Now that the school year is coming to a close, what about summer? While many summer camps closed due to social distancing guidelines, a number of arts, culture, and STEM organizations have pivoted to online camps that your student can attend from home.
THEATER CAMPS
Virginia Rep Theatre combines pre-recorded videos with daily live-stream classes to bring l ocal theatre camps with a virtual flair! Students age 5-18 can enroll in one to two week classes in creative drama, music, dance, and arts and crafts - taught by Virginia Rep's professional educators. Prices vary per camp, as do the hours per day. Check HERE for details and registration.
Puppets Off Broad Street and Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus brings RVA Circus Arts Camp: "THE GREATEST SHOW ONLINE!" - a two-week virtual camp with circus artists teaching puppet making, juggling, professional clown, close-up magic, and more. Classes will run August 3-14, from 9:30am-3:30pm, cost is $250 for the full two weeks with a 50% sibling discount.
Looking for improv? Try Improv Adventures Online Summer Camp from Comedy Sportz RVA. Their weekly Virtual Camps offer two full hours per day for students aged 9-18, where they can laugh, connect and interact with other campers, learning how to collaborate with each other to create memorable stories and characters without a script. CSz’s Sketch Comedy Camp is a two-week class, three hours a day, for students aged 14-18 that teaches the art of sketch comedy. Prices vary.
STEM CAMPS
Club SciKidz offers weekly online game design camps for grades 1-7 teaching how to build popular games such as Minecraft and how to code on platforms like Roblox. Pricing is between $220-250/week for classes from 10am-3pm each weekday, for grades 1-7, and there are technical requirements for participation. Club SciKidz also offers a “Camp in a Box” with projects to do at home. For $20, you receive two pair of boxes that include science experiments, nature activities, tech/engineering projects, lab equipment, a science surprise and more!
CodeVA brings online Eureka Workshop Classes this summer for 3rd-6th graders that offer computer science experiences, combining the problem-solving skills of the visual arts and coding. They introduce your child to the world of computational thinking through play, with classes such as game design and robot programming.
VISUAL ARTS CAMP
The Visual Art Center of Richmond’s ArtVenture Summer Campsare going online as well. Registration for Vis Arts’ summer online catalog opens on July 8 and will include online ArtVenture camps in a new format as well as adult, teen and family studio classes. In the meanwhile, check out their Spring, 2020 catalog for classes you can enroll in now. Vis Arts also offers “Take + Make Kits” each week containing projects designed by a local artist with step-by-step instructions and the supplies needed to make it. Kit pricing ranges from $20-$35.
DANCE CAMPS
Richmond Ballet brings their dance camps and summer dance intensives online for kids of all ages. Plus, they offer their Minds in Motion summer camp, filled with dance, creative movement, music, and related arts and crafts.
WRITING CAMP
Richmond Young Writers provides 1-1.5 hour online Zoom workshops for kids and teens aged 9-18. Many of them are priced in the $20-25 range, but some are free! Workshops teach important writing skills such as writing personal experiences and character development. Go HERE to learn more and register.
