The Camps of Summer

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With spring and summer right around the corner, area children are about to have a lot of free time on their hands. For families without a stay-at-home parent or a retired grandparent, this creates quite a dilemma. Fear not, however, because there is an age-old solution to this annual conundrum, summer camp.

Florissant is no stranger to the summer camp scene, and with a variety of near-by options for parents to choose from, there’s a camp for every kid somewhere out there.

1) The city of Florissant offers its own summer day camp programs through the and  centers. Called Summer Playground, the two community centers offer day camps for children ages 6-12, starting June 13 and running through July 22. Parents can drop off their children Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with sports, crafts, swimming and a host of other activities. Florissant residents can enroll their children starting April 1 for $80 for the first child and $60 for each additional child. Non-residents can register their children starting June 1 for $200 each. Call 314-921-4466 for more information.

2) While summer is usually the big concern for parents, not every family takes off for a vacation during spring break. Thewill be off March 14-18, and the follows a week later on March 21-25.  Area KinderCare Learning Centers are ready to step up and offer their Spring Camp for children during each spring break session. This year, children will discover the Secret Science of Dirt, teaching kids ranging from ages 3 to as old as 12 on how things grow and how to prepare basic, but tasty, veggie dishes. For enrollment, call the at 314-839-0501.

3)    Neighboring Hazelwood offers their own summer day camps for Florissant residents looking for a new location. Divided into two sessions, the first from June 6-July 1 and the second from July 5-July 29, children, ages 6-11, will be able to play sports, board games, swim and play on the area’s skate park and partake in activities throughout White Birch Park at the Hazelwood Community Center. Florissant residents can sign their kids up for $450 for both sessions or $275 for one. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For an extra $100 per session, parents can drop their children off as early as 7 a.m. and pick them up as late as 6 p.m. Call 314-731-0980 for more information.

4)    For children who’d rather build a robot than throw a baseball, the St. Louis Science Center offers a brainy alternative. Children from grades first through fourth can partake in half or full-day activities between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., while students in grades five through twelve are treated to full-day science sessions where they will learn the facts behind flight, mythbusting and, of course, robots. Camps run from June 6 through Aug. 5, and parents are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Visit the official website for pricing and registration forms.

5)    The Magic House offers its own take on summer camp for children ages 4-9. Scientific activites are combined with teamwork and group play of summer camp to create an exciting combination of play and learning. There are two sessions, one beginning in early June and the other in mid-July. Non-members can enroll their children for $95 and can even receive a 10 percent discout if they sign up for both sessions. Reservations can be made online or by calling 314-822-8900.