The JOLT’s Ultimate Summer Camp Guide for Kids

As things slowly get back to normal, the summer offers a perfect opportunity for kids to interact and enjoy different activities after a year of online classes. From outdoor sports to learning about self-empowerment, here’s The JOLT’s guide to finding the perfect summer camp for kids.

Some camps are already full; those are not listed here. The following programs had availability as of June 21, 2020:

 Camp Olywahoo

There are still a few spots left for the City of Olympia's Camp Olywahoo Summer 2021. For this year, the camp has three venues, Garfield, Mckenny, and Lincoln Olywahoo. The event begins from June 28 to August 27 from 7:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The camp is open for youth and teens. They offer several activities that the youth can participate in such as, sports, games, arts, and music. The camp also offers field trips, summer readings, and even a weekly theme! From Mad Scientists to Culture Quest, Safari Explorers, Time Travelers, and so much more. These unique themes allow campers to have an opportunity to show their creative side.

What’s even more interesting is that they are also offering Olywahoo Mini for kids ages 4-5 years old. The camp offers different activities such as storytelling, music, arts, games, and even field trips to local scenes such as the Farmer’s Market and the East Bay Stream. Just like Camp Olywahoo, little ones can explore different themes such as Nature’s Treasures, Berry Fun Days, and so much more. The Olywahoo Mini runs from July 6-9.

SKIPP Summer Camp

The Summer Kids in the Park Program (SKIPP) is a free and supervised camp in Garfield and Madison. The Camp offers several arts, crafts, and games for kids aged 6-12 years old. Due to strict coronavirus guidelines, event organizers encourage parents to register in advance.

Paddlesports Camp

Open for kids 11-14 years old the Paddlesports Camp teaches participants how to kayak and even use the paddleboard. In addition, organizers also plan to host nature field trips to the Nisqually Delta or the Lake Cushman area. The camp would provide participants with the necessary equipment for their activities.

Variety Camp: Tween Edition

Enjoy a summer outdoor adventure with the Variety Camp. The event offers different fun activities such as hiking, biking, sea kayaking, canoeing, swimming, rock climbing and led by expert instructors. The event begins on June 28 and ends on July 2. It runs starting on Mondays-Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Since the camp is off-site, the pick-up venue is at Garfield Elementary School.

Variety camp also offers similar activities for kids 6-8 years old.

Especially for Teens

The camp offers different activities such as swimming, bowling, and rock climbing. The event runs from Mondays to Fridays starting, from June 28 to August 27. The camp is also off-site, and organizers urge students to be at the Garfield MP room before 7:30 a.m.

Sports for Life Camps

Want to learn a new sport but too afraid to try? The Sports for Life Camp offers students a perfect opportunity to learn about sports in a non-competitive environment. Open for kids aged 6-12 years old the camp offers several sports activities such as soccer, basketball, dodgeball, baseball, tennis, flag football, and volleyball.

The event starts from June 28 to August 27 at the Madison Cafeteria, although the tennis classes are at the Lincoln Gym.

T-Bird Youth Football Camp 2021

The Tumwater T-Birds opens its 32nd football camp, which starts from July 12-13 at the Tumwater High School. The event begins from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Parents may fill up and send their application through the mail.

Bricks 4 Kidz Sports Fanatics Camp

Aside from outdoor activities,  Play Ball! LEGO® is hosting a Bricks 4 Kidz Sports Fanatics Camp. The event offers campers a chance to recreate their robotic athletes such as gymnasts, soccer plates, cheerleading, or hockey players. During the event, older kids can also learn more about coding and video games.

Olympia Family Theater Camp

There are still slots available for the Olympia Family Theater Camp. Each session is three hours long and divided into different groups. For the morning group, the camp is open for kids ages 7-10 years old. For the afternoon, the camp will cater to kids 10-14 years old.

For its first week, the camp will have silly stories and poetry out loud, which runs from July 5-9. For the second week, the camp will focus on arts and crafts design from July 12-16. In the following weeks, students will learn how to act on stage as well focus on character development.

Camps 4 Girls

Empowerment4Girls will host two camps that aim to foster sisterhood and awareness among young girls. First, the Empowerment Camps will educate and help girls to cultivate their self-confidence and unique character while at the same time developing core life skills.

In addition, they will also host a Conscious Minds Conscious Body camp that will focus on intentional sexuality education that would provide awareness for young girls, specifically on their  anatomy, body changes, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Nature Sleuth

Parents may also bond with their kids to complete any of the Nature Sleuth missions. To join, participants can simply download the GooseChase app to explore the 21 parks in Thurston County. From overgrown forests, beaver ponds, and even marine beaches, participants get to receive a Nature Sleuth sticker and get a chance to win prizes whenever they complete a mission.

Meet the Beach

Hosted by the Puget Sound Estuarium, the Meet the Beach event allows kids to visit different beaches across Thurston County from Burfoot, and Woodard Bay to Priest Point and Tolmie State Park, wading through mud and discovering sea creatures along the way. The events run from June 12 to August 22.