Summer Camp At IDS Offers Many Alternatives To Boredom

Imagine never having to hear the two dreaded words that signify the official start of summer: I’m bored.

Envision a summer camp that offers on- and off-campus activities for every week of summer vacation, with fun things to do as varied and diverse as the campers who attend.

Now, imagine that this camp is affordable, for all school-age kids from all areas of town, run by certified teachers, helped by high school and college assistants and volunteers who truly love their summer job.

“We are willing to do whatever it takes to give our campers the best experience,”  said Steve Shoe, co-director of Camp IDS. “It’s all about providing good value.”

If you can name it, Camp IDS, located at Independent Day School, 12015 Orange Grove Drive in Carrollwood, probably offers it as a camp activity.

Steve explained, “Our camp is that individualized. We try to meet everybody’s favorite activity.”

"Camp IDS is located in Carrollwood but draws campers from all over the Bay area," said Karen Waksman, a spokesperson for the school.

Opened 15 years ago, Camp IDS has grown from a small teacher’s initiative to over 60 camps that students from kindergarten to high school can choose weekly to experience.

With weekly cost ranging from $100 to $250, depending on the camper’s age and activity, Camp IDS offers such camps as Cheerleading, Martial Arts, Archery, Broadcasting, Lego Engineering, Digital Photography, and Musical Theatre, something for every age and interest.

On the sprawling campus, classrooms buzzed with activity.

In one bustling classroom, for example, Junior Scientists from kindergarten through second-grade were experiencing the effects of chemical reactions, the interesting effect of ooblick, or cornstarch mixed with water.

Explained Counselor Samantha Nelson: "This week, we worked on forces and pendulums. We did dinosaurs where they made their own fossils and we made volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar. In the dinosaur age, there were chemicals and that brought us to learning about chemical reactions today."

Beyond the Independent Day School campus, Camp IDS also offers offsite camps like Wilderness Extreme where campers participate in such activities as mountain biking, snorkeling, hiking, canoeing and kayaking.

“There are select camps that fill quickly, like archery and cooking,” said Shoe.

Though camps fill quickly, they will never turn a student away. Shoe recommends calling to check on availability.

“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everyone has a good time,” said Shoe. "It goes back to IDS philosophy: Kids first.”

To learn more about Camp IDS and to register for a camp, visit www.idsyes.com/camp-ids.html.