Looking for fun and educational kids’ activities for the school holidays so you can ditch the devices this summer? From art, drama and Mandarin to sports, robotics and cooking, check out these ten exciting holiday camps that’ll put little hands and feet – and minds! – to work. Keeping the kids busy during the school break won’t be a challenge with these options!
All Hands Together
Ages: 7 to 12 years
Cost: $500
Duration: Five days (9.30am to 12.30pm, 25 to 29 June and 2 to 6 July)
Focus: Special needs (explore, connect and make new friends)
Location: All Hands Together Learning & Development Centre, 5 Stadium Walk, #04-09 Kallang Leisure Park
Registration: 8480 2569 | allhandstogether.com
The All Hands Together Holiday Camp is a multi-sensory camp offering fun activities that build on life skills, social pragmatics and gross and fine motor skills. The sessions are designed and differentiated for special needs children and will be run by experienced special educators. Expect singing, dancing, reading, painting, cooking, experimenting and more. The children enjoy exploring and interacting with other children, and they especially love the hands-on activities and outdoor play. New additions this year include yoga and soccer that will help participants discover their hobbies and talents.
The camps offer special needs children a pressure-free and safe environment in which to learn, discover and make decisions for themselves, giving them a good break from their packed schedule and learning expectations. This empowers them to develop independence and to know themselves better.
“I liked everything, but I really loved the experiments. My favourite was the lava lamp!” – George Harradine
BOUNCE Singapore
Ages: 3 years and above
Cost: $290
Duration: Three days (9am to 12 noon, Monday to Wednesday, 30 May to 27 June)
Focus: Trampolining
Location: BOUNCE Singapore, #09-01 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
Registration: 6816 2879 | enquiries@bounceinc.com.sg | bounceinc.com.sg
At the Tramp Camp, kids will take part in a mix of activities across different trampoline zones. Learning in a safe and fun environment, they’ll develop correct and safe trampolining and aerial skills, try out the obstacles at X-Park and master the Leap of Faith. They’ll also get to enjoy dodgeball and launching themselves onto giant airbags. Besides making new friends and having fun, they’ll be getting a good workout and have their confidence boosted.
As campers navigate the obstacles and zones, they’ll be fully supervised by friendly and energetic hosts who are trained to work with children of various ages. All participants will get a healthy fruit platter and water, and receive a special BOUNCE Tramp Camp goodie bag to take home.
“It gave my children the freedom to explore and develop their coordination and motor skills within the care and experience of committed staff. The Leap of Faith on the last day was my son’s highlight.” – Stephanie Keen
Camp Asia
Ages: 3 to 16 years
Cost: From $650 per week
Duration: Five days (9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, 18 June to 3 August)
Focus: Sports, technology, creativity and multi-activity
Location: Stamford American International School, with expansion onto the Australian International School campus (connecting by shuttle bus)
Registration: 6593 3691 | campasia.asia
With over 20 camps offered by Camp Asia, children are sure to find a camp they’ll love. There’s everything from high-calibre sports camps (Real Madrid Soccer, basketball, gymnastics, parkour, multi-sport) and creative camps (Super Chef, drama, art, magic, multi-activity) to enrichment camps (English, mathematics, science) and high-tech camps (coding, programming, robotics). Camp Asia is always growing and has added even more choices for campers this summer with the inclusion of Magic, Parkour and Aviation camps. All are centred on having fun and making new friends.
Teachers are highly-qualified and have undergone background checks according to Camp Asia’s recruitment policy. With their many years of experience, they’re able to ensure that each child, no matter what age, class or language ability, gets a fulfilling experience. The camp also offers island-wide transport, all-day catering and a health centre at both venues.
“Archie is soccer mad. He can’t believe he’s training with Real Madrid Football School; he feels a step closer to his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo! Getting the Real Madrid kit was a nice touch, too.” – Tyler Drake
Centaurs
Ages: 6 to 13 years
Cost: $550 for a five-day camp and $350 for a three day camp. Discounts available for Centaurs members or when a third child signs up.
