Jun 15, 2016 11 min read

Odyssey of the Mind

Upper St. Clair’s Odyssey of the Mind program is running a summer Ingenuity Camp for students in grades 1 through 7 from June 27-July 1. For more information or to register, visit www.uscootm.com.

Pony camps

Horses Unlimited in South Park will hold two separate Pony Camps (Aug. 1-4 and Aug. 8-11) for beginner riders age 5 to 11. No experience necessary. Activities at each four-day camp, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, include: learning to groom (and bathe), saddle, bridle and ride a pony; how to feed and care for horses; “horsey” arts and crafts; blacksmith and veterinary demonstrations. New campers receive a free Horse Care Kit. Each Camp is limited to 12 children. Fee per camp is $335 per child. To register or for more information on the camp, as well as riding lessons for kids ages 4 and up and “Pony, Pop & Pizza Birthday Parties,” call 412-835-7726, or visit the Facebook page “South Park Pony Rides – Horses Unlimited.”

National Aviary

If so, the National Aviary will offer Teen Week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1-5 for teens interested in veterinary science or who simply love working with animals.

In response to popular demand, the National Aviary has created a full week of immersive experiences just for teens. Two concurrent sessions for ages 13-15 and ages 16-18 will be held the first week of August, during which participants will discover what it takes to care for, feed and train more than 500 birds and explore a day in the life of a zoo veterinarian.

Teens will take part in caring for patients in the National Aviary’s bird hospital, where they will conduct physical exams and perform a necropsy. They will meet with the Aviary’s aviculturists, explore free-flight exhibits, prepare diets for a variety of species, and work among flocks of lorikeets, flamingos and penguins. The week will include time to shadow the National Aviary’s certified falconer, while interacting with birds of prey, and learning the latest bird training techniques from Education Trainers. Birding hikes through Allegheny Commons Park and time to capture images of beautiful National Aviary birds through nature photography or sketching will round out this experience.

Participants will also have access to the National Aviary’s exhibits and free-flight rooms, as well as the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater, Sky Deck, Canary’s Call, Condor Court and many behind-the-scenes spaces not accessible to the public. Cost is $175 for members and $195 for non-members. Camp fees include admission, all scheduled activities, supplies, a camp T-shirt,and time to explore the National Aviary. Register online at www.aviary.org. For more information, call 412-323-7235.

Summer day camps

Peters Township Parks & Recreation Department offers Summer Day Camps at Peterswood Park, shelter 4, for children ages 6-11. Three one-week sessions for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, July 11-15, July 18-22 and July 25-29. Enjoy sports, crafts, hikes, music, games, special visitors/speakers and more. Fee is $55 for members or $83 for non-members (per week). Preregistration is required at the Community Recreation Center or online at www.peterstownship.com.

Art/drama/music camp

An art, drama and music camp will be offered 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 25-29 at View Crest Presbyterian Church, Eighty Four, for children ages 6-13, beginner through advanced. Spend a week with qualified instructors passionate about their craft. The week culminates in a concert and gallery showing at 7 p.m. July 29. Cost is $55/child ($45 for each additional child per family). A healthy lunch is included in the cost. Early registration is suggested. Register online at viewcrestchurch.org.

Bethel Park Camps

Bethel Park Recreation Department offers Day Camp 2016, eight weekly sessions June 13-Aug. 5, for ages 6-10. The all-day program runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; morning program runs 9 a.m.-noon; and the afternoon program runs 12:30-3:30 p.m.

• Summer Fun 2016, eight weekly sessions June 13-Aug. 5, for ages 11-14. Activities include sports, arts and crafts, swimming and field trips. The all-day program runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; afternoon program runs 12:30-3:30 p.m.

For more information, call 412-831-1328 or visit www.bethelpark.net.

Theatre Arts summer camp

Little Lake Theatre Company, Canonsburg, will hold two sessions of its Theatre Arts Summer Camp: July 11-22 and Aug. 1-12. Campers, in grades 4-12, will benefit from training by theatre professionals in acting, movement and voice, musical theatre technique, improvisation, rehearsal techniques and audition skills. All campers will have a featured role in Little Lake’s final showcase performance. For enrollment and fee information, visit www.littlelake.org/programs/theatre-arts-camp. For more information, contact Jena Oberg at 724-272-3968.

