2019 Summer Camp Guide part II

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

There are a lot of great summer camp options in this region. Here’s the second installment of our annual guide for parents to find the right camp choice for their kiddos. 

Campers smile with delight after catching a crayfish from a local river at Twin Eagles Wilderness Adventure Summer Camps. Courtesy photo.

Cocolalla Bible Camp

Ages 9-18 and Family

July-Aug

Swimming, canoeing, paddle boats, water sports, team sports, fishing, etc.

(208) 263-3912

www.clbcamp.org

For nearly 50 years, Cocolalla Bible Camp has been a leading local option for faith-based summer entertainment. The robust summer program includes weeks of activities for campers of various ages. Teen camp for 13-18 years (July 7-12), ages 11-12 years (July 14-18), ages 9-10 years (July 21-25) and ages 7-8 years (July 28-Aug. 1). All camps are Sunday through Thursday except the teen camp, which is Sunday through Friday.

Over the course of their week-long adventure, campers have access to varied activities, including canoeing, swimming, paddle boats, volleyball, horseback riding, Frisbee golf and team sports like baseball and basketball. Along with the traditional summer camp experiences comes a focus on scriptural education, with regular chapel sessions and Bible studies rounding out daily activities. 

For questions or further details, email [email protected].

Schweitzer Adventure Camp

Ages 6-10,

Nine sessions spanning from June 24 – Aug. 23

Hiking, crafts, swimming, village activities.

(208) 255-3081 ext. 2152

www.schweitzer.com

Whether it’s winter or summer, Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers amenities unique to the North Idaho region. Schweitzer Adventure Camp takes full advantage of those attractions to offer kids ages 6-11 a one-of-a-kind camp experience. Campers will enjoy chairlift rides, hiking, the mining sluice box, the monkey jumper, climbing wall and swimming, with plenty of games and structured activities adding to the fun.

Beginning in late June, Schweitzer Adventure Camp features week-long activities while still getting kids home in time for supper each night. Parents drop their children off at the Red Barn and pick them up at the same spot in the evening, a format likely to cut down on that summer camp home sickness. And if you’re a season-pass holder, keep an eye out for tuition discounts. Registration begins online May 1. $175 per session, includes transportation from the bottom of the mountain ($165 for summer passholders).

Twin Eagles Summer Camps

(6 different camps over 6 weeks)

Day camps: June 10 – July 12

Ages 6-13

Nature Adventures Day Camp: July 8-12

Wilderness Survival Day Camp:

Session 1: June 10-14

Session 2: July 1-5

Nature Ninjas Day Camp: June 24-28

Overnight camps: Late July-Aug.

Ages 10-13: July 21-26

Ages 13-18: July 29-Aug. 4

Day and residential. Wilderness survival, nature awareness, animal tracking, wild edible and medicinal plants education.

(208) 265-3685

www.TwinEagles.org

In a technology-saturated world, there’s something refreshing about Twin Eagles Summer Camp’s commitment to getting kids back in the natural world.  At its summer camps for campers age 6-18, Twin Eagles gets participants into nature for fun, skill-building activities like making fire by friction, learning about edible plants, archery, tracking wild animals and building shelters in nature. Teens get an even more immersive outdoor experience.

Watershed Discovery Camp

Ages 8-12

Third week of July

Hands-on activities centered around understanding the science of the lake.

(208) 597-7188

www.eureka-institute.org

www.lpow.org

A collaboration between Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and the Eureka Institute, Watershed Discovery Camp combines lakeside fun with science, service and stewardship.

 Campers learn about important water-quality issues in super fun and creative ways. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the water with swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding as well as water-themed games and arts and crafts. With a variety of exciting field trips offered, there’s never a dull day at Watershed Discovery Camp.

Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (SOLE)

Ages 4-17

Outdoor science day camps | Outdoor leadership day camps | Outdoor leadership backcountry expeditions

(928) 351-SOLE (7653)

[email protected]

www.soleexperiences.org

June – August, 2019

During the summer months, experiential education nonprofit Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education utilizes local landscapes to help youth unplug and reconnect to develop a sense of belonging and affinity for nature. Summer programs have a thematic design so every SOLE Experience is unique session to session, year to year. All SOLE Experiences include credentialed staff and low instructor-to-student ratios, ensuring that participants’ needs are met.

Music Conservatory of Sandpoint Camps:

for info: (208) 265-4444

www.sandpointconservatory.org

Orchestra Camp – Music Without Borders

Ages 8 and up

July 29 – Aug. 2

9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Check out the seventh-annual MCS Youth Orchestra Camp: Music Without Borders. This year features guest conductor Dr. Roberta Bottelli, conductor of the Spokane Youth Symphony and John Fitzgerald. Daily practice, advanced ensembles and master classes culminate in a final public concert. Fee $125.

