2021 Last-Minute Camp Guide
Summer and the end of the school year are fast approaching. After many campers had to spend last year at home, this summer we can all look forward to heading back to our favorite spots thanks to safer conditions, vaccinations and falling case rates. If you are still in need of ways to keep your children engaged, active and stimulated, look no further than the CBM Bay Weekly Last-Minute Camp Guide. Take a look at the wealth of activities available to all ages in our region this summer. It’s also a great way to help discover your child’s passions, make new friends, learn new skills and best of all—create lasting memories. Act fast as space is limited and camps fill up fast!
–Kathy Knotts
Annapolis Area Christian School
Annapolis Area Christian School welcomes summer with a variety of camp options designed to keep kids delighted and engaged.
Programs such as SAT prep, robotics, and coding stimulate the mind while outlets like cheer-dance fusion, photography, video production, and cooking tap into a creative side. Sports options include a combine competition, football, basketball, and lacrosse.
The AACS program has more than 30 camp offerings for kids ages 3.5 to 18 years.
The school offers the Eagle Experience, which includes Biblical-based character building in Eagles Explorations camps, with weekly themes like Jumanji and Christmas in July.
Annapolis Area Christian School honors who they are as Christian educators, coaches, and mentors and welcome all to their camps.
AACS serves more than 800 K-12 students on four campuses in Anne Arundel County. Since Aug., in-person instruction has continued without community spread thanks to comprehensive preparation efforts and pandemic protocol compliance.
Summer camps will follow all CDC and state pandemic recommendations. One parent says, “Your kids will come home tired and happy every night.”
Annapolis Area Christian School Upper School, 109 Burns Crossing Rd., Severn, & Annapolis Area Christian School Middle School, 716 Bestgate Rd., Annapolis
Contact: 410-519-5300; www.aacsonline.org/summer
Cost: $135-$365
Dates: June 21-Aug. 6
Students need to provide: See specific camp info for details.
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Annapolis Recreation and Parks
Annapolis Recreation and Parks is offering full day camps again this summer. All camps include lunch.
Camps offered include STEAM, fencing, soccer, skate, Lego, baseball, and skate.
Summer kick-off camp for ages 10-12 will be held June 21-25 at Truxtun Park. (Residents $140 / non-resident $170).
Splash Camps will be held weekly, with kayaking, fencing and dance, and include swimming at the new pool. (R $140 / NR $170).
Community Enrichment Camp at the Annapolis Walk Community Center will be held in July for ages 4-9 and in Aug. for ages 10-15 (R $91 / NR $110).
Annapolis Recreation and Parks
Contact: 410-263-7958 or https://www.annapolis.gov/354/Camp-Information
Cost: From $140 – $170
Dates: June-Aug.
Students need to provide: Varies according to camp
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Anne Arundel County Public Library
Summer @ Your Library helps stop the summer slide and encourages reading all year long. All ages are welcome to participate in this year’s virtual program which features exciting performances and events plus reading challenges and activities that can be done anywhere. Campers log progress using the Beanstack app or on paper for giveaways and to be entered into a drawing for big prizes. The theme of this year’s program is Tales and Tails.
Activities that count toward your goal of 40 days include: attending a library program, visiting a local park or taking a walk around your neighborhood, building something, doing a science experiment, upcycling to creating something new or writing/drawing a thank you note to someone.
When 20 days of activities have been logged, campers can choose one prize or be a community helper and donate their prize and will get one raffle ticket that they can use to enter to win one of five different grand prize options.
After 40 days of activity, campers earn a second raffle ticket that can be used to enter to win one of five different grand prize options.
Grand prizes include Chromebooks, NASA Lego sets, Soft & Squish animal sets, musical instruments and Yeti gift packs.
Anne Arundel County Public Library, online and all 16 branches
Contact: Register at any library or online at aacpl.beanstack.org.
Cost: FREE
Dates: June 1-Aug. 31
Students need to provide: Track your progress online or with paper log sheets.
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Annapolis School of Seamanship Junior Captains Course
Kids get the chance to get out on the water and have fun this summer while learning essential boating skills from licensed professionals. The Annapolis School of Seamanship — known as “America’s Boat School” — is again offering its popular powerboating courses for kids.
