Start searching now for creative kids’ summer camps, which are already filling up for the off-school season. Summer camps that teach the arts have become very popular over the years, especially those focusing on creativity, such as drama, painting and filmmaking. Here are some of the best summer camps in Tampa that will awaken a child’s creative side.
The Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre’s very popular selection of summer camps focusing on filmmaking is already filling a waitlist. It targets children interested in all aspects of the art, from production, to storyboarding, scriptwriting and filming.
Summer campers entering grades three to 12 work in small groups to learn lighting, editing, filming and more, with the Tampa Theatre providing all the equipment, including computers and software. In the end, campers will have a three to five-minute movie to premiere on the big screen for friends and family.
More art news: Tampa Museum of Art Expansion Receives $25 Million Gift
The Theatre is offering both live-action and stop-motion animation camps, including two weeks of full-day filmmaking. The summer film camp is presented by Film Tampa Bay in collaboration with the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the University of South Florida’s College of Education.
See some movies created by last year’s campers!
Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center
Open enrollment for the Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center Summer Camp is now available.
This camp offers one- and two-week specialty camps, including hockey, theater, Legos, leadership skills and more. The youngest campers can attend kindergarten summer camp, allowing them to experience day camp for the first time. When campers are not learning a range of skills in a fun environment, they will swim daily and take part in team-building activities. All are welcome.
Those interested should contact Jessica.scruggs@jewishtampa.com or call 813-291-2252.
Drama Kids International
Drama Kids International offers a variety of interesting activities this year. Drama Kids Actor’s Workshop and Musical Theater Camps is being held this year at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 3315 Bryan Road in Brandon. Here are some of the different activities being offered:
- Comedy club. Encourages kids five to 10 to tell jokes, mime and stretch their imagination.
- Willy Wonka Jr. Campers ages eight to 17 can be cast in the show, which will practice every day during the two-week camp with a highly trained director, choreographer, and music director. Final performances will be professionally produced. There is no previous experience required, and every camper that wants to take part will be a member in one of the two available Willy Wonka casts.
- Theater Game Olympics. Offered to kids ages five to 10, combining “Acting Up Around the World,” with theater games. Campers work in groups, each representing a different country to compete in the Olympics.
- Jungle Book & Camp Wild. For campers six-11, “the jungle will rumble” as campers pretend and daydream about the world of the Jungle Book. Each camper gets a character, a name, and a “special moment” on stage during singing. The afternoon is filled with zoo-themed activities.
- Camp Hollywood & Rockstartopia. For kids ages six to 11 and is a full day of camp where campers join a band, record their latest hit and play a concert in the morning. In the afternoon, they walk on the red carpet, shoot a movie and get ready to be a movie star.
- Junior Broadway Camp for kids six to 11 and a Senior Broadway Camp for kids 12-17.
SummerArt Adventures Camps
SummerArt Adventures Camps will take place for eight weeks at Color Me Mine, 1609 W. Snow Circle, Tampa. There is a Pirates and Princesses Week Summer Camp, which includes ceramic painting techniques and projects, as well as a clay project.
Its Superheroes Camp includes ceramic painting techniques and projects, a clay project and a variety of crafts with wood, paper, decoupage, papier mâché and more
Food Week Summer Camp includes ceramic painting techniques, a clay project and a variety of crafts with wood, canvas, fabric and more.
Color Me Mine also offers a Beach Week Summer Camp which includes ceramic techniques, a clay project and other crafts, including beading and jewelry making, decoupage, paper crafts and more.
Carrollwood Cultural Center
Finally, Carrollwood Cultural Center also offers summer camps that include topics such as Wild Kingdom, Great Art Escape and Mythical Creature Feature for kids six to 10.
Camps for ages 11-13 include themes such as Enter Twilight Zone, Much to Choose About Shakespeare and Matilda the Musical Intensive.