Summer camps to offer kids sun and fun

The sun is out, and soon the children will be out as well — from school, that is. Keep them entertained during their summer vacations with these local camps that focus
on a variety of interests.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron

U.S. Sailing Reach — STEM and Sailing
Students at the longest-running water sports camp in Sarasota study science, technology, engineering and math in the morning and use this knowledge in the afternoon while sailing and exploring.

Ages: 5 and up
When: One- and two-week sessions are Monday through Friday from June 1 through Aug. 7. One-week sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; two-week sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: $350 per session
Contact: Visit sarasotaysp.com; call 504-4236; or email [email protected].

Longboat Key Club & Resort

Junior Tennis Camp
The ninth annual tennis camp is for children who want to improve their tennis abilities and will focus on all aspects of the sport. Mornings will include warm-ups, instruction and cardio tennis, and the afternoons will have match play and a Davis Cup competition.

Ages: 8 to 17
When: One-week sessions are Monday through Friday from June 1 to Aug. 14. Full-day sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; half-day sessions are from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 12:15 to 3 p.m.
Cost: Full-day sessions are $500 for Key Club members and $540 for guests; half-day sessions are $245 for members and $275 for guests.
Contact: Call Briana Harris Francois at 387-1633 or email [email protected].

Kids Summer Sports Camp
Also in its ninth year, the Longboat Key Club offers a camp focused on the fundamentals of sports, such as golf, tennis, soccer and baseball and also the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Ages: 4 to 13
When: One-week sessions are Monday through Friday from June 1 to Aug. 14. Full-day sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and half-day sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon, or noon to 3 p.m.
Cost: Full-day sessions are $330 for Key Club members and $360 for resort guests; half-day sessions are $180 for members and $200 for guests.

Camp Loggerhead
The camp will have three sessions, each with a different theme: culinary, outer space and international. The culinary session will include a visit to a bakery and trips to Dakin Dairy Farm and Geraldson Organic Farm. The outer space session will include a field trip to a glow-in-the-dark mini golf course and laser maze. The international session will have field trips to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Big Cat Habitat. Each session will conclude with a water fun day on Friday and will include arts and crafts, lunch and snacks.

Ages: 5 to 12
When: June 15 through June 19 for culinary; July 13 through July 17 for outer space; Aug. 3 through Aug. 7 for international
Cost: $250 per week for members; $275 per week for guests; $60 for a one-day camp
Contact: Call 383-8821, Ext. 1110. Reservations are required one week in advance.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

AquaKids
Choose between two themes, “Hatchlings, Pups & Fry, Oh My!,” in which children learn about undersea families and babies, or “Senses of the Sea,” in which children explore how sea animals use their senses to survive in the ocean. Both themes include snorkeling in Sarasota Bay, boat trips, games, crafts and visits to the aquarium. Children must be able to swim.

Ages: Students entering first to fourth grades
When: One-week sessions from  8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 8 to Aug. 14.
Cost: Mote members $239; nonmembers $259
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Sea Sleuths
“Ocean Encounters” will be a hands-on camp that includes kayaking, snorkeling and collecting and immerses campers in marine biology. “Mini Me of the Sea” will explore ocean babies and families, and campers will snorkel and take a boat trip through the bay. Campers must be able to swim.

Ages: Students entering fifth through eighth grades
When: One-week sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 8 to Aug. 14
Cost: Mote members, $239; nonmembers, $259
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps, or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Aquabots/Aquatic Robotics
Campers will learn how to design and build aquatic robots using multimedia technology. At the end of the camp, children will use their robots and complete a set of underwater missions.

Ages: Students entering third through fifth grades for Aquabots; sixth through eight grade for Aquatic Robotics
When: One-week sessions run from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 15 to Aug. 14
Cost: Mote members, $239; nonmembers, $259
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps, or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Creativity with a Sea
The camp will combine science and art, and children will explore the marine world by using different artistic mediums each day, including sketching, sculpting and constructing with recycled and natural materials. No art experience is necessary.

Ages: Students entering third through fifth grades
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 15 to 19; June 22 to 26; July 13 to 17; July 20 to 24; and Aug. 10 to Aug. 14 
Cost: Mote members, $239; nonmembers, $259
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Discovering the Florida Keys
This overnight camp will take students to Mote’s Tropical Research Laboratory on Summerland Key. Campers will snorkel, kayak, visit Marathon’s Turtle Hospital and take an all-day boat excursion to the Dry Tortugas National Park. Mote will provide round-trip transportation from Sarasota. Children must be able to swim.

Ages: Students entering seventh and eighth grades
When: June 22 to June 26; July 6 to July 10; and July 27 to July 31
Cost: Mote members, $995; nonmembers, $1,045
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Exploring Marine Science Careers
Aimed at students who hope to become marine biologists, this camp will explore marine science careers. Campers will meet Mote scientists, biologists and animal trainers and do hands-on field research in Sarasota Bay and work with and train aquarium animals.

Ages: Students entering sixth to eighth grades
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 29 to July 3; July 6 to July 10; July 27 to July 31; and Aug. 3 to Aug. 7
Cost: Mote members, $239; nonmembers, $259
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

Ecology of the Florida Keys
Explore the marine life of the Florida Keys while scuba diving and snorkeling, exploring tide pools, fishing, kayaking and visiting the Dolphin Research Center. Mote will provide roundtrip transportation from Sarasota, and children must be able to swim.

Ages: Students entering ninth through 12th grades
When: June 15 to 19; June 29 to July 3; July 13 to 17; and August 3 to 7
Cost: Mote members $995; nonmembers $1045
Contact: Visit mote.org/education/kids-families/summer-camps or contact Becky Wilson at 388-4381 or [email protected].

SURFit Camp
The camp will teach children the techniques of stand-up paddleboarding, surfing and swimming and will include ocean safety and marine biology lessons. Camps are at Siesta Key Beach, Lido Beach Park, Turtle Beach, Nokomis Beach and Venice Beach.

Ages: Ages 6 to 16
When: One-week sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 1 to Aug. 14 
Cost: $185
Contact: 952-8245