Today’s parents face the challenge of preparing their children for a rewarding and fulfilling future while working hard to support the present. Summer can present schedules challenges that frazzle hard-working parents. The answers to both questions can lie in the academic and enrichment summer programs available in our region.
Like a perfect Chinese dinner you can choose between categories of camps to provide your children with a well-rounded schedule of day or overnight camps that can inspire, educate and entertain. One mother who shared an experience with us, said “My son came out of Philanthropy Camp with a new view of things. For the first time, he really saw himself as someone who could—and should—make a difference in the world.”
The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that less than one third of eighth-graders in the United States show proficiency in science and math. A report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) notes ”many American students conclude early in their education that STEM subjects are boring, too difficult, or unwelcoming, leaving them ill-prepared to meet the challenges that will face their generation.”
According the U.S. Department of Education, only one in six college students in Tennessee and Georgia enroll in science, technology, engineering, or math degree programs and experts warn that the United States’ workforce is facing a looming shortage of talent in STEM fields. The PCAST report concludes “in order to improve STEM education, we must focus on both preparation and inspiration”.
STEM initiatives improve standardized test scores and promote college readiness. Project-based STEM learning engages students, teaches towards a higher level of thinking, improves problem-solving skills, and builds learners for life. Created as a living memorial to the seven astronauts of the 1986 Challenger 51-L crew, the Challenger Center at UTC uses students’ natural enthusiasm for space to create innovative learning experiences for imaginative young minds.
Building good citizens, broadening young horizons and expanding the future can define your child’s summer and between vacations and school physicals you will be rewarded with the changes you see. Enrichment comes in all forms and a well-balanced camp schedule can prepare a child for the new grade and expectations ahead.
Academic/Enrichment Camp Listings
Avondale Seventh Day Adventist
Enrichment program, reading and math skills camps
1201 N. Orchard Knob Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37406
423-698-5028
Baylor School
Summer Enrichment Programs
171 Baylor School Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-757-2616
BaylorSchool.org
Summer is a great time to try something new, and Baylor School offers several enrichment programs throughout the summer for children of all ages. Our highly individualized programs provide a fantastic camper-to-staff ratio, ensuring that each child is able to benefit from their summer experience. Programs include fly-fishing, sailing, art, dance, and more. Go to BaylorSchool.org for camp sessions and details. Easy online registration makes it convenient to sign up for a summer’s worth of fun.
Berean Baptist Daycare
441 Berean Lane
Hixson, TN 37343
423-877-1289
www.bereanacademy.net
Boyd-Buchanan School Summer Academic & Sports Camps
4626 Bonnieway Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37411
423-624-9064 x248
www.bbschool.org
Brainerd Baptist Summer Camp
300 Brookfield Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37411
423-622-3873
www.brainerdbaptistschool.org
Brainy Camp @ LearningRx of Chattanooga
www.learningrx.com/chattanooga-east
423-305-1599
A FUN summer camp program that will help prepare your child for the next school year. Brain games to build Learning Skills with Certified Brain Trainers Martial Arts for the Brain – Attack Learning Struggles by strengthening cognitive skills Train the Brain to Work Smarter Not Harder
Bright School Bright Summer Funstitute Day camp, specialty camps, pre-k camp SAACS accredited
1950 Hixson Pk.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-267-8546
BrightSchool.com
Bridgemont Ministries
3620 Katy Hollar Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
865-453-8841
Camp Big Fish
www.campbigfish.org
Camp Big Fish is a 10 week Christian Summer Day Camp that focuses on kids having a fun and exciting summer. Our camp includes sports, swimming, guest speakers, art, music, bible and devotion time, and clubs (slip and slide, cooking, golf, computers, foosball, dance, soccer, water balloons, gymnastics, etc). We go on weekly field trips to I-Max, Lookouts, J103, Aquarium, Bowling and other fun places. We pray that children will experience being loved and cared for and that all will grow in their relationship with Christ. Campers entering kindergarten through eighth grade are accepted.
