😎 Are Summer Camps happening this year?

Hi <<First Name>>,
It's the question we've all been wondering over the past two months... are Summer Camps still happening this year?? The answer is YES!

Although some camps have canceled, there are still plenty of summer camp options available. They are all working hard to implement additional safety precautions by limiting group sizes, regular sanitation, temperature checks, and other best practices as suggested by the CDC and local health officials.

All of the camps listed below are either currently taking registrations, or registration is pending arrangements for locations and dates. Either way, we suggest registering for any camps you are interested in ASAP to reserve your spot.

If you're having trouble finding a summer camp that is the right fit for your family, hit reply and let us know what you're looking for - we'll do our best to send you some summer camp suggestions.

If you're not planning on doing summer camps this year, that is ok too. Personally, I've been struggling to decide what is safe and when it might be safe, and everything still feels so uncertain. We encourage all parents to do what they feel is best for their own family.

NEW ARTICLES! While this newsletter is heavy on summer camp info, we do have other new content this week including details on a Drive-Thru Safari Adventure just over an hour from Lakeland, as well as Sunflower Farms and U-Pick Sunflowers.

We continue to update our list of What is Open in Lakeland - check out the latest updates as of this morning.

Have a great weekend,
April Mucci
Owner & Publisher

NEW THIS WEEK

If you're looking for Summer Camps in Lakeland, Winter Haven, or across Polk County, we've made it even easier to find what you're looking for!
Check out our brand new Summer Camp articles:

🎨 Visual and Performing Arts Camps (Dance, Drama, Art)

📘 Educational and Academic Summer Camps

⚽ Sports Camps

👊 Summer Camps for Teens Ages 13+

😄 Summer Camps for Preschool Age Kids (5 & Under)

🎒 Full-Day Summer Camps

Curious what camps have canceled for 2020? We've got that list too - Canceled Summer Camps for Summer 2020

FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS

Learning Resource Center offers a variety of summer enrichment. Register now!
• Camp Ready! for rising and repeating kindergartners
• Super Summer Success Camps for K-5
• PEP Summer Camps in Winter Haven for K-5

• SAT/ACT Prep Courses for Teens
• Study Habits of Successful Students for grades 6-8
• One-on-one Tutoring
Visit the Learning Resource Center Website to learn more.

Camp Fire is one of the nation's leading youth development organizations.
• Camp Light-A-Spark (K-5) day camp has a focus on math, science, reading & writing activities to help prevent summer backslide in school performance.
• Camp Ignite for students transitioning into middle school (Grades 5-6)
• Daily Service Projects for Grades 6-12
Overnight Service-Learning Trips for Grades 6-12
Visit the Camp Fire Website to learn more.

Camp Gilead is a year-round Christian Camp and Retreat Center that has served central Florida since 1938! They offer weekly sessions of overnight camp and day camp for K - 12th grade. It is a safe place filled with opportunities to be challenged both physically and spiritually while making lifelong friends. All activities are under the direction of trained Christian staff who live in cabins with campers. Visit the Camp Gilead Website to learn more.

The Polk Museum of Art has made the difficult decision to cancel traditional in-person summer camp programming for Summer 2020. Their creative team has developed an alternative - art-based activities and projects in the form of boxed kits to be enjoyed from the comfort of home. Designed by Polk Museum educators, Art (Un)Boxed is a self-paced art program with a set of art kits based on the popular art classes for children and families normally held at the Museum. Visit the Polk Museum of Art Website to learn more.

The YMCA has a long, rich history of over 100 years in providing top-notch summer camps to parents across the country. Our local YMCA's are hosting Day Camps and Golf Camp in 2020.
• Lakeland Family YMCA (Ages 5-12)
• Fontaine Gills YMCA (Ages 5-12)
• Lake Wales YMCA (Ages 4-12)
• Par3 Golf Camp (Age 8-16)
Space is very limited due to current group size restrictions. Specialty Camps will not be offered this year. Visit the YMCA Website to learn more.

Family Martial Arts Center strives to instill the basic life virtues of discipline, respect, integrity, and confidence. These qualities have been the foundation of the martial arts student since the beginning. Their Summer Day Camp for ages 4 & up includes TaeKwonDo Classes, optional field trips, and lots of FUN! Camp runs from 7am-7pm, making it ideal for working parents. Visit the FMAC Website to learn more.

All Saints Academy is offering variety of engaging camps this summer for PreK - 12th grade. Camp Themes include:
• Dance Intensive & Musical Theatre Camps
• Camp Discovery, Rising Stars, and Young Explorers Camp for PreK3 - 3rd graders
• Sports Camps: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Cheer, Lacrosse, Volleyball
Visit the All Saints Academy Website to learn more.

Summer Wake Camp at Elite Cable Park is is the best way to get your kid geared up and shredding in no time. Campers are taught everything from basic wakeboarding fundamentals to advanced tricks. Kids ages 9 – 15 will have time on the water, time for lunch, and off water activities throughout the day. ECP is a watersports park that offers cable wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and waterskiing. Visit the Elite Cable Park Website to learn more.

Bricks 4 Kidz Summer of Stem is a unique summer camp that will keep your child thinking, building, innovating, creating, and learning all summer long. Using high-quality Bricks 4 Kidz® resources, campers will build educational and interactive models and learn coding with LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robots. Camp also includes outdoor games and activities, board games, chess, and science experiments for a STEM-full summer! Ages K - 5th Grade. Visit the Bricks 4 Kidz Website to learn more.

Camp BLAST is the City of Lakeland’s highly successful summer recreation program for kids in K – 5th Grade. Camp BLAST offers children endless opportunities for enrichment including weekly trips, onsite games and activities. Camp runs the full summer from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm.
Camp Blast Registration is postponed at this time, city staff is working diligently to confirm facilities and regulations. Check the City of Lakeland Camp Website for updates.

Timbernook offers big outdoor play experiences to build STRONG and CONFIDENT kids! Every day brings a new adventure to challenge sensory, motor, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Kids will also explore the natural world and have ample time for child-led play. Camps are available for ages 4 - 12, and 18 months to 5 years old with a parent/caregiver.
Visit the Timbernook Website to learn more.

What’s Cooking? teaches children the importance of clean eating and cooking from scratch in a peanut free kitchen that caters to everyone’s allergies. Camps and classes are offered to further develop cooking skills and teach children about local foods, restaurants and our natural environment. Camps are open to kids ages 5-13.
Visit the What’s Cooking? Website to learn more.

NEW THIS WEEK

Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari Park is just over an hour from Lakeland
At Wild Florida’s Drive-Thru Safari Park, you and your family can see more than 100 exotic and native animals roaming freely, right from your own vehicle. Located just over an hour from the Lakeland and Winter Haven area.

Where to find Sunflower Farms near Lakeland
May is Sunflower Season in Florida. Take a day trip to a Sunflower Farm to get outdoors and enjoy some colorful photo opportunities. Farms are open for U-Pick Sunflowers as well as Sunflower Mazes you can explore, only an hour from the Lakeland area.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Make summer a time to get ahead! Summer is typically a time that students lose some of the academic gains they made throughout the school year but it doesn't have to be. Huntington Learning Center develops personalized programs to build reading, math, study skills, and writing. Call Huntington Learning Center of Lakeland at 863-709-9600 to learn more.