (925) 676-5200, www.pleasanthillrec.com.

Musical fairy tales: Lafayette Moraga Recreation in Lafayette offers three specialty camps, including Castle Tales, where kids learn how to perform a mini-musical based on their favorite fairy tales. They will design their costumes, learn lines and perform in a musical. The camp, for kids ages 4 to 6, runs from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 2 to 6 and Aug. 16 to 20, and from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 23 to 27, and costs $130.

-- In Video Production camp, kids will learn how to edit tape, light a subject, shoot from different angles and create special effects. The camp is for those in grades five through 12 and runs June 14 to 25 and June 28 to July 9, with morning and afternoon sessions available. The cost ranges from $243 to $270.

-- For kids who love to go to Home Depot with their parents, Kids' Carpentry camp will let them bang away to their hearts' content. Here they will learn the safe use of hand tools, such as hammers, saws and hand drills, to create a variety of projects, including clocks, boats, board games and dollhouses. The camps are for those in kindergarten through sixth grade, and run June 28 to July 1, July 19 to 22 and Aug. 2 to 5. Times vary. The cost is $64, plus a $25 supply fee. "Kids need more and more stimulation as kids get pickier, and they want more diversity," said Jennifer Russell, director of Lafayette Parks Trails and Recreation. "Children may not get a lot of these unique arts and crafts type of experiences at school. This gives them a really good chance to get those skills."

Lafayette Moraga Recreation in Lafayette, (925) 284-2232, www.lovelafayette.org.

For more information
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