Summer programs offer children new perspectives

When children get restless during the long and hot summer hours, many parents find day and overnight camps good places for their children to continue their education, skill building and fun.

Patty Gurule, senior office assistant for Douglas County Parks and Recreation, said summer programs offer children a new perspective.

"These are learning programs that teach different ideas," Gurule said. "It lets kids interface with children their own age and they all learn something from it."

Douglas County's most popular children's summer program is the adventure camp, Gurule said. The program takes children to Sand Harbor for scavenger hunts, Rancho San Rafael Park to pan for gold and go on log rides and Virginia City to tour the old school house and mine.

School is more structured but summer programs provide children with a chance to continue their education, Gurule added.

Below is a list of some of the area's day and overnight camps.

Carson City Recreation Division -- For information on the following, visit 851 E. William St. or call 887-2290 ext. 101

-- Sports camps, instruction in golf, tennis, soccer, baseball and softball. Taught at the Eagle Valley golf course. Ages 6 -16. Monday-Thursday, June 9-12, July 14-17, July 28-31, Aug. 11-14 Cost $105 per session.

-- Kids Klub Preschool, four weeks of summer camp for children who have been potty-trained. Ages 3-5. Monday-Thursday, June 9-12, June 23-26, July 7-10, July 21-24. Cost $32 per week.

--Band Camp, for students with a minimum of one year experience in instrumental music. The camp will feature concert band, jazz band, theory classes, sectionals and small ensembles. Grades 6-8. Aug. 4-8, 10 a.m. to noon. Cost $85.

--Junior Golf, Beginner and Intermediate, covers tee shots, fairway shots, chipping, pitching and putting. Ages 6-17, Tuesday- Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., June 24-16 and July 8-10. Cost $60

--Latch Key summer camp, for students from kindergarten to ninth grade. Activities include sports, arts and crafts, groups games, special events, movie meal days and field trips to Lake Tahoe, Boomtown, Wild waters and more. June 16- Aug. 15. Cost $63-$80, per week, per child.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada also offers a series of field trips to Sand Harbor, Bowers Mansion, Ponderosa ranch, ice skating and more. They also have sports leagues, classes and special events throughout the summer for ages 7-18. For information call 882-8820.

ComputerCorps is sponsoring a TechCamp lasting six weeks and starting June 10 for children 10-15 years old. Campers learn to recycle, test and build a computer during the camp. Tuition is $350 and there are three six-week courses. For information, call 883-2323.

Douglas County Parks and Recreation -- For information on any of the following call 782-9828.

-- Summer soccer camp, taught by internationally known coach Dennis Belisle who is certified in both England and the United States. For ages 9-14, July 21-25. Classes will be taught at Aspen Park and the cost is $90.

-- Girls Junior High Basketball camp, brush up on your basketball skills before the middle school tryouts. Clinic will focus on skill development and fundamentals of basketball and team concepts. Ages 12-15, Aug. 18-19. Cost $40.

--Adventure Camp, field trips, arts and crafts, games and creative centers. Held at Pinon Hills Elementary and Gardnerville Elementary schools. Grades K-6, June 23- Aug. 12. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Cost $20 a day.

-- Horse camp, learn to ride and care for a horse with a special emphasis on safety. Camp includes horseback games and a horse show at the end of the week. Ages 8-11, July 7-11 and July 13-18; ages 12-14, July 11-15, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Cost $280.

-- Dance camp for beginning and intermediate dancers. Dancers will be exposed to ballet, creative movement, choreography, musical theater and acrobatics. Campers may attend one day or three days. Ages 7-12, Tuesday-Thursday, July 8-31. Cost $90 for three days or $35 per day.

Western Nevada Community College camps to enroll call 887-3113

-- Kids Computer Camp, learn basic Windows operations , keyboarding, word processing, Internet research and desktop publishing. Grades 2-5. Monday- Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., June 30-July 3. Cost $50.

-- Pet Care Camp, students learn basic animal care for dogs, cats, rodents and water animals. Ages 6 and up. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., July 14-18. Cost $40.

-- Sign Language camp, learn basic components of American Sign Language, including the alphabet. Ages 8 and up. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., July 21- 24. Cost $35.

Lake Tahoe camps

--Camp Richardson has parent and child arts and crafts activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning June 16. Cost is $3-$10. Ages 5-12

--Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe. A week-long camp offering aquatic activities, archery, arts and crafts, canoeing and more. Cost is $201 to $350 a week. First week begins June 28. Call (925) 671-3273 for information.

-- Western Area 4-H Camp near Stateline, swimming, canoeing, hiking, learning about Lake Tahoe, arts and crafts, campfire songs, games, skits, low-level ropes course/challenge activities. Sponsored by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Register by June 15. Ages 9-12. July 6-12. Cost $180. Call 887-2252 to register.

-- Camp Galilee, Episcopal Camp and Conference Center,1776 Highway 50, Glenbrook. Focus on American Indian spirituality. Explore the history, customs and traditions of American Indians in the Great Basin. Age groups are separated as follows: June 22-28 Younger Elementary, June 29-July 5 Elementary, July 6-12 Younger Middle School, July 13-19 Middle School, July 20-26 High School. Cost $250 per week.

-- Cobi Jones Soccer Camp, Professional World Cup soccer star Cobi Jones conducts this on the lake at Pomin Park, Tahoe City, and for one week in Truckee. Ages 7-18, weekly June 15-Aug.16. Cost $195 a week. Call 888-PRO-CAMP for information.