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As summer approaches, camp registrations open

All year, students dream about it - sun, water, sleeping late, no homework, rinse, repeat.

With summer quickly approaching, parents are starting to think about what their kids will do during the break from school.  Here are a few of the summer camps offered in North Central Florida:

Camp Crystal Lake—Starke

For this one-to-two week residential camp, campers must have completed second grade or be 8 years old. The camp accepts students up to ninth grade.

“Our campers can choose from 21 different classes,” said director Tony Oyenarte.

Classes include archery, a ropes course, sailing, waterskiing, arts and crafts, court sports, field sports and drama.

Oyenarte said some sessions are already full, and he encourages parents to call right away if they are interested.

Sessions start June 9 and end Aug. 2.

The cost for one week is $490 for Alachua County residents and $550 for out-of-county residents. The two week camp is $980 for Alachua County residents and $1,040 for out-of-county residents.

Oyenarte suggested parents choose a camp accredited by the American Camp Association.  On the American Camp Association website,  parents can find a camp by searching different criteria.

Cornerstone Day Camp—Ocala

This day camp offers one-week sessions for rising kindergarteners to rising fifth-graders.  Cornerstone also has a LEADS program for rising middle school and high school students who are entering grades six through 10.

Campers who want to be a part of LEADS should have a desire to work with children, said camp director Cheryl Gans.  Kids in this program will learn leadership skills by observing counselors.

Camp this year will be at Fort King Presbyterian Church, located at 13 NE 36th Ave. in Ocala, since the school will be under construction.

A camp day is 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration is now open.  Cornerstone limits each week to 27 to 28 campers, so it tends to fill up quickly, said Gans.  The LEADS program only takes two to four kids per session.

Session one begins June 10 and  is $130 per weekly session.

Some of the activities offered are archery, tree climbing, fort building, wild science, art, creative cooking and team building.

Superhero Training Camp—Gainesville

Children 5 to 10 years old can live out their superhero dreams this summer at Superhero Training Camp.

The camp has weekly sessions starting June 10 to Aug. 16 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Early drop off at 7 a.m. and late pickup until 6 p.m. are available for free.

It's $129 per week plus a $20 activity fee if kids attend every week and $180 per week plus the $20 activity fee if kids just attend a single week.  Jayme Tate said the activity fee would be waived if registration is completed before April 30.

Superhero’s will have the chance to create their own comic book, create their superhero costume, practice their powers, do arts and crafts and go on field trips, which include going to the movies, going to the museum and bowling.

Camp will be at A Child’s Academy, located at 3401 NW 34th St. in Gainesville.

Registration is now open.  Parents can fill out the registration form and turn it into the office in person, fax or email.

Funfest Summer Camp—Jonesville

Sun Country Sports Center hosts Funfest summer camp June 5 through Aug. 16.  This weekly day camp is offered at the Jonesville location, 333 SW 140th Terrace.

The earliest drop-off time for camp days are 7:30 a.m., and the latest pick-up time is 6:30 p.m. with half days as an option.  The cost ranges from about $100 to about $200.

Kids 3 to 15 years old can be registered for this camp.

Specialty camps are offered throughout the summer.  Some of the specialty camps are cheer camp, prince and princess dance camp, trampoline and tumble camp, and swim camp.

“You can really come here and do a little bit of everything,” said Eric Warm, director of marketing.

Transportation is available from the Millhopper location.  The bus will leave at 8 a.m. and return around 6:30 p.m.

Parents can go into the location to register, call the office or register online, Warm said.

Camp Good News—Hawthorne

This Christian day camp is open June 10 through Aug. 16 for ages 4 to 12.

The cost is $85 a week or $22 a day with a $15 annual registration fee.

Children can enjoy many activities that include fishing, swimming, canoeing, archery and a bike trail.

“We study God’s word everyday,” said Lisa Williams, ministry coordinator.  She said everyday there is a memory verse for kids to learn.

The camp day is 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with early drop-off and late pick-up options.

Buses are available to transport campers to the camp.  A bus will leave from Westside Park at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:15 p.m.; a bus will leave from Compassion Church Ministries at 8:15 a.m. and return at 4:50 p.m.; and a bus will leave from Tim’s Fast Nickel at 8:30 a.m. and return at 4:40 p.m.

Parents can download the registration form and mail it with $15 to the camp or call to register.

Jordan Glen Summer Camp—Archer

This day camp has two three-week sessions that are available.   It is $630 for one of the sessions, and if children want to attend both sessions, the cost is $1,135.

Session one starts June 10 and ends June 28 and session two is July 1 through July 19.

The camp is open to rising Kindergarteners to rising eighth graders.

A bus will leave Westside Park at 8:25 a.m. and return at 3 p.m.  The bus will stop at Haile Plantation at 8:45 a.m. and return at 2:40 p.m.  There is a $100 transportation fee per child for the use of the bus.

Some of the activities include sports, arts and crafts, swimming, drama, dance, African drumming and treasure hunts.

The registration form can be downloaded online and parents are encouraged to contact the camp if they are interested in registering their children.

The camp is located at 12425 SW 154 St. in Archer, Fla.

Breanna is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.