Camp Invention
Led by local educators, the weeklong Camp Invention program immerses children entering grades one to six in exciting, hands-on learning disguised as summer fun. Children will construct life-sized clubhouses in which to crack puzzling codes and solve a mystery, investigate polymer science to create bouncy balls, explore innovative survival traits of the planet’s WILDest animals, and upcycle parts from discarded household appliances to create new machines! Ooltewah Elementary June 6-10, Gann’s Middle Valley Elementary June 13-17 and Normal Park Upper Magnet School June 20-24. Discounts available – register today! Call 800.968.4332 or visit www.campinvention.org
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Camp New Dawn
New Dawn International Ministries
Day & Sleepaway
Address: 226 S. Cedar Lane, Chickamauga, GA 30707
Phone/fax: 706-539-2235/ 706-539-2324*
Web address: www.campnewdawnga.org
Mini Camp-June 15-17, grades 2-3, is an opportunity to learn what camp is all about.
Kid’s Camp I & II-June 19-24 & June 26-July 1, grades 4-8, is a fun week of traditional camp activities and includes a camp out.
Cove Adventure camp-July 3-8, grades 9-12. This week will include off-site camping and adventure activities.
Soccer Camp-July 10-15, featuring professional trainers for boys and girls entering grades 1-12.
Civil War Camp-July 17-22, grades 4-12, see history come alive through trips to battlefields and Civil War sites combined with interaction with Civil War re-enactors.
All camps include worship and Bible lessons.
Camp Webb
Specialty Camps
9800 Webb School Drive
Knoxville, TN 37923
865-693-0011
www.webbschool.org
Camp Zoo-Ability
Chattanooga Zoo @ Warner Park
City’s Therapeutic Recreation Program week-long day camp for individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities.
3 One-week Sessions
Call Elaine Adams @ 697-1345
Adams_e@chattanooga.gov
Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center
400 Garden Road
Chattanooga, TN 37419
423-821-1160
www.chattanooganaturecenter.org
Chattanooga School of Language
Language camps for children and families.
423-802-2040
wwww.chattanoogalanguage.com
Chattanooga Theatre Center Academic Summer Camps
400 River Street
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-267-8534
www.theatrecentre.com
Swimming, the Spray & Play at Warner Park, Special Events, Sports, Art, Wellness, Outdoor recreation, field trips and more. Register your child for the entire summer and save money! 4 two-week sessions. Call Kim Battle at 643-6052 www.chattanooga.gov/parks&recreation
City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Division
Summer Playground Program
All City Recreation Centers
865-215-1414
www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/recreation/
UTC Challenger Learning Center
Cosmic Space Quest
Space/STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
855 E. 5th St.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-425-4126
UTC.edu/ChallengerCenter
The Challenger Learning Center on the campus of UTC offers space-themed, science and technology camps. Our Cosmic Space Quests are available for potty-trained pre-schoolers through rising 8th graders, and range from $35 to $275. 1/2 Day Mini Quest: 4 & 5 year old astronauts, 1 Day Planet Exploration: Rising 1st–3rd-grade astronauts, 2 Day Mars Quest: Rising 4th-5th grade astronauts, 5 Day Universe Exploration: 5th-8th-grade astronauts. Your campers will participate in fun and exciting activities while learning about the Universe, aviation, space missions, and much more! Come experience our Cosmic Space Camps that are out of
this world!!
Creative Discovery Museum Spring Break & Summer Camps
321 Chestnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-756-2738
www.cdmfun.org
Creative Discovery Museum Science Theatre
Multi-disciplinary science camp
255 Northgate Mall
Chattanooga, TN 37415
423-875-8522 or 423-875-0818
CDMScienceTheatre.com
Creative Discovery Museum summer camps provide wonderful opportunities for children to explore the Museum in a unique way. Our experienced staff provides a safe, fun camp filled with Museum play, crafts, games, time in Culinary Corner, outdoor field trips and much, much more. Each weekly adventure is focused on a theme. This year’s themes range from Bob the Builder and Campers in the Kitchen to Fairy Tales and Camp X: Explosions, Experiments and other Exciting Explorations. Camps are geared for children ages 4 -10. For more information, visit our website at www.cdmfun.org or call camp reservations at 423-648-6045 or 648-6040.