Half Day Orchestra Camp – Music Without Borders

Ages 8 and up

July 29-Aug. 2

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Are you new to your instrument but not brand new? Play in a group environment and learn with the masters. The half-day format is ideal for young and beginning musicians. Fee $95.

Theater Camp

Ages 8 and up

July 15-26

Ms. Keely Gray-Heki is raising the curtain on theater camp. Students will have great fun creating “Not so Grimm Fairytales.” Practice standing on stage and performing for an audience. Camp final performance will be an element of “A Celebration of Arts and Culture: MCS and Shakespeare in the Park collaborate for a day of performances” on July 27 at Memorial Field in Sandpoint. Fee $145.

Percussion Camp

Ages 8 and up

July 22-26

1 – 3 p.m.

Learn the elements of tempo, beat and rhythm. Ms. Ali Thomas will lead students in practicing precision timing, while working together to build a performance piece solely based on drumming. Students participate in “A Celebration of Arts and Culture” with a final performance July 27 on stage at Memorial Field. Fee $95.

Piano Camp

Ages 9 and up

July 8-12

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Teacher Recommendation Required (May 1 Registration Deadline)

Instructors: Melody Puller & John Fitzgerald

If your child would like to play a duet or participate in a piano ensemble, this course is for them. Space is limited, so sign them up early for this versatile group-style keyboard class led by Melody Puller and John Fitzgerald. Students will perform at a capstone piano concert. Fee $125.

Voice Camp

Ages 9 and up

July 22-26

1 – 4 p.m.

Come join the MCS voice department for a vocal camp. Make musical friends while improving your singing skills. Explore a variety of musical styles, with harmonies. At the end of the week, vocalists will join with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir in our community performance July 27 at “A Celebration of Arts and Culture.” Fee $95.

Litehouse YMCA Summer Adventure Camp

Ages 10-12

June-August (watch for dates coming soon)

Days at the beach, field trips, STEM and Arts & Craft activities

263-6633

www.ymcainw.org

1905 Pine St. Sandpoint 

Come spend a fun-filled summer at the YMCA. Summer day camp will feature fun activities like days at the beach, field trips, STEM and arts and crafts and much more! Fun for kids, peace of minds for parents. Watch for more details coming soon and plan for the Best Summer Ever at the Litehouse YMCA.

Annual Hospice Kids Grief Camp

June 21-23

A special camp engineered for children who have suffered a personal loss

(208) 265-1185 ask for Lissa

This 19th annual camp provides a unique opportunity for children who have suffered a personal loss to spend some camp time in a safe and casual environment among others who may be experiencing a similar situation. It’s an opportunity to heal while participating in camp events and activities. One on one counseling and other grief services will be available.

“Being around others who are experiencing the same loss goes a long way as a tool in the healing process,” camp coordinator Lissa Defreitas said. “It’s powerful, this camp. A lot of transformation takes place at camp between drop off and pick. Also, we have a lot of fun at camp. It’s a whole spectrum of looking at how we acknowledge that loss that we experienced and how do we move through it.”

There is no cost to the community for this camp, and it’s open to children in Bonner and Boundary counties. It’s funded in part by community grants. Applications can be requested through Lissa at (208) 265-1185. Camp dates are Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23.

Sandpoint Waldorf School camps

Contact the Sandpoint Waldorf School for more information and registration forms:  208-265-2683

Sun, Dirt and Bugs Day Camp

Ages 4-7 years

June 17 – Aug. 16 

8 a.m. – 3 p.m. with Jenni Stewart

Engaging children socially in the natural world

(208) 265-2683

www.sandpointwaldorf.org

Summer is meant to be spent outdoors. This summer camp with handwork and aftercare teacher, Ms. Stewart, will give your child just that opportunity. With a focus on engaging children socially in the natural world with activities such as nature walks, water play, cooking, gardening, crafts, language arts, music, stories and more, your child will enjoy summer days of imaginative play. Come and see what fun in the sun lies ahead for your young one.  Snack provided; students bring their own lunch.

Cost: $180/week. Weekly enrollment available.

Theater Camp: ‘Pinnocchio’ directed by Molly St. Pierre

Ages 6-14

July 1-12

8 a.m –  3 p.m.

A summer camp dedicated to theater

(208) 265-2683

www.sandpointwaldorf.org

Molly St. Pierre, drama teacher and a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, will lead students in all aspects of the production from creating sets and costumes to acting. As part of the camp, students will make simple wooden puppets with Shaun Deller, woodworking teacher. We will also make an afternoon snack from the school garden. Performance time is still to be determined. 

