Top 4 Summer Camps in Both Louisiana & Florida

In a previous blog post, we looked at the Top 4 Summer Camps in New Jersey and New York. Now we’re heading down south to Louisiana and Florida, so look at some great options for your kids in those states.

In the last article, we talked about how to choose a great camp for your children. You’ll want to consider things like location, price, your child’s personality and whether a day camp or sleep-away camp is the best option. You also want to consider things like transportation, staff ratio and special accommodations.

So pack your bug spray, your sunblock and let’s go!

Top 4 Summer Camps in Both Louisiana and Florida

Here are the top summer camps in Louisiana and Florida, in alphabetical order.

Top 4 Summer Camps in Louisiana

Here are the top four summer camps in Louisiana, in alphabetical order.

Active Learning Chess and Video Game Design Camps

St. Luke's Episcopal School

8833 Goodwood Boulevard

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

(888) 652-4377

http://www.activelearningcamps.com/
Chess and video game creation are the focus of these day camps. Kids can attend either chess or gaming in the morning or afternoon or combine both for a full day.

USA Chess Camp is taught by some of the best children’s chess instructors in North America, and tuition includes a chess set, trophy and casual or competitive classes. The Video Game Creation camps include options for arcade game creation, video games and Minecraft-type games. 

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 5 to 16 for Chess Camp, 7 to 16 for Video Game Camps)
• Day camp morning or afternoon half-day, or combine both programs for the full-day
• Fees: Chess Camp half-day is $275 per week, full day is $485 per week; Video Game Camp (varies by video camp chosen): half-day is $285 to $340 per week, full day is $485 to $535 per week     
• Camps run one week at a time, June 28 to August 6

 

Camp Istrouma

25975 Greenwell Springs Rd

Greenwell Springs, LA 70739

(225) 261-2089

https://www.la-umc.org/campistrouma

Located 10 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, Camp Istrouma is run by the United Methodist Church on 162 acres of nature trails and a 7-acre recreational lake. Originally a Boy Scout camp in the 1930s, the property was purchased by the church in 1958.

It has water sports, a climbing wall, crafts, outdoor activities and a talent show. While the camp is “open to all children and youth without regard to race, color, creed, nation origin or religion, “ activities include bible study and worship with a Christian focus.

Details:

• Day camp and overnight camp options
• Co-ed day camp available for children entering Grade 1 through Grade 6; overnight camp available for one week at a time, varies by grade level
• Fees are $170 per week for day camp, plus canteen and closing parents’ breakfast
• Overnight camp is $360 per week for “Discovering God” campers and $420 per week for others
• June to August in one-week increments
• Parents responsible for transportation

 

Kid-Possible Summer Camps

10328 Jefferson Hwy

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

(225) 442-3143

www.kid-possible.com
This day camp led by educators or people actively studying to be educators offers various art, science, day trips, physical activities and crafts to keep kids happy and busy.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 5 to 12)
• Day camp
• Fees are $200 per week
• June to August, runs in one-week sessions, different themes every session

 

Upturn Arts

Nola Spaces

1719 Toledano Street

New Orleans, LA 70115

(504) 390-8399

www.upturnarts.org

With an emphasis on providing arts opportunities for all children, Upturn Arts offers visual arts, dance, music and theatre programs.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 4 to 14), children are divided into groups by age.
• Day camp
• Fees are $600 per week
• June to August, four 2-week sessions, different theme every session

Top 4 Summer Camps in Florida

Here are the top four summer camps in Florida, in alphabetical order.

Circle F Dude Ranch

5301 Dude Ranch Rd

Lake Wales, FL, 33898

(863) 676-4113

www.circlefduderanchcamp.com

Located 90 minutes from Orlando, campers can enjoy over 40 different activities on 500 acres, including a 42-acre lake. Kids can choose their activities from horseback riding, sports, crafts, swimming, fishing and rock climbing.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 6 to 16)
• Overnight camp
• Fees are $1,350 for one week, $3,200 for two weeks and $4,175 for three weeks
• June to August in one-, two- or three-week sessions

 

Camp Frontier

5000 Firetower Road

Haines City, Florida 33844

(888) 977-CAMP (2267)

www.campfrontier.com

Located on 12,000 acres in central Florida, Camp Frontier offers air-conditioned cabins, fishing and a comprehensive list of daily activities that campers can choose from, including archery, crafts, a challenge course, musical theatre, photography, swimming, volleyball and a bunch of other things to appeal to all interests.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 7 to 17)
• Overnight camp
• Fees are $1,595 for one week, $3,395 for two weeks and $3,995 for three weeks; campers who attend both three-week sessions are eligible for a $500 discount
• June to August; one-, two- and three-week sessions are available

 

Camp Idlewild

7602 Henry Drive

Land O' Lakes, FL, 34638

(813) 996-1226

www.campidlewildofflorida.com

Camp Idlewild, located 20 miles from Tampa, is focused on providing camp experiences for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger's Syndrome), Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD, Down Syndrome and Developmental Delays, and offers older campers (up to age 30) opportunities to camp as well. Campers can attend day camp, overnight camp and weekend camp sessions.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 6 to 17, young adult 18 to 30)
• Day camp, overnight camp
• June 20 to July 23 weekly sessions, July 25 to 30 for young adult campers ages 18 to 30
• Fees: $650 per session for day camp, $800 per session for overnight

 

Camp Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953

(855) 433-4210

www.kennedyspacecenter.com

If you have a budding astronaut in your midst, there isn’t a better camp in the world than at the actual launch site for the U.S. space program. This in-demand camp sells out quickly.

Activities at the Kennedy Center Visitor Complex focus on hands-on STEM challenges, astronaut-training simulations and labs that are all age-appropriate. Campers can meet a veteran astronaut, use virtual reality to explore Mars or fly to Mars in the space flight simulator.

Details:

• Co-ed (ages 7 to 16), campers are divided into teams based on age
• Day camp
• Fees: $350 per week
• June to August, one-week sessions

Summer camps give kids a chance to build resilience, confidence, social skills and independence. With both day and overnight camp options, there are lots of choices for your kids in Louisiana or Florida.