Summer Camps Rebound and Keep Getting Better

Summer camps are bouncing back in Peachtree Corners. And in some places, they never went anywhere.

For two years, COVID-19 lowered summer camp attendance, shut them down entirely, or required a virtual option for kids to participate. But if 2022 attendance numbers are any indication, the popularity of summer camps has boomed, and camp providers could see a record turnout in 2023.

As early as January registration for many camps was already open and some are filling up fast.

Back and stronger than ever

“This past summer demonstrated we have fully recovered from the pandemic,” said Bob Hagan, owner of Club SciKidz, a technology, and science-focused summer camp offered in multiple locations in metro Atlanta, including Notre Dame Academy in Duluth. “We set a sales record for our summer camps.”

Club SciKidz offers more than 60 STEM themes for children in pre-kindergarten through seventh grade as well as Marvel-themed, zombie-themed, and Lego-themed programs.

For Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC), the pandemic didn’t cause much change. The school shut down from March to May 2020, but following proper guidelines, they hosted in-person camps that summer. The only thing affected has been attendance, but that changed in 2022, said GAC director of community relations Margie Asef. Last year, GAC saw record attendance.

GAC will host more than 30 specialty camps, along with weekly camps that include a field trip in the metro Atlanta area.

“Our dynamic array of classes and choices allow for the maximum benefit for our campers and their parents,” Asef said. “Day camp is a fun-filled day that will allow for building friendships and lasting memories.”

Kelly Weatherly, director of auxiliary programs and outreach at the Wesleyan School, said summer camps bring a sense of normalcy to a child’s summer break, and now that camps have returned, kids appear to appreciate them even more. Wesleyan also saw a new attendance record in 2022, she said.

“We are delighted to be back to normal,” Weatherly said. “A major part of the camp experience is running around, playing, and being close with friends, new and old. COVID limited us from those experiences, but we have come back better and stronger, and I genuinely think the kids see it and are grateful for the closeness and the normalcy we are able to bring to their summer. People seem more anxious than ever to sign up for camp in 2023, and we are ready for them.”

In 2021, Wesleyan only hosted camps for Wesleyan students and family members before reopening to the public in 2022.

“We are constantly watching trends and looking for new ideas to make camps interesting,” Weatherly said. “Wesleyan has been offering camps to the community for over 25 years. We also never leave campus. We believe this makes us unique. What you see is what you get, and what better way to experience Wesleyan than by coming to camp?”

Many camp options available

Here is a compilation of some of the summer camps available in the Peachtree Corners area.

Camp Invention

Location: Berkley Lake Elementary School, 4300 S Berkeley Lake Rd., Duluth 

Camp Dates: June 5-8

Cost: $275

Ages: Grades K-6

Website: invent.org/programs/camp-invention

An initiative of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention has more than 1,000 camp programs nationwide. The mission of Camp Invention is to inspire innovative thinking among youth. The program will help grow campers’ confidence, boost problem-solving skills, and learn about innovative role models.

The 2023 theme of Camp Invention is “Summer of Wonder.” Activities include “Pop-up Venture,” in which campers learn how to become entrepreneurs and design their own pop-up business, and “Catching Air,” in which kids use design engineering to build their own skate park.

Club SciKidz

Location: Notre Dame Academy, 4635 River Green Pkwy., Duluth

Camp Dates: June 12-July 17

Cost: $349

Ages: Grades PreK to 7th Grade

Website: atlanta.clubscikidz.com

Club Sci Kidz is an Atlanta-based, STEM-focused camp that offers creative venues for participants with themes such as Marvel Movie Maker, Special Effects & Zombies, and Nintendo Labo. Each participant receives a specialty-made welcome box full of stuff related to their camp theme.

Club SciKidz has been a popular camp choice in the Atlanta area since it was founded by Bob and Sue Hagan in 1997. They have hosted more than 100,000 children since then. Camps are held at eight locations across metro Atlanta.

Future Blue Devil Cheerleading Camp

Location: Norcross High School, 5300 Spalding Dr., Norcross

Camp Dates: June 6-8

Ages: Pre-K to 6th Grade

Website: norcrosshighcheer.weebly.com

Spend the afternoon learning from current Norcross High cheerleaders and head coach Chandler Williams.