Camp Gan Israel

Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, will offer Camp Gan Israel 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 27-July 8 for children ages 4 to 9. Arts and crafts, trips, Shabbat parties, swimming, sports, hot lunches and more. Children can attend for one or both weeks. Those selecting the two-week option can attend session 3 of Jewish Kids Club for free. For details and registration, call Riki at 412-344-2424 or riki@chabadsh.com or www.chabadsh.com.

Bricks 4 Kidz

WROC at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, offers Bricks 4 Kidz camp – learning and playing with LEGO bricks, featuring guided projects and challenges as well as time for free-play in groups for ages 5-8 and 9-12. Each session meets 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday. Cost of $125 per session includes t-shirt and a visit from the Kona ice truck on the last day of camp.

Camps include:

• Super Heroes: June 27-July 1

• Mining and Crafting: July 18-22

• Clash of Bricks: Aug. 1-5

To register, visit wroc.westminster-church.org or call Kathy Long at 412-835-6630.

Brass Camp

Brass Camp 2016, open to all brass musicians in elementary, middle and high school, will be held five Sunday afternoons, beginning July 3 and culminating in a free public concert at 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Bridgeville. The concert will also include a special performance by the Allegheny Brass Band.

“Her Majesty’s Secret Brass Band” Camp will include musical selections from British composers Gustav Hoist and Edward Elgar, favorite hits from English rock bands Queen, the Rolling Stones and The Beatles, and musical themes from the United Kingdom’s most popular secret agent, James Bond, and more.

Registration is $30 for Brass Camp 2016. Visit www.WolfTrumpetLessons.com for registration forms or call 412-667-1150 for more information.

Camp Invention

Camp Invention, the nation’s premier summer enrichment day camp program, supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and a product of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, is coming to Mt. Lebanon School District’s Bower Hill Elementary July 18-22. For students entering grades 1-6, Camp Invention is a week-long adventure featuring hands-on problem solving using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This year’s Camp Invention curriculum, called Epic, features hands-on modules like CrickoBot, where campers construct and personalize a DIY solar-powered cricket and a unique habitat; Epic Park, where campers work in teams to design an eco-adventure park; I Can Invent: Maker Studio, where campers brainstorm product ideas and build original prototypes using real tools and components found in everyday devices; and The Lab: Where Pigs Fly, where children can discover the science of slime, demolition, electronic sound, giant squid and coding.

For more information and registration, visit www.campinvention.org.

Carlow University

Carlow University’s innovative summer workshops for high school girls – July 12-15 – focus on healthcare, science and the environment. Chose from Prepare to Care, Summer Science Nation and ECO Camp. Campers will spend three fun-filled days and nights on the college campus. To register, visit www.carlow.edu/summerworkshops.

Carnegie Science Center

Summer science camps at the Science Center are an adventure for kids ages 4-14. Campers can investigate science careers, experiment with roller coasters, build a bridge and more as they enjoy a full week of themed activities, hundreds of hands-on exhibits, an Omnimax film, a summer camp T-shirt, interaction with dozens of science education professionals and even field trips for some camps (additional fees may apply). The Carnegie Science Center offers pre- and post-camp child care for a nominal fee. For more information, including a complete list of camps, call 412-237-1637 or visit www.carnegiesciencecenter.org.

Falcon Camp

This premier traditional summer camp, only 80 miles west of Pittsburgh in Carrollton, Ohio, is for boys and girls ages 6-16. Enjoy a beautiful lakefront setting, wide variety of activities and outstanding staff. Two-, four-, six- and eight-week sessions with a special one-week intro for 6-9-year-olds are available. For more information, call 800-837-CAMP or visit www.falconcamp.com.

Girl Scouts of Western Pa Camps

Girl Scout camp is for every girl – you don’t need to join a troop. Each of Girl Scouts’ nine camps is different – campers choose based on interests, age or level of outdoor experience. For more information, visit www.gswpa.org/camp or call 800-248-3355.