Folk School Music Camp
The Folk School of Chattanooga (formerly the Mountain Music Folk School)
Music Day Camp
250 Forest Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
www.chattanoogafolk.com
Girls Incorporated of Chattanooga
Teen Career Academies
Journalism, law, entrepreneurship and health
SciGirls Summer Camp
Summer day camp focusing on science
Girls aged 13–18
Various locations, downtown Chattanooga
423-624-4757
GirlsIncChattBlog.com
Girls Preparatory School
GPS Summer Programs
Athletic/academic/enrichment
205 Island Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-634-3457
GPS.edu/Camps
Camp Kaleidoscope introduces elementary school age campers to a different story world each day. Creative adventures in art, science and athletics create sparkling minds and sound bodies. Bruiser Camp participants in grades 4-7 experience exciting activities on and off campus from art and adventure to science and sports. Academic courses are offered for students who need review or who want to get ahead of the game with a full credit course.
Athletic camps are offered in over 11 sports and are staffed by GPS coaches and athletes.
Hickory Valley Christian School Summer Camp
6605 Shallowford Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-894-3200
www.hvcs.org
Knoxville Computer and Film Camp
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Knoxville TN, 37919 United States
865-692-8385
Arnstein Jewish Community Center
Knoxville Jewish Alliance Summer Camps
6800 Deane Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 690-6343
www.jewishknoxville.org
McCallie School Summer Camps
McCallie School
500 Dodds Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37404
423-493-5426
www.summer.mccallie.org
The Montessori School
Montessori Day Camp and Schools Out Special
Educational and specialty camp
300 Montessori Way
Chattanooga, TN 37404
423-622-6366
TheMontessoriSchool.net
Notre Dame Summer Camp
2701 Vermont Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37404
ACT/SAT Prep, Dance, Drama, Sports, Microsoft IT Academy Camp, Cooking, Art, Spiritual enrichment
423-624-4618
www.myndhs.com
Philanthropy Camp
One-week day camp providing elementary-age children with opportunities to give back to their community and to understand the positive differences they can make in this world. Through hands-on activities, games, field trips, speakers, and much more, campers will explore the concepts of
philanthropy, faith, family and community. Philanthropy camp is a joint program of the First Church of the Nazarene and the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga
5461 North Terrace Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37411
Phone: (423) 493-0270
www.jewishchattanooga.com
Primrose Schools of East Brainerd and Hixson K–5th day camp
CITA/CASI accredited
1619 Gunbarrel Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-499-5584
1985 Northpoint Blvd.
Hixson, TN 37343
423-870-4840
MyPrimroseSchool.com
Scenic Land School
Day camp
1200 Mountain Creek Rd., Ste. 300
Chattanooga, TN 37405
423-877-9711
ScenicLandSchool.org
St. Andrews
Campo Coneccion de Puntos
Education camp for Spanish-speaking children
1918 Union Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37404
423-432-8230
St. Jude School Summer Camp
930 Ashland Terrace
Chattanooga, TN 37415
423-877-6022
www.stjudechattanooga.org
St. Nicholas School Summer Camp
7525 Min Tom Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-894-6485
www.stns.org
Stellar Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy & Speech Therapy
Handwriting, Socialization, Speech, Sensory, Fine Motor and Reading
6172 Airways Blvd, Suite 131
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-622-1551
www.stellartherapy.com
Sylvan Learning Center of Chattanooga
4295 Cromwell Road, Suite 309
Two-week camps are offered for students K-12 to provide supplemental and enrichment skill development in reading, writing, and math. Instruction is available year-round for other programs.
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-894-8333
www.sylvanchattanooga.com
La Petite Academy Summer Camp
Knoxville, TN 37931
1-877-861-5078
www.lapetite.com
Sacred Heart
Cathedral School
711 Northshore Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865.588.0415
www.shcschool.org
St. Andrews–Sewanee School
SAS Summer arts and sports camps
290 Quintard Rd.
Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-5651
SASWeb.org
SASSummer
Tate’s Day Camp
1031 North Cedar Bluff Road
Knoxville, TN 37923
865-690-9208
www.tatescamp.com
Tennessee Aquarium Keeper’s Kids Spring Break & Summer Camps
800-262-0695
www.tnaqua.org
West Side YMCA Summer Day Camp
400 North Winston Road, Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 690-9622
www.ymcaknoxville.org