Summer Kids Calendar I

It’s never too early to plan for the summer! If you’re seeking kid-friendly activities to keep your children entertained, active and out of trouble, then look no further. Southwest Orlando Bulletin’s first 2020 Summer Kids Calendar provides great ideas to get you started!


Campers learn self-esteem while experiencing modeling and more at The Maile Image, Modeling & Acting School.

ACTING, MODELING, IMAGE & CONFIDENCE DEVELOPMENT CAMPS at The Maile Image, Modeling & Acting School, 803 S. Orlando Ave., Suite F, Winter Park, 407-628-5989, www.lisamaile.com. The Maile School trains in the areas of image and confidence development; professional modeling and on-camera acting for TV, commercials and film. Camps are held at The Maile School, and a special fashion camp takes place at The Mall at Millenia. One-day workshops are available in etiquette, casting, auditioning and more, and all sessions are taught by industry professionals. Camps also include a free, professional industry seminar on breaking into the business for parents. The school has been training since 1982 and is home to John Peros Casting.


Theatre South Playhouse enters its 11th summer season and celebrates its own theater in Dr. Phillips.

ACTING, MUSICAL THEATER & PRODUCTION CAMPS at Theatre South Playhouse at The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips, 7601 Della Drive, Suite 15, Orlando, 407-601-4380, www.theatresouthplayhouse.org, enters its 11th summer season. Full summer shows include “Be More Chill” for teens, “Freaky Friday” for fifth through ninth-graders, “The Lion King Experience” for kindergartners through fifth-graders, and “Frozen Kids” for first through fifth-graders. One-week production camps for kindergartners through 12th-graders include “The Greatest Show Camp,” “Camp Broadway,” “Dark Broadway” and “Dear Mean Musicals.” All of Theatre South’s teaching artists are professional performers who hold bachelor’s degrees in fine arts or master’s degrees in theater. Costs range from $225-$235 per week, and before- and after-care are available. What role will you play?


Footworks Dance Studio campers have fun while learning dance techniques.

DANCE CAMPS at Footworks Dance Studio, 1201 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Winter Garden, 407-877-2260, www.footworksdancestudio.com, offer fun summer programs for all ages. Camp session themes include “Frozen Adventure Camp,” “Dancing with My Favorite Princess: Passport to Royalty Camp,” “Sharktacular Shenanigans: Wee Hop Camp,” “Escape Club: Wild About Dance Camp,” “Brightfeather: Academy of Magic Dance Camp,” Broadway Bound: Musical Theater Camp,” “Disney+ Dance Camp,” “Aerial Silks Workshop” and “Dance Intensive Workshop.”


Orlando Ballet School offers an extensive summer program for dancers of all ages.

DANCE PROGRAMS at Orlando Ballet School, orlandoballet.org. OBS, which has a brand-new, state-of-the-art location at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, is regarded as one of the finest training academies and is the official school of the Orlando Ballet. Orlando Ballet School adheres to the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and offers an extensive summer program for dancers of all ages and abilities. Whether you are a serious dancer looking to refine your technique or a young dancer looking for some summer fun, OBS has a summer program for you! Online registration is available.


Lake Cypress Summer Camp attendees have a multitude of activities to keep them engaged.

LAKE CYPRESS SUMMER CAMP at Windermere Preparatory School; 6189 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere; 407-905-7737, opt. 8; camp.windermereprep.com; is a one-stop-shop camp that includes tons of inflatables, a video game truck, magician, Gatorland, waterslides, foam pit, carnival and more! Twenty-four camp rooms, including an arcade, box forts, design-a-fort, maker space, sensory, town and country imaginative play, crafts and more, house loads of fun for children 5-14. Camp sessions take place June 1-July 31 (choose any weeks). The cost is $280 per week from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. or $345 from 7:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Register today!


In addition to many athletic options during the school year, Foundation Academy offers fun sports camps over the summer.

SPORTS CAMPS at Foundation Academy, 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden, 407-877-2744, www.foundationacademy.net/athletics/lion-pride-sports-camp, include Krystal Thomas Basketball Camps and Lions Pride Sports Camp. Basketball individual camps take place June 4-5 from 9 a.m.-noon, and team camp is June 11-12 at 9 a.m. The cost is $80 and $300, respectively, with participants in the $300 camp receiving a three-game guarantee. The Lions Pride Sports Camp is June 22-25 and July 20-23 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $200 and $150, respectively.


