Summer Camp Recommendations for in and Around the Atlanta Area

One of the huge pluses to living in and around Atlanta is the wide variety of summer programs options available for children. Parents can choose from a wide variety of day and overnight camps across the state. These programs feature such activities as horse back riding, rock climbing, environmental exploration and art and science enrichment programs. Regardless of your child's interests, there's sure to be a camp in the Atlanta area that is right for her or him. Here is a sample of some of the summer camps in the Atlanta area. This list is by no means complete but here to show the wide variety of activities available to keep our children's minds active and engaged while providing a fun alternative to daycare or just sitting around bored through their entire summer break.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens located in Atlanta accepts children ages 4-10 for an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional day camps. This camp, one week per age group, offers in door and outdoor activities in the children's garden. www.atlantabotanicalgardens.org

Atlanta Rocks offers children ages 8-16 an exciting alternative to the same ole' summer camp experience. At Atlanta Rocks day campers will enjoy the challenge of indoor rock climbing including child based instruction. Located in Midtown, Atlanta Rocks is open to campers Monday to Friday 10am-2pm. www.atlantarocks.com

Camp Invention offers one week day programs across the state between the hours of 9am and 3:30pm for elementary school age children. While attending camp the children rotate through 5 exploratory modules ranging from "How to cross a river of Lava" to Inventing. Quest and special needs children are encouraged to participate in this nationally renowned program. www.invent.org/camp_invention/2_1_0_camp.asp

Camp Westminsterlocated in Conyers is located on 120 acres where children can learn to ride horses and engage in fun outdoor activities in an enriching Christian environment. This overnight camp is offered to children ages 6 years to 13+. www.campwestminster.org

Gwinnett Young Singers Day Camp offered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lilburn offers children grades 2-12 a wonderful opportunity to broaden their horizons. Each day campers will attend choir practice and learn to play several percussion instruments as well as engage in other musically fun activities throughout the week. This camp runs for 1 week and is open from 10am to 4pm daily. www.gwinnettyoungsingers.com

Imagine That! Summer Camp offers exciting, hands on learning for children ages 3-14. With a variety of locations around the Atlanta area, you're sure to find just the location for your child to attend this exciting Art and Science camp. Hours are from 9:30am to 2:30pm with extended hours available for an additional charge. www.imaginethatfun.com/summercamphtm/

Music Matters Summer Camp offers aspiring musician an alternative to traditional band camp. This camp teaches children a variety of musically important activities ranging from learning scales and cords to playing instruments to effects and gear training and practically every other aspect of music in between. This day camp runs from 8:30 to 3pm and is located is Roswell and Marietta. Look them up at www.musicmaters101.com/camp

Nike-Elite Hoops Basketball Camp offers a one week camp in a variety of locationsfor girls and boys ages 8-18 years interested in learning or enhancing their present skills on the court. www.ehbasketball.com

Smoke Rise Summer Day Camp is a Christian day camp based on non-domination Christian principals. Smoke Rise Summer Day Camp offers programs for children who have finished kindergarten through 6^th grade. They also have a program for teens ages 13-16. This program offers daily activities such as swimming, arts and crafts as well as bible study. Weekly day trips will be taken in addition to weekly swimming excursions. This program runs from 8:30am to 4:30pm with extended hours for an additional cost. Smoke Rise Summer Camp is held at Smoke Rise Baptist Church located in Stone Mountain. www.smokeriseministries.org

Summer Science Day Camp located in Canton offers programs for children ages 4 to 13 years old. Summer Science Day camp offers a wide variety of activities to engage young minds. These programs range from rocket invention and veterinarian to video game makers and chemists programs. www.summersciencecamps.com

In addition to the great camps mentioned here many more camps in and around the Atlanta are can be located by using www.summer-daycamps.com. This site offers a free search by area code for day programs through out the United States for children of all ages and abilities.