Greater Atlanta Christian School

Location: 1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross

Camp Dates: June 5-July 28

Cost: TBD (registration opened Jan. 30)

Ages: 4-18

Website: greateratlantachristian.org/campus-life/summer-camp/summer-camp

GAC offers three types of camp categories: Grow Day Camp, Thrive Day Camp, and Specialty Day Camp. Grow is designed for fourth and fifth graders, while Thrive is designed for grades 6-8.

In addition to weekly field trips, campers can look forward to using the new GAC clubhouse, which offers ping pong, air hockey, board games, and arcade basketball. Thrive participants can look forward to attending local sporting events, going to the movies, and an indoor skating party.

Gwinnett County

Location: Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Berkeley Lake

Camp Dates: June 12-July 28

Cost: $121-$151

Ages: 5-13

Website: gwinnettcounty.com/

Among the most cost-efficient options for kids this summer, Gwinnett County offers camps at most of its community centers, including Pinckneyville Park. The county’s Summer Adventure offers eight programs: Campers Got Talent, Get into Character, Into the Wild, Let’s Explore Georgia, Let’s Try It, Make a Splash, and Once Upon a Time. A $151 registration fee is good for an entire day’s worth of adventure.

i9 Sports Multi-Sport Camp

Location: Bunten Road Park, 3180 Bunten Rd., Duluth

Camp Dates: June 5-9 and July 24-29

Cost: $160

Ages: 5-10

Website: i9sports.com/atlanta-youth-sports-leagues

The i-9 Sports Multi-Sport Camp gives kids a chance to learn the basics of flag football, soccer, and baseball by working with local coaches and instructors. i9 hosts camps nationwide for more than 3.5 million kids per year. i9 also offers youth sports leagues for kids of all skill levels ages 3 and up.

Kids 4 Coding

Location: Paul Duke STEM High School, 5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross

Camp Dates: Weekly full- and half-day programs, June 5-July 28

Cost: $400 half-day / $690 full day

Ages: 7-14

Website: kids4coding.com

The Kids 4 Coding in Duluth offers courses in programming languages such as Scratch and Python, as well as game development courses involving Roblox and Minecraft. The camps also provide courses in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous cars, and augmented reality. Available in Georgia and Massachusetts, Kids 4 Coding covers a broad foundation of STEM education programs. The student-teacher ratio is 7 to 1, and instructors are recruited from top computer science and engineering programs such as Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Harvard, and MIT.

MJCCA Summer Day Camps

Location: Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody

Camp Dates: May 30-Aug. 11

Cost: $415 member / $490 Community

Ages: Pre-K through 9th grade

Website: mjccadaycamps.org/register

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta offers camps on and off its 52-acre campus in Dunwoody. Participants can enjoy day camps at MJCCA or nature at Camp Isidore Alterman, which has activities such as bumper boats, outdoor cooking, ropes course, canoeing, fishing, sports, free swim, STEAM, drama, dance and arts and crafts.

MJCAA also operates a separate outdoor camp called Camp Barney Medintz in the North Georgia Mountains.

PGA Camps

Location: TPC Sugarloaf, 2595 Sugarloaf Club Dr., Duluth

Camp Dates: June 6-July 28

Cost: $600 half-day / $1,000 full day

Ages: 7-16

Website: pgajuniorgolfcamps.com

TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth offers a premiere golf camp in which junior players will be able to hone their skills on a 10-acre practice facility. Campers are instructed by certified PGA professionals with a low student-to-instructor ratio of 6 to 1.

Half-day camps are recommended for beginning golfers, while full-day camps are designed for intermediate to advanced skill levels.

Wesleyan School

Location: 5405 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

Camp Dates: June 12-21

Cost: $175 half-day / $400 full day

Ages: 3-13

Website: wesleyanschool.org/programs/summer-camps?siteId=1161

With a full range of camps from sports to STEM to arts, Wesleyan School has more than 50 camps to choose from, all of which take place on the Wesleyan campus. Camps are designed to balance strong content and organized play time.

Each camp finds time to be inside and outside with structured time as well as free time. Registration is now open, and camps for younger kids tend to sell out early.