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Community Corner

Neighborhood Camps Keep Kids Learning, Keep Learning Fun

Our list of top educational summer programs in the neighborhood

School may be out for summer, but a thorough search of the neighborhood revealed that the learning does not stop with June's final sounding bell. Many of our schools and academies are gearing up for summer with camps that pack in adventure, creativity and a little educational fun. With programs as exciting as these, we suspect your children will hardly realize how much they are learning. 

The International School of Brooklyn (ISB) is holding ISB French & Spanish Summer Camp beginning in the first week of July. Known for its global approach to local education, the school offers programs with weekly themes, from yoga and drama to robotics and outer space, with language immersion at the core of each session. Programs are designed to accommodate children in similar age groups, with a range of 3 to 8 years. This program is recommended for children who speak French or Spanish as a second language, or who will be enrolled in a dual language program for school – or for those with a flare for carnivals and magic, animal trivia, music and art. ISB is accepting applications until the sessions are full, so hurry to register.

Child's Play NY is taking over the Area Yoga space on Court street for summer camp sessions full of theatrics. The program, run by Jocelyn Greene of the Berkeley Carroll School and Packer Collegiate Institute, is designed to encourage confidence, creativity and lively social interaction for children aged 3 to 10 years. Your child will explore the transformative powers of drama and theater, from underwater creature character studies to journeys through jungles, fairy tales, ancient lands and our very own city of New York. Older children explore the art of theater writing, Shakespeare classics and bringing literature to life through performance. Be sure to check the camp schedule for your favorite world to explore.

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The Brooklyn Symphony Youth Orchestra (BSYO) hosts a summer camp for budding to accomplished musicians, aged 4 to 18 years. See the camp brochure for details of the Brooklyn Symphony Youth Orchestra's two separate sessions in July, run by music director, musician and Suzuki instructor Kelly Howard. Sessions include semi-private lesson instruction, chamber music rehearsal, orchestra practice and more. In an exciting development, students participating in the BSYO this summer will perform a concert with musician and performer Dan Zanes as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn festivities, held in Prospect Park this July 16th.

Cobble Hill Ballet invites students to attend a ballet summer camp session from June 25th to July 30th. The studio enrolls children from 2.5 years to 4 years old, and summer sessions are held inside Cobble Hill's Christ Church. Children can develop their dancing techniques all summer long, perfecting plies and pirouettes in a program that combines disciplined dance training with imagination and enthusiasm. Dancers will have the chance to enroll in private lessons and extra group sessions along with group camp activities. From seasoned performers to ballet novices, Cobble Hill Ballet welcomes dancers from various skill levels to join in for the summer.

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Lango, provider of foreign languages for kids, is pleased to announce a full summer of Mandarin Chinese immersion camp for those wishing to learn or practice the language. Camp Lango Mandarin is one of Brooklyn's exclusive providers of Mandarin language education for children. The camp is held at the Commons Brooklyn in Boerum Hill. Sessions are split into groups of 3-4 year olds and 5-7 year olds. Groups are capped at 10 children per session to ensure each child benefits from the 3 to 1 child/teacher policy of Lango's Graduated Immersion approach. Camp Lango Mandarin offers more than mere linguistics as it prepares to take children on a journey deep into the culture of Mandarin China. With lessons on popular folklore, songs, dance, cuisine, calligraphy and more, children embark on exciting excursions into New York's Chinatown and get the chance to visit New York Chinese Cultural Center. The camp is an all day venture, with daycare and aftercare programs available where necessary.

Camp Lango Mandarin shares the Commons Brooklyn space with another special focus summer camp: that of Butterbeans, an organization devoted to to wholesome, organic cuisine. Children attending the Butterbeans Food and Gardens Summer Camp in July and August 2011 will become true experts on local food culture. Not only will children get the chance to learn more about New York's copious organic and local foods options, but they will learn to master the culinary art of choosing ingredients for daily recipes, whilst gaining insight into the world of gardening, agriculture and nutrition. The program promotes healthy eating habits, conscientious dining and supporting the growing efforts of our local communities – and above all, creativity and delicious food.

With options such as these, we can rest assured that there need never be a dull moment this summer. From ballet to Mandarin to cellos and local-made chocolate confections, the neighborhood will be a lively place indeed during the coming summer months.

 

 

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