Duration: Five days (9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, 18 June to 10 August)
Focus: Multi-sports
Location: The Pit at Centaurs Sports Park, Turf City off Dunearn Road
Registration: 6468 9851 | centaurskids.com
With an emphasis on having fun and being active, Centaurs Multisports Camps aim to draw kids away from devices and to help them experience an authentic childhood. Activities enable kids to develop communication, teamwork, movement and coordination skills and to overcome their fears. They include games such as rounders, ultimate frisbee, soccer and other team-building games; one of the most popular games among the kids is “capture the flag”.
With a flexible programme and mixed-age teams, children are given ownership of the activities they take part in and their team’s score over the week. In 2018, the programme will have an enhanced focus on the outdoors. The camp leaders and helpers are fun-loving and experienced, and the staff team includes a first-aider.
“My boys had a fabulous week at camp! They absolutely loved it and are planning on doing another one. The coaches were wonderful, patient and passionate. The boys spoke highly of them.” – Sarah
Discovery Camps
Ages: 3 to 12 years
Cost: $595
Duration: Five days (9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, 28 May to 10 August)
Focus: A mix of activities, from languages and mathematics to art and drama
Location: Lorna Whiston at United Square and Parkway Parade, and SJI International
Registration: 6664 8122 | discoverycamps.com
Running for its first year, Discovery Camps is offering eight fun and educational camps that provide a mix of creative, educational and tech topics. Each programme aims to equip kids with skills while giving them a good time. Staff are qualified teachers and experts with years of experience in their field; they’re also trained in aspects such as health and safety.
For a mix of educational and creative fun, enrol in the multi-activity camp that covers English, maths, drama and more. Little performers will enjoy Actor’s Studio, where children work on a show to perform for parents in the black box theatre. Techy kids will have a blast at the Lego Robotics, Coding Academy and Movie Maker camps. Those with a creative flair will have fun at drawing, painting and making pottery at the Art Studio camp. Or, to hone your child’s language and maths skills, enrol them in the English Explorers or Magic Maths camp.
Inspired Arts
Ages: 4 to 13 years
Cost: $95 for one day, or $300 for a full camp (animation camps, which require extra equipment, are $380)
Duration: Four days (9am to 12pm for ages four to nine, and 12.30pm to 3.30pm for ages 9 to 13, Monday to Thursday, 28 May to 16 August)
Focus: Visual art
Location: 446A Joo Chiat Road
Registration: 91469428 | inspiredartssg.com
The Inspired Arts Holiday Camps focus on visual art in various forms: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, construction, jewellery making, weaving, fabric art and animation. A new theme is introduced weekly, from “Superhero” and “Out of the Box” to “An Ocean Beyond”. The campers engage with a range of art mediums (2D, 3D and digital) and develop skills and techniques, while unleashing their creativity and imagination. Children are given the freedom to create their own interpretations of the theme, building confidence and passion in a fun and creative environment.
Hamish and Coco bring humour, creativity and enthusiasm into every session. Their aim is to make children feel valued and safe, inspiring them to explore and engage with the art they create.
“My girls attended two weeks of Inspired Arts camps over the school holidays. I saw a huge sense of achievement when they completed a project. Most importantly, they keep asking to go back.” – Vanessa and Greg Mittman
Little Artists Art Studio
Ages: 3 to 15 years
Cost: $450 to $850 for a full day; $300 to $500 for a half day
Duration: Two to four days (10am to 2pm for a half day, and 10am to 5pm for a full day, with opportunities for early drop-off at 9.30am; Monday to Thursday, 28 May to 8 August)
Focus: Fine art
Location: Siglap Centre, #02-18, 55 Siglap Road
Registration: 64490339 / 64490960 | little-artists.com
Little Artists Art Studio’s Artrageous Camp is an immersive experience in fine art, aiming to instil in kids a love of learning. The teachers are passionate art educators with degrees in fine arts or design, and children are able to explore painting, sketching, sculpture and 3D projects. There’s a range of projects available, from clay sculpture to charcoal sketches and big canvases. All materials are included.
