Summer may seem a long way off at this time of year, but savvy parents know that now is the time to make arrangements to enroll their children in summer camps before it’s too late. With this in mind, the Gold Coast Arts Center has opened registration for its two highly popular summer programs: The SummerArts Camp and the Half-Day Junior Camp.
The SummerArts Camp, which runs from July 5 through Aug. 24, is designed for children ages 6 to 14. Recognizing that youngsters have a wide range of interests, the center has organized weekly sessions that offer something for everyone, including cartooning, ceramics, drawing and painting, musical theater, 3D art, dance, chess, acting, and more.
New for 2018 is a program called “Vocal Expressions,” which provides group vocal training and culminates in a stage performance, in keeping with summer camp tradition. Most of the weekly sessions conclude with either a performance or a display of art work, showcasing what the children have learned throughout their arts camp experience.
The range of options extends to flexible scheduling. Children can attend sessions from one week, additional weeks, or all eight weeks. The only exception is a two-day session: Crafts/Music, which will take place on July 5 and 6. Students who attend this session will spend the morning making innovative creations and spend the afternoon having fun with music.
Each session starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., and includes lunch and a snack.
The Half-Day Junior Camp is for kids pre-K to age 6 and runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each week features a different theme related to art, music, or dance. But children do not have to attend a full-week session; they can participate in 1 to 5 days of camp each week for up to 8 weeks. Tuition includes nut-free morning snacks.
The center requires that eligible campers must be toilet-trained and have previous experience at in a separation program.
“Children look forward to summer all year and look for a chance to fulfill their creative selves,” says Ellen Schiff, school director at the Gold Coast Arts Center. She does warn that the programs fill up quickly, and encourages parents to register soon. An added bonus: if you register before March 12, you can take advantage of an early-bird discount that will save you $25 per weekly session.
Camps take place at the Gold Coast Arts Center located at 113 Middle Neck Road in Great Neck. Tuition depends on the duration of attendance, and there are reduced rates for members. More information is available at www.goldcoastarts.org by clicking on the “school” tab. To register for the programs, call 516-829-2570.