Iceoplex Summer Camp

The Iceoplex at Southpointe, Canonsburg, announces the return of its annual Summer Activities Camp, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 13-Aug. 19, for kids age 5-12. At camp, children engage in healthy activities as well as explore different themes catered to different areas of interests. Activities include daily ice skating and indoor sports opportunities, field trips to some of Pittsburgh’s and Washington’s best attractions, educational exploration as well as arts and crafts activities.

The schedule includes themed weeks such as space adventures, video game mania, circus spectacular, dinosaurs, Iceoplex Olympics, explorer nature and more. Cost is $50/day ($45/day if pre-purchased) or $225/week. Additional siblings receive a 10 percent discount. To register or for more information, call 724-745-6666 ext. 200 or visit iceoplexatsouthpointe.com.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

Traditional Day Camps – Sabra for children entering kindergarten-grade 2 and Chalutzim for grades 3-6 – provide children with an enriching summer filled with fun activities. For teens, the JCC offers pre-counselor-in-training, Camp Ozrim for grades 7-8 and CIT Leadership for grades 9-10. Specialized day camps include Performing Arts Camp, Wet & Wild Camp, Adventure and Mini-Adventure Camp Specialty Camps.

Before- and after-camp care is available for all of the day camps.

For more information about South Hills Day Camps at the JCC in Scott, visit www.jccdaycamps.con/southhills.

Mushroom Family Learning Center

Mushroom Family Learning Center, an independent, nonprofit preschool on the border of Scott Township and Mt. Lebanon, announces open registration for “A Slice of Summer,” its four-week summer camp for children ages 3 to 6 (including a class for incoming first-graders).

The camp will be held 9:15-11:45 a.m. every weekday morning, June 6-July 1, and feature arts and crafts, games, outdoor fun, science and nature, stories, movement and more. To schedule a tour, call director Joan Harrison at 412-531-1225. To learn more, visit mushroomfamily.org.

Oakland Catholic high school

Available camps include basketball (with four different sessions), volleyball, Write Your Mind, Morning Masterpiece Art Camp, LEGO Mindstorm and Girls Night Out. For more information or to register, visit www.oaklandcatholic.org.

Pittsburgh CLO

Pittsburgh CLO Academy’s summer performance camps are designed to give kids of all ages the opportunity to experience preparing for and performing on the stage. Working with a director, music director and choreographer, students will create their own exciting musical theater experience. Dates and programs vary.

All camps take place at the CLO Academy, and all participants receive a free ticket for a Pittsburgh CLO Summer Season show at the Benedum Center. For questions about Summer Camps, call 412-281-2234 or email CLOAcademy@pittsburghclo.org.

St. Louise de Marillac

Story and Music Time Camp is open to all preschool children ages 4 to starting kindergarten in the fall of 2016. Camp takes place 9-10:30 a.m. June 13-17. Each day, students will hear a story, complete a fun activity and learn a song. Tuition for the week will be $80 per student. Class size is limited and the registration deadline is May 30.

Those needing tuition assistance should contact Mr. Klase. For an enrolment form, visit www.stlouiseschoolpa.org.

Summer Playground Camp

South Fayette Township Parks & Recreation holds Summer Playground Camp each year for children ages 5-12. Counselors guide and supervise a variety of games, crafts, activities and entertainment for participants, including swimming on select weeks.

Half-day, whole-day and whole-week options are available to accommodate any schedule. The township also organizes a variety of other themed and activity-specific summer camps, included Jump Starts Sports, Awesome Art, Engineering for Kids, HappyFeet Soccer, Natural Science, Outdoor Classroom, Snapology LEGO and Challenger British Soccer.

For a complete list of programs, dates and locations, and to register and pay, visit www.southfayettepa.com/recreation.

Wild Things Baseball Camp

Learn the game of baseball from the professionals at the Washington Wild Things. Camps run June 14-15, July 13-14 and Aug. 9-10 at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington. For more information, visit www.washingtonwildthings.com.

Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center

A Fit Kids and Cameron Kids camps are offered at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center in Washington. Activities include swimming, climbing, traditional and unique sports, nature hikes, crafts and more. For more information, including dates, times and pricing, visit www.wrcameronwellness.org.