“Students will learn to operate a small powerboat safely and confidently,” says Mark Talbott, operations manager at the Annapolis School of Seamanship. “They will learn about docking, maneuvering, running on plane, navigational markers, safe operation, water sports safety, man overboard recovery and weather.”
Founded in 2002 by professional mariner and U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain John Martino, the school is considered a leader in the education of professional and recreational boaters.
Just like the adult classes, the kids’ programs—known as Junior Captains courses—are taught by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed instructors. The Junior Captains Course is an on-the-water program that puts kids at the helm of a small powerboat. By the end of the program, students will gain confidence operating small, single outboard powerboats.
To make sure each student gets plenty of time at the helm, course attendance is limited. The ratio of students to instructors is an impressive four to one. Each Junior Captains course is open to kids ages 11 to 15.
Kids leave class with more than a great summertime experience. Upon successful completion of the course and additional homework assignments, students will receive their Maryland Safe Boating certificate, which meets all mandatory boating education requirements in 49 U.S. states.
Annapolis School of Seamanship at Annapolis City Marina, 410 Severn Ave., Annapolis
Contact: 410-263-8848; www.jrcaptains.com
Cost: $495 per student
Dates: June 14-Sept. 4
Students need to provide: Lifejacket, water bottle and sun protection.
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Calvert Library
Calvert Library is offering a summer challenge: Tails & Tales. Help the library log 1.5 million minutes reading this summer and win prizes— such as a Nintendo Switch, kid’s train table, Beats headphones or a gift card.
Fun new additions include friends and leaderboards — invite your friends to join you this summer and see who can read the most minutes or share book recommendations. Also, earn streaks badges by reading every day and get special accomplishment badges along the way.
Do you have a passion for reading or libraries? Do you want to share your video or performative skills with teens across the country? If so, participate in the teen video challenge. Produce a PSA to promote libraries and reading inspire by the summer theme, Tails & Tales to win prizes! Videos due by Aug. 6. Check calvertlibrary.info for details. https://www.cslpreads.org/programs/teen-program/2021-teen-video-challenge.
Summer fun performances (registration requested):
- June 12 at 1pm: Kick-off concert with Pierce Freelon, hip-hop performer
- July 28 at 6pm: Eco-Adventures with Dr. Brady Barr: Reptile expert and National Geographic host
- Aug. 11 at 10am, 2pm and 6pm: Sharks & Dangers Underwater Creatures from the National Aquarium. Celebrate Shark Week #calvertREADS style.
Calvert Library Prince Frederick: 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick; Fairview Branch: 8120 Southern Maryland Boulevard, Owings; Southern Branch: 13920 HG Trueman Rd, Solomons; Twin Beaches Branch: 3819 Harbor Rd, Chesapeake Beach
Contact: Any Calvert Library staff member at 410-535-0291
Cost: FREE
Dates: June 12-Aug. 14
Students need to provide: Register on Calvert Library’s website at calvertlibrary.info, download the Beanstack Tracker App or call the library.
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Calvert Marine Museum
Expect fun and exciting activities this summer such as exploring fossils, otters, sharks and pirates led by museum staff at Calvert Marine Museum’s camps.
Campers will join museum experts for behind-the-scenes tours as well as hands-on activities and crafts.
Open to kids in grades 1-6, the camps at the museum will be in a hybrid format this year. The museum is slowly expanding on-site programs and developed camps that keep kids and staff safe during the ongoing pandemic. The camps include two days of in-person activities and two days of virtual participation with at-home activity kits.
Shark Camp! is making a reappearance this year and attendees of the popular program will get an exclusive look at the upcoming exhibit, Sharks! Sink Your Teeth In. Kids who attend Shark Camp! will also get to work with a paleontologist studying sharks.
Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons
Contact: 410-326-2042; www.calvertmarinemuseum.com
Cost: $75 w/discounts for museum members
Dates: June 28–Aug.12
Students need to provide: A sense of adventure along with a refillable water bottle, sunscreen and comfortable shoes.
