Summer is right around the corner, and that means school will soon be out and kids will be looking for something to do.
Luckily, there are almost a million cool summer camps in Concord to choose from, so there’s bound to be at least one for everyone.
Since we don’t have enough room to go over every single one, we did our best to give you a good sampling of camps that still have spots open – no sense in getting you all excited for a camp that’s full.
Concord Parks and Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Department has a plethora of camps (register at concordnh.gov), but here are some highlights. The first three are Traditional Camps that run June 20 to Aug. 12 and the others are Specialty Camps with unique dates and times.
- Kids Camp: Traditional favorites like arts and crafts, swimming, songs and games – plus field trips. It’s for first- and second-graders.
- Rec Camp: Get creative with arts and crafts, play sports, games, and do cool activities. Take field trips to places like Ellacoya State Park and Wallis Sands. Sign up for one week or all eight. For third- through fifth-graders.
- Teen Camp: An elite trip and travel camp. Experience a new adventure each week, from surfing and rock climbing to kayaking and beach trips. Monday through Thursday, with Friday spent in town or used as a make-up date (in the event of bad weather). For sixth- through eighth-graders.
- Swim Camp: Brand new this year, a challenging, educational and fun experience. Participate in swimmer exercises, drills and games that entail a combination of mental, technical and physical training. A camp-wide swim meet on the last day of camp ends the week in a fun way. For first- through fourth-graders. July 25-29.
- Lacrosse Camp: Drills, skills and having fun are what this camp is about. Coach Sean O’Brien, Merrimack Valley High varsity coach, leads the camp. For third- through ninth-graders. June 27 to July 1.
Concord Community Music School
Concord Community Music School offers three camps, all held at the school, 23 Wall St. Most of them assume no prior musical experience. To register, call 228-1196 or go to ccmusicschool.org.
- Music & Movement: This camp offers a range of early childhood classes, including classes like Stretch, Dance, & Sing and Yoga & Child. Come and play with songs, stories, movement games, rhythm instruments, improvisation, art, dance, and fun. Open to all children 3 months to 7 years old and their parents/caregivers. June 7 through July 13, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Summer Jam Camp: This camp invites instrumentalists and singers to come together for a week of jamming in music of many styles, including jazz, rock and blues. There will be jam bands for both beginning and advanced students. Create a CD of the band at the end of the week. July 11-15. Open to students in grades five through 12 (including students that would like to bring their existing band).
- Creative Arts Camp: This two-week camp will engage students entering grades one through six in music, movement, visual art activities and indoor and outdoor games. On the afternoon of the final day each week, family and friends can stop by early. .July 18-22 and July 25-29. Can be attended separately or together.
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
The Discovery Center offers eight stellar camps throughout the summer. Call 271-7827 ext. 102 to reserve a spot. Here are some highlights:
- Stargazers Club: Learn the basics of astronomy and share stories of the night sky with your friends. Get a closer look at the sky through the Discovery Center’s telescopes, and even build your own. Wednesday evenings from June 29 to Aug. 3, 8 to 10 p.m. Intended for ages 14 to 17.
- 3-2-1 Blast Off!: Build and modify different types of rockets each day, including model rockets, water rockets, air rockets and more. Invite your family to the big blast-off on the last day of camp. June 27 to July 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ages 8 to 12.
- Junior Space Travelers: Learn the ins and outs of space travel and exploration by journeying through the solar system. Present your final mission plan to family and friends on the last day. July 5- 8, 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 5 to 7.
Evo Rock + Fitness
Evo Rock + Fitness has two summer camps – one indoors, one outdoors. These are one-week camps that run through the whole summer. Go to evorock.com/concord-nh/kids to sign up.
- Indoor Camp: Days will be loaded with top-rope climbing, bouldering, games, slacklining and adventure. Hang with fun Evo instructors on 40-foot walls. Monday through Friday at Evo, 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Ages 6 to 12.
- Outdoor Camp: Kids will experience the greatest climbing areas Maine and New Hampshire have to offer. The week will consist of one indoor training day and three days of outdoor climbing. Age groups vary and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to see if they are eligible to participate. Days go from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and that includes time driving to Rumney.
N.H. Audubon
The Audubon offers three camps plus a Leaders-in-Training program for young teens who hope to be a counselor. There are eight sessions running June 27 to Aug. 19. Check out nhaudubon.org/get-outside/camps/ for details and to sign up.
- Wonders Camp: This half-day session gives your child the opportunity to begin experiencing the wonders of camp. Ages 4 to 5.
- Discovery Camp: Discovery Campers spend their days exploring the fields, forest, and wetlands. Ages 6 to 9.
- Explorers Camp: Explorers experience the beauty of the outdoors by taking field trips around the state each day, plus hiking, swimming and projects focused on conservation and stewardship. Ages 10 to 12.