Participants watch and discuss art movie clips during lunch to learn about major art movements and important artists such as Vincent van Gogh; they also watch demonstrations by calligraphers and animators and discuss painting skills and how to meld colours and shapes. Campers can also enjoy complimentary bonus classes and art tours; this allows them to do additional projects in new mediums they wish to explore, but may not have had enough time to touch on during the camp.
Little Mandarins
Ages: 4 to 9 years
Cost: $330 per week for the 3-hour camp and $500 for the 4.5-hour camp
Duration: Five days (9.45am to 12.45pm or 2.45pm, Monday to Friday, 28 May to 3 August)
Focus: Mandarin
Location: Little Mandarins, Block 71 Loewen Road, #01-03
Registration: 6473 8377 | little-mandarins.com
In this weekly-themed Mandarin Fun Camp, children get to learn the language through lots of interactive activities. Indoor and outdoor games, songs, storytelling, brush painting and arts and crafts are integrated with reading and writing to make learning fun and exciting. The camp themes are refreshed each summer; this year, the themes are Let’s Go to the Circus, Little Traveller and Little Mandarins Theme Park. Camps are suitable even for children with no Mandarin, and little ones will be able to pick up basic conversation skills through interacting with teachers and other campers, or build on their existing vocabulary if they have a foundation in the language.
Camps are conducted by Little Mandarins teachers who are trained in-house and passionate about teaching. They teach vocabulary that is relevant in daily life and help children build their confidence in using the language.
“We’re glad that Little Mandarins offers different themed holiday programmes; Caleb is looking forward to the summer holiday camp.” – Emily
Sport4kids
Ages: 3.5 to 12 years
Cost: $105 for one day, or $475 for the week; there are sibling, friend referral and multiple week discounts.
Duration: Five days (9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, 18 June to 17 August)
Focus: Multi-activity and sports
Location: Turf City
Registration: 68163110 | sport4kids.sg
The Sport4kids Multi-activity Summer Camp introduces children to a variety of fun and educational sports and activities with the aim of building teamwork, communication skills and perseverance. Expect a week full of fun and games, with a mix of sports, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities that will keep kids entertained and on the go. This year, the camp has introduced karate and a Mandarin arts programme, where children will learn Chinese through craft. Campers get to try out a variety of activities, take part in age-appropriate competitions and have the chance to make new friends. There are also weekly trips outside to places such as the Botanic Gardens and a swimming complex.
The coaching team consists of 22 coaches across the 10 different sports and programmes. They are carefully selected and have a degree or equivalent in a sports-related field. Every coach has completed the Sport4kids coaching course for consistency and is qualified in first aid.
“I can’t wait until summer so I can attend the Sport4kids camp again!” – Harry
Whizz Kidz
Ages: 4 to 13 years
Cost: $440 (enjoy a 10 percent discount using code “EL10” at checkout)
Duration: Five days (9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, 25 June to 3 August; there’s an after-camp club with multiactivities from 2pm to 5pm)
Focus: Educational
Location: GEMS World Academy, Dulwich College (Singapore), UWCSEA (East), GESS (Junior School), Canadian International School (Lakeside) and ISS International School (TBC)
Registration: 6271 1478 | whizzkidz.com.sg
Learning is made fun and engaging at the holiday camps held by Whizz Kidz. There’s never a dull moment as kids pick up new concepts through fun and immersive experiments and projects, from 3D doodling and robot battles to creating horror movies. Camps include Fun Science, Robotics, 3Doodler printing, Multiactivity and Movie Making. Offering a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, they are hands-on camps where the kids will be well guided by high-energy and fun-loving instructors who have classroom experience and are knowledgeable about their field.
This year, expect new activities at CIS (Lakeside campus) such as Get Crafty and Dance camps, Future Leaders, Robotics and Nerf challenges. At other campuses, there will be more team bonding games and presentations.”
“Thank you for a wonderfully organised, highly original and educational camp. Jon came home exhausted yet energised from the activities. Apart from having fun, the educational aspects of the camp have made an impression.” – Colleen
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This article first appeared in the May 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
