School’s out for… April?

Well, I guess it isn't the right words for that infamous Alice Cooper song. However; school is going to be out for April vacation next week (eeeek!) and summer camp registration and open houses are approaching fast.

So, grab your family calendar and keep reading because I’ve saved you the time and effort of finding the information you need to choose the right April vacation and summer camp for your kids.

This is multitasking at its best! If you haven’t yet found a camp for you children to attend while school is out and you're at work, we’ve got you covered. Thankfully, Cheshire has some great offerings to keep your kids entertained for the next week. 

And, if you’re lucky enough to have vacation too, we’ve found some great activities to do as a family.

April Camp Options

If you remember from last month, straight from Camp Quinnipiac.  

Additionally, in Southington has April activities planned. The information for programs and the whole registration packet can be accessed here. 

The will have your kids “traveling” to Hawaii, Florida, California and even the Caribbean during vacation week! They will also have a field trip or two planned along with some outdoor fun, craft activities and plenty of physical activity! For more information for this opportunity, call the YMCA at 860-621-8130 or visit their Web site.   

Cheshire Park & Recreation Department is not offering any camp options, but they are offering some neat activities for those looking to do something with their kids that week.

One of the more popular activities is the event on Thursday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at Bartlem Park – Note: They are asking for a non-perishable food item to be donated to the food pantry!

For the full offerings for the week of vacation, check out page four of their Spring brochure.

Summer Camp Options

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of researching the local camp options to reserve that coveted spot. Your kids will thank you for days filled with fun, friends and memories for years to come. Here’s the scoop on the summer camp in town:

1. Cheshire Park and Recreation Department's programs range from sports, to half-day offerings and also an adaptive session for children with special needs. The camp programs take place at various locations in Cheshire including and the , , The Mixville Recreation Area and . The camp offerings for both the afternoon programs and the adaptive sessions are coordinated with Summer Schools schedules. There are two budget-friendly perks the Park and Recreation department is offering. One is that most of their fees are the same as last summer’s rates. The other, is their “Sibling Discount Policy” of 10% off. Certain restrictions on the discount apply.    

Find all the information for programs and registration here.

2. Camp Quinnipiac, or Camp Q for short, is run by the Southington-Cheshire YMCA and offers programs like Little Rangers for as young as age 3 all the way up to grades 9-10 with their Counselor In Training Program. This their 15 th year and camp will be held at its new location at the .

Like with any YMCA camp, they do require all participants to have either a full facility member or a program membership in order to be eligible to attend camp.

Camp Q offers activities in their programs including: daily swimming, arts & crafts, field trips and so much more. Family Night is offered twice throughout the sessions to allow family to visit the camp and meet the counselors. Before and After care is available for certain programs for parents who require it. Financial assistance is available for families who qualify.

Camp Quinnipiac is hosting an Open House on Saturday, May 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Norton School and again on Wednesday, May 25 from 6 p.m.  to 7 p.m. at the YMCA in Cheshire.

For their full listing and detailed information, please go here.

3. Camp Sloper is also brought to you by the Southington-Cheshire YMCA and is hosted at it's own facility in Southington. There are some impressive offerings for campers this year – including their new “Glee Camp” for campers entering grades 6-9. From BMX Bike camp, Fort Building Camp and so much more – Camp Sloper has some really cool programs.

You can visit with camp staff and take a tour of Camp Sloper on any of their open houses taking place on:

• Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  

 For the Camp Sloper brochure, please go here.

4. There is much to do at Holiday Hill’s 200 acres of property off of Route 42 on the Cheshire/Bethany line. Holiday Hill offers all the amenities and fun of a sleep-away camp in a day camp setting! You can find out more and tour the camp by joining the staff for their open house on Sunday, May 1,  from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Visit their Web site for pictures, program details and more.

5. Other Connecticut Camp Options

If the camp options in the Cheshire area do not seem to fit the needs you had in mind for your child, you can visit Connecticut Parent’s Web site for a full directory of other Connecticut camp offerings.

Phew! Now that you’ve got a head start on the planning, it’s time to start stocking up on sun block, personalized labels to mark your kid’s gear and all the other supplies. And, don’t forget to make sure your child has an appointment with the doctor for a physical!  

Note: Camp space and availabilities is subject to each location. Contact desired April vacation and Summer camp venue for specific information.