Children’s Lighthouse’s summer camps put the fun in summer!

SUMMER CAMPS at Children’s Lighthouse, 220 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, 407-395-0077, www.childrenslighthouse.com/wintergarden. Its school-age summer camp program cares for youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade. Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Kids enjoy two to three field trips each week. The cost is $150 per week, plus a one-time summer activity fee of $150.


Cranium Academy’s summer camps offer a perfect combination of learning and fun.

SUMMER CAMPS at Cranium Academy, 407-431-0085, 407-391-3780, www.craniumacademy.com/summer-camp-east-orlando/. Cranium Academy’s 11-week summer camp program provides an active, educational and fun experience for children ages 2-10. Its main camp offers new themes every week that combine science, art, music, sports and more. One day, a child can be an astronaut exploring planets in Cranium Academy’s galaxy, the next day he or she can be a soccer player learning the physics of the perfect kick. It also offers STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camps for children ages 4-10 that give them the opportunity to learn about the sciences through fun, innovative programs. With more than 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space to explore, an exciting curriculum and classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art learning technology, Cranium Academy is the ultimate summer camp destination.


Campers enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at Gan Israel Day Camp.

SUMMER CAMPS at Gan Israel Day Camp, 407-354-3660, www.ilovegi.com, are camps on 27 beautiful acres that are dedicated to enriching the lives of children from diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations through stimulating camp experiences. Activities include sports, swimming, archery, a ropes course, watersports, art and specialty fun shops. Camp Gan Israel is part of the largest, fastest-growing network of day camps, enjoying a reputation as a trendsetter in Jewish camping, with innovative ideas and creative programs. CGI is accredited by the American Camp Association. Camp sessions are June 29-July 24 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Extended care is available.


Campers make lifelong memories at Camp J at the Rosen JCC.

SUMMER CAMPS at the Rosen JCC, 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, 407-387-5330, campjorlando.org. Camp J at the Rosen JCC in Dr. Phillips is the place to be! It offers a full selection of summer programs, open to all, including a general camp, sports camp and a variety of specialty camps. This summer, Rosen JCC is proud to host the Orlando Repertory Theatre Camp (The REP), Orlando Magic Basketball Camp, and My Gym Camp as part of its growing program. Extended care from 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. is available.


Super Awesome Cool Pottery’s summer camps boast weekly themes.

SUMMER CAMPS by Super Awesome Cool Pottery, superawesomecool.com/camp, held at various locations throughout the area, encourage children in grades first through eighth to think creatively while having fun exploring themes. Each clay and acrylic painting project is designed to be an opportunity for self-expression as new skills are taught. Awesome artistic experiences create a new sense of self-confidence. The staff looks forward to helping your child
experience the thrill of building, painting and creating bowls on the potter’s wheel!


The staff at Safety First Swim School makes students their first priority.

SWIM LESSONS at Safety First Swim School, 321-418-6532, safetyfirstswim.com, offers survival swim lessons at West Orange Country Club, 3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4 (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The truth is that although drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death in young children, it is also true that this unfortunate statistic is 100% preventable. According to officials at the National Institute of Health, swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.


The Tennis Academy at Windermere Preparatory School gives its campers hands-on tennis experience.

TENNIS CAMPS at The Tennis Academy at Windermere Preparatory School, 6189 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere, 407-928-6666, is a five-star facility with five-star, experienced coaches. The program, which begins May 25, includes fun, games and activities while keeping cool at lunchtime in classrooms, as well as a lifeguard-supervised swimming pool option! The cost is $275 per person for five days or $175 per person for three days from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. If required, before- and after-care are provided from 7:45-9 a.m. and 2-5:45 p.m. for a cost of $115 per week. Lessons/junior programs continue throughout the summer as well as Elite Training Camps that run Monday-Thursday and cost $320 per person each week. For more information or electronic registration, visit www.orlandotennisacademy.com or email info@orlandotennisacademy.com. ♥