Students need to bring a snack and lunch, sun protection, and swim wear (so we can get wet in the sprinklers on hot afternoons). No camp on July 4.                                                  

Cost: $360

Farmer Boy Camp: A Little House Summer Adventure

Ages 6-10

July 15-26

8 a.m –  3 p.m.

A themed summer camp that takes you back to the days of 1866.

(208) 265-2683

www.sandpointwaldorf.org

The Little House series awakens in children the joys of farm life in the 1800s.  With Farmer Boy as our inspiration we will be making butter, ice cream, bread, jam and cheese, and will prepare our lunch each day from our harvest from the school garden.   The students will learn period crafts and games with Melissa Dorn, kindergarten assistant. We will read sections of  Farmer Boy and bring them to life by staging one of the chapters.  There will be a few field trips to pick blueberries and visit local farms. Cost: $360

Life in the Wilderness with Shaun Deller

Ages 7-12

July 29-Aug. 9

8 a.m –  3 p.m.

A camp with a focus on lake history and activities

(208) 265-2683

www.sandpointwaldorf.org

Shaun Deller, woodworking teacher, will share stories and crafts related to the fur trappers, explorers and Native Americans of this region. There will be some field trips to the local woods and waterways, including a combination day with Kaniksu Land Trust’s summer camp up at Pine Street Woods. 

Students need to bring a morning snack, sun protection and swim wear (so we can cool off in the sprinklers on hot afternoons).  We will prepare our lunch from the school garden.                                                                                      Cost $360

Festival at Sandpoint Youth Music Camp

Ages 8-18 years (all abilities welcome

June 24-27

(208) 263-1151

www.festivalatsandpoint.com/summer-youth-music-camp

The Festival at Sandpoint announces its second annual Summer Youth Music Camp at Sandpoint High School. Participants’ tuition is generously underwritten by the Festival at Sandpoint’s educational mission, so the only cost to the students is a $25 registration fee.

Camp director Dr. Jason Moody, a Sandpoint native who is currently first violin with the Spokane Symphony, will lead four fun-filled days of music instruction with classes including symphony orchestra, choir, chamber music, jazz band, classical guitar, ukulele, piano, fiddle ensemble, flute ensemble, master classes and more!

The camp features an all-star list of artists and instructors including Jason Moody, Earecka Moody, Mika Hood, Terry Jones, Leon Atkinson, Jon and Bruce Brownell, Mike Keepe, Ryan Dignan, Rachel Gordon, Caytlin Reese, Larry Mooney, Anita Perkins, Karen Dignan , Laurie Stevens, Sigi Ribero and Dennis Coats.

The camp will kick off with the All-Star Faculty Concert Monday, June 24, at the Panida Theater and culminate with a Twi Grand Finale Student Concerts Thursday, June 27, one at noon at the high school auditorium and the Highlight concert at the Panida in the evening.

Space is still available for advanced  tympani, oboe, bass, tuba. Call Camp Administrator Beth Weber at (208) 263-1151.

Stages Intensive Camps

Ages 10-18

June 10-Aug. 16 (8 sessions)

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mon-Fri

A camp to build performance arts skill sets

(208) 597-2457

Stages Intensive Camps are for students who want more experience in acting, improv, choreography, vocal, writing, stagecraft, tech/lightning, costume, makeup and auditioning. Each of the eight camps is a different experience and will build your child’s skill sets. Camps go from June 10-14, June 17-21, June 24-28, July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26, Aug. 5-9 and Aug. 12-16. Camps are held in the Ponderay Events Center Ballroom.

Camp Kaniksu – Kaniksu Land Trust

Ages 6-12

June 24-Aug. 5 (5 camps)

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mon-Fri

5 weeks of nature-based summer camp

(208) 263-9471

Kaniksu Land Trust’s Camp Kaniksu is a nature-based summer camp divided into five weeks. The week of June 24 is “Naturally Wild” for ages 6-9. The week of July 1 is “Nature Apprentices for ages 9-12. The week of July 15 is “Woodland Explorers” for ages 6-9. The week of July 22 is “Forest Dwellers” for ages 9-12 and the week of August 5 is “Wild Ones” for ages 9-12. Please note all sessions are full except “Nature Apprentices.”

Some activities include making natural shelters, fire by friction, harvesting plants/plant salves, WildCrafting, primitive cooking, sensory awareness games, tracking and plaster casts, capture the flag and camouflaging, bird language, archery and throwing sticks and naturalist training. Scholarships are available.