Summer camp options abound in the Miami Valley
It’s finally here. Summer vacation arrives and classes are dismissed. Parents want their kids to enjoy the outdoors, to unplug from the internet and explore the world from a more personal perspective. But after the first week without school those same kids are bored and complain that there’s “just nothing to do” around the house. What is a parent to do?
Two words: summer camp.
Summer camp options abound across the Miami Valley, and the varieties are endless. Indoor, outdoor, overnighters, day camps, therapeutic, Boy and Girl Scout experiences. If you’re interested in taking the kids to a local camp for some good times (and maybe even a little Me Time for yourselves, Mom and Dad) here are just two options you might want to take a closer look at:
Glen Helen Ecocamp
Glen Helen Nature Preserve
405 Corry St., Yellow Springs
glenhelen.org
937-769-7648 or email
scline@glenhelenassociation.org
Located near the tiny hamlet of Yellow Springs, Glen Helen Nature Preserve is a true local treasure of which too many residents of the Miami Valley remain unaware. Within its 1,125 acres, Glen Helen, the largest and most visited private nature reserve in the area, is home to trails, waterfalls and scenic beauty unmatched in the Dayton area. The Glen anchors the most ecologically intact preserve in Southwest Ohio, and visitors can view beautiful wildflowers, 400-year-old trees, limestone cliffs and the natural yellow spring for which the village is named.
Since 1974, Glen Helen has hosted Ecocamp, an annual camp held for the purpose of providing opportunities for young campers to experience the beauty of the preserve up close while creating a safe space for them to build community, connect with both old and new friends, and gain new skills as they build self-confidence.
Ecocamp is held on a weekly basis from June through August, with the first week running June 13-17. Broken up into various themed sessions, some of the camps are day camp only, while others offer overnight options, depending on the age of the camper. With such themed sessions as Forest Friends, Puddle Jumpers, Nature Detectives and Raptor Camp, there is something to please any camper from 5 to 17.
Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center
713 W. Grand Ave., Dayton
grassrootsenrichment.com
937-723-6747 or email
info@grassrootsenrichment.com
Located near downtown Dayton on Grand Avenue, Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center has a stated mission of providing children with unique guided enrichment opportunities for growth, development and wellness, allowing them to be their best selves today, and make a better world tomorrow. To achieve this goal, Grass Roots offers a series of summer day camps focusing on personal development and creative interaction. Some of the options for the summer of 2022 include Lego Camp, Apothecary Camp and Urban Survivalist Camp.
