Mags GarganMags Gargan looks at the options for keeping children entertained during the school holidays
The long summer school holidays are nearly upon us and it is time to start thinking of activities to keep children occupied. There are a number of organisations offering summer camps catering for children aged four up through to the teens. While offering children the chance to explore new hobbies and sports, to flex their creative skills and to make new friends, they also offer parents a break from having to come up with entertainment for the kids.
Choosing the right summer camp depends on the child’s personality and interests, but always check that the instructors are qualified and Garda vetted, and that the children will be supervised at all times.
Here’s a selection of what’s on offer this summer:
Michaela Foundation
The Michaela Foundation was inspired by the life of Michaela McAreavey and offers young women throughout Ireland different programmes tailored to establish a happy, confident and faith-filled life.
The summer camps are designed for girls aged 11-13 with fun activities based on five core elements: faith, fashion, fun, Irish and wellbeing. The foundation has extended to 21 camps this year, both North and South of the border. To see camp locations and to register see www.themichaelafoundation.com
Stage school
Summer Stage is a performing arts camp for boys and girls aged 4-13. Experienced and approachable instructors will guide the children through a memorable week of sessions in song, dance and drama in preparation for the final performance on Friday for parents.
The focus is on making friends, having fun and building confidence through learning about performance in a safe, friendly and non-pressurised environment. The camps run from July 4 – August 8. Locations in Dublin, Kildare and Meath. Admission: €80. See www.summerstage.ie or email info@summerstage.ie or call 087 1532277.
Surfdock watersports
Surfdock is Dublin’s premier watersports course provider. This summer it is offering five days of fun on the water with a mix of windsurfing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, dinghy sailing and cable wakeboarding. No experience is required.
Equipment and wetsuits can be rented. The camp runs from June-August. Admission: €195. See www.surfdock.ie or contact courses@surfdock.ie or 01-6683945.
Computer labs
Whizzkids run summer camps in Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology, giving children access to up-to-date computer labs, beautiful campuses and facilities normally only available to third level students. Each participant is allocated their own PC and all the other equipment for the camp is supplied.
There is a choice of half-day, full-day (aged 8-15) and residential summer camps (aged 13-17). Classes are broken up by age and those attending are supervised at all times by fully qualified teachers. The camps cover a range of multimedia subjects starting with the basics and going through to web design, video game programming, film production, video editing and desktop publishing. See www.whizzkids.ie
Gaeltacht courses
Gael Linn’s summer colleges for teenagers are organised in three major Gaeltacht areas in Donegal, West Cork and North Mayo. Courses in these centres are run during June, July and August each year, and one of these is a dedicated sports’ course.
Gael Linn’s courses are based on current best practice in language teaching and are delivered by qualified teachers. They are open to students aged between 11 and 18 years and are designed to improve the students’ ability and confidence to communicate with greater fluency in Irish. See www.gael-linn.ie for more information and application forms.
Soccer schools
The official Summer Soccer Schools of the Football Association of Ireland aim to provide children between the ages of six and 14 the opportunity to attend a week-long football summer camp over the holiday period. Every year boys and girls of all abilities turn out to enjoy five days of fun and football.
Over 340 camps will run over July and August from 10.30am-3pm from Monday to Friday. Admission is €65 and includes an exclusive kit, backpack, football and certificate. See www.summersoccerschools.ie or contact 1890 653 653 or sss@fai.ie
Science course
A mix of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering, Anyone 4 Science offers summer camps for children aged 4-15 divided into four age groups based in venues across the country. Camps for primary school children will run in 24 venues from Cork to Dundalk from 10am–2pm during a week of fun science activities from June 15 – August 20. Admission: €150. Children will investigate botany, plastics, food science, pulleys and levers, natural selection, acids and bases and much more through a range of age appropriate hands on activities.
Teens camps will run in Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Galway, Limerick and Thurles from 9.30am-2.30pm during the weeks June 8 -August 6. Admission: €180.
These camps can be through English, Irish or French. Activities include forensics, microbiology, spectroscopy, the ear, the eye, pulleys and levers, electronics and soldering. The students will also participate in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s global experiment. Contact 0404-40563 or 087-6749608 or info@anyone4science.com See www.anyone4science.com
GAA camps
Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps provide boys and girls aged 6-13 with an action-packed week of activity during the summer holidays, which revolves around maximising enjoyment and sustaining participant involvement in Gaelic Games. The camps are structured so that a different aspect of the game is worked on each day. The programme involves coaching specific skills of the game and the opportunity for children to put into practice what they have learned through small sided games.
On the last day there is a ‘blitz’ to provide each child with an introduction to competitive games. The camps are run throughout the summer from Monday-Friday, 10am-2.30pm in venues across the country. Admission: ROI €55 and NI £50. See www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie for details.
Farming fun
Airfield Estates summer camps in Dundrum, Dublin are hands-on with the campers growing, eating, creating, exploring and investigating fields, farm and gardens. The team at Airfield are now running three different camps: Forest Camp, Airfield Experience and Art Camp.
All camps take place in July and August from 9.30am–2.30pm daily with pick up and drop off at the set-down area outside the ticket office in the main car park. For ages 5–8 or 8-12. Admission: five-day camp €145 and four-day camp €115. Book online at www.airfield.ie or contact 01-969 6666 or email info@airfield.ie
Underwater life
Galway Aquarium is the National Aquarium of Ireland and is located on the Seafront Promenade of Salthill, overlooking Galway Bay. The Science 4 Summer camp is held each year during July and August. It is available for children from 8-12 years of age and runs from Monday-Friday from 10am–3pm. It includes science classes, experiments, design and technology activities, engineering at the aquarium, science on the seashore, knex challenges, animal studies, games and arts & crafts.
Classes and experiments are held in the Explorers Laboratory in the aquarium and on the seashore (tides and weather permitting). Students will design and make a range of models which they can bring home. Certificates and science goody bags will also be awarded to students who participate. Admission: €99 for the week. Contact 091-585100 or info@nationalaquarium.ie or see www.nationalaquarium.ie