It’s about that time. Endless options for opening your kids’ minds during the holidays can be a tad daunting. You need to make a choice – and fast. Luckily, I have the skinny on what’s cool for the cubs this season.
Get the mobile, pick one of these Dublin camps and make the call.
ECO-UNESCO Summer Camp – from July 6th and during August
Where: Phoenix Park, Dublin
Age group: 5 – 12 years, in various classes
Why go: A host of interactive outdoor ‘green’ games for your children includes building a bug hotel (cool) and planting seeds. To fascinate school-going children, the games are all designed with a planet-friendly focus. The great bit? You can drop the kids off early and collect them a little later, if you wish. The staff have 25 years of experience in environmental education. Maybe you can have them build your a home herb garden when they return? Savage cabbage.
How much?: €100 per child, per week
Call: 01 662 5491
Bow Street Summer Camp – June, July and August
Where: Actors Studio formerly ‘The Factory’, Bow Street
Age group: 12 – 17 years
Why go: Lights, camera and action… literally. A child may immerse themselves in a little of every facet of the film industry here, with a choice of two modules to choose from, ‘Acting for Camera’ or ‘Filmmaking’. For the older kids in your clan, it’s a must. Industry professionals and mentors teach technique through interactive workshops. The participants can explore the tools required to make a movie and aspects of the industry are dismantled for your kid to understand. Deadly.
How much?: €385 for two weeks
Call: 01 531 0929
Summer Drama Camp – July and August
Where: The Gaiety School of Acting, Essex Street West, Temple Bar
Age group: 7 – 13 years, in various classes
Why go: Encouraged by the experts, your kids will help write, act and perform in their very own stage piece. The children use their ideas to form the basis of a performance, then they gain confidence in putting together simple scripts and movements with the help of the talented educators. The scenes are professionally choreographed, and the entire family can attend the finished stage show.
How much?: €200 per week
Call: 01 679 9277
Junior Chef Cookery Camp – June, July and August
Where: 131 Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock
Why go: Children learn vital life skills, making soup, bread, curry, lemon drizzle cake, falafel, hummus and brownies from scratch. Fun in the making and baking process alongside the premise of enjoying healthy food is a winning combination at Junior Chef. The aspect of wellness is encouraged in the classes. The big win? Cooking and managing the kitchen are taught early – that can only be good at home, right?
Age group: 4 – 16 years, in various classes
How much?: €156 – €180 per week, depending on the age of your child
Call: 01 278 0382
Pine Forest Easter Camp –
Where: Glencullen, Kilternan, Co. Dublin
Why go: Set in the beautiful Dublin mountains, Pine Forest’s Camp is an explosion of creativity. Kids participate in a huge variety of art and craft. Each child brings a packed lunch and drink for the day to keep fueled between activities. Forest trails at lunch time, (weather permitting) make this place pretty awesome for city-dwellers who don’t often spend time in the rugged outdoors. With an emphasis on creative fun, there is every opportunity to make friends and build your child’s confidence. Fab.
Age group: 5 – 16 years, in various classes.
How much?: €145
Call: 01 294 1220
Whizzkids Summer Camp – days during July and August
Where: Dublin City University (DCU) and Universtiy College Dublin (UCD)
Age group: From eight-years-of-age
Why go: Computers and technology play a huge role in the life of a child of the Noughties. This course offers a balance of techy knowledge and basic computer processes, too. The programmes at Whizzkids educate and entertain children through computing, learning about software, online games and challenges. Tailored classes to suit children with special needs are on the schedule, too. What an innovative way to introduce IT skills. We like.
How much: €149 – €285 for siblings, per full-day camp
Call: 061 339 178 (main number in Limerick)
Want to share some cool activity camp fun with us? Send you family pics via email with the title ‘HerFamily Fun Times’ and we will share them on our social media pages: karen.forde@herfamily.ie