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Eco Adventures
Award-winning specialty camps for ages 4-11 (counselors in training for ages 11+) are themed and designed to get your kids excited about the natural world. Themes include creature careers, marine biology, art camp, animal training and survival, to a wizarding world.
Whether it’s through hands-on encounters with an animal ambassador, an activity in an outdoor classroom, crafts, games, demonstrations or a fossil dig, Eco Adventures ignites your child’s passion for the outdoors.
Before care (8am) and after-care (up to 5:30pm) is available. All activities are new each year so repeat campers will always get something different. The new Alladin Middle Eastern Marketplace exhibit features cool animals and props for a touch and learn station. Campers can sign up for a photo package to get pictures of their experience at camp for an extra fee. Guest speakers and entertainers at each camp, and every Friday there are field games where kids can get wet and cool off with a snow cone. The facility is peanut/nut free.
Eco Adventures, 216 Najoles Rd, Suite 600, Millersville
Contact: 410-987-1300 (Mei Len Sanchez-Barr) or [email protected] or www.ecoadventures.org/summercamps
Cost: $340-$395
Dates: June 21-Sep. 3
Students need to provide: Varies depending on camp.
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Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
The summer camps at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum will be in-person and include an archaeology camp where campers will spend a week with archaeologists excavating for artifacts in the field and working with curators and conservators to clean, study and preserve artifacts at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Library. The camp is offered for 6th to 8th graders.
River Camp Life (for 2nd to 3rd graders) explores what makes the Patuxent River special. Learn about the river and the forests and meadows surrounding it.
Imagine If…Camp (open to kindergarteners and 1st graders) lets you pretend to be someone—or something else.
The Stewards Camp helps campers build their own village through teamwork. Build a wigwam frame and help with the village garden. (For 9th to 10th graders).
Hands on History camp (for 4th and 5th graders) teaches how art, science and history help us interpret the past. Learn about the daily lives of those who lived centuries ago.
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd., St. Leonard
Contact: 410-586-8501 or www.jefpat.maryland.gov/Pages/education/summer-camp.aspx
Cost: $50-$145
Dates: July 5-Aug. 6
Students need to provide: Varies according to camp.
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Lillie Pad Studios
Lillie Pad Studios offers unique experiences in art making. Campers will work with materials like glass, clay, and metal to create sculptures and functional art objects.
The camps are not only fun but can be challenging in encouraging kids and teens to think creatively. Lillie Pad strives to offer campers experiences they cannot find elsewhere in Anne Arundel County and the processes taught to campers are often new to them. Courses offered include glass fusing, blow molds, hot glass sculpting, glass flameworking, resin casting, glass casting, welding and ceramics; all camps are for ages 11 and up.
Lillie Pad Studios has several safety measures in place based on CDC and government requirements and recommendations. The camp requires mask-wearing, hand-washing, and temperature checks. Studio spaces, tools and equipment are sanitized regularly. The camp features open-air studio spaces and practices social distancing.
Class sizes are kept small to allow for individualized education.
Lillie Pad Studios, 295 Charles Hall Rd., #2103, Millersville
Contact: 443-494-8008; www.lilliepadstudios.com/summer-art-camp
Cost: $250-$375
Dates: Aug. 10-Sept. 2
Students need to provide: Varies depending on class; see website for details.
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Ocean City Recreation and Parks
Ocean City Recreation and Parks designs its summer camps to be, first and foremost, FUN, offering a wide variety of camp experiences to meet the diverse interests and needs of residents and visitors. Programs are offered at varying date and time schedules to accommodate both working and vacationing families.
The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Programs staff is made up of professionals specializing in the fields of Recreation and Parks, Sports Management and Physical Education.
Camps offered include art, baseball, basketball, boogie boarding, dance, drama, estuary explorers, field hockey, fishing, football, golf, beach patrol, firefighting, kayaking, lacrosse, paddleboarding, pickleball, science, skate, soccer, softball, surfing, tennis and volleyball.
Ocean City Youth Summer Camps, Northside Park, 200 125th Street, Ocean City
Contact: 410-250-0125 or visit camps.oceancitymd.gov to register
Cost: See website
Dates: See website
Students need to provide: Varies according to particular camp.