5 Day Camps for the Kids This Summer

Each Thursday, Danvers Patch runs a new weekly feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.

This week it’s all about summer camps.

5 camps to check out this summer

Camp Christopher

Since 1946, the campus and facilities of St. John's Prep have been available to boys and girls ages 5-12 for eight one-week sessions of day camp over the summer. Camp Christopher offers a full range of athletics and crafts, with emphasis on swimming. Each camper participates in two swim sessions each day. The camp runs from June 27 – Aug. 19. Final tuition and health forms must be completed in full by June 15, and that includes full payment.

Danvers Community YMCA

Since the 1950s, the Danvers YMCA has offered summer day camp to local youngsters. Kids four and up can choose from one of four camp programs from one to eight weeks of fun-filled activities, including swimming, sports, crafts, climbing, storytelling and more.

Summer on the Hill

The Jewish Community Center of the North Shore is gearing up for another Summer on the Hill in Marblehead. The day camp offers a number of programs to youth from toddlers to teens, spanning art, drama, sports, cooking, photography, robotics and Krav Maga. Camp programs run from June 27 - Aug. 26.

La Vida Adventure Camp

Every summer, Gordon College offers local a youth an opportunity to experience day camp in the woods of the Wenham campus, across several hundred acres of ponds, trails, rolling hills, a 30-element ropes course and an indoor rock gym. For summer camp dates and information, visit the Web site.

Camp Mitchman

Since 1945, local youth from ages 5-14 have experienced summer day camp in the woods of Beverly’s Camp Mitchman. The 2011 season consists of four two-week sessions and a single “Last Week.” In addition to the traditional day camp, 13 different specialty camps will be offered for various ages, including music, dance, theater, adventure, nature, video, art and Harry Potter. The bus route for daily pickups runs through several communities, including Danvers, free of charge.

Editor’s Note: And while not offering “day camp,” per se, Danvers Recreation still provides a number of fun summer programs for kids, including Summer Playground, R.O.C.K.E.T.S., Falcon Fun, Let’s Play Sports, S.N.A.K.E. and Little Lizards, tennis instruction, one-week sports skills clinics, Theatre, Dance and a Summer Concert Series.