SUMMER COURSES FOR CHILDREN:The Gaeltacht model works so well. Total language immersion; sports, arts and hilarity and the comfort and safety of a host family to make your kids feel at home. Now wouldn't that be great if it all happened in the sun? There are countless Gaeltacht-style language schools running all over Europe, but in the past you would need to plough your own furrow to find them. Now Stein Travel has established Ireland's first summer school travel service so you can send your child to one of 40 Gaeltachta in the sun; without the Irish of course, writes LOUISE HOLDEN.
Closer to home, the summer camps market continues to grow, with a number of new players this year in the field of film making and animation. With the success of films such as The Secret of Kells, Ireland has a growing presence on the global animation scene. Perhaps a stint at a summer school could lead to a promising career. Read on for more options for kids this summer.
ADVENTURE CAMPS
Killary Adventure Co
Residential summer camp programme for 8-17 year olds. Five-day programme June to August. Range of sports and activities. Non-residential summer camp includes activities and lunches. Leenane, Connemara, Co Galway. Tel: 095-43411 E-mail: adventure@killary.com www.killaryadventure.com
Horizons Wilson’s Summer Camp
This is an American-style summer camp with diverse activity in a residential setting for eight-year-olds and up. June to August. Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Tel: 098-50290 www.horizonireland.com
Camp Rockwell
The longest-running multi-activity camp in Ireland has now been taken over by Horizons, but still runs at the Rockwell campus. Supervised activity programmes, weekly excursions and activity evenings. Rockwell College, Cashel, Co Tipperary. Tel: 098 50290 Delphi Adventure Company
Adventure holidays for unaccompanied eight- to 17-year-olds in July and August. Fully escorted travel and a wide range of activities – surfing, kayaking, swimming, archery and orienteering. Five and seven day courses. Leenane, Connemara, Co Galway. Tel: 095-42208 www.delphiadventureholidays.ie
Let’s Go Multi Sports Camp
More than 100 camps all over the country for five to 13-year-olds, over seven weeks of the summer. Separate programme of activities for the five- to six-year-olds and the seven- to 13-year-olds. Tel: 021-4877111 E-mail: info@letsgo.ie, booking on www.letsgo.ie
Westwood Club
July to August 31st, 10am to 3pm daily. The multi-activity camps is for ages four to seven and eight to 12. Participants can take a one-week course or more, up to eight weeks. Leopardstown Racecourse, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 01-2191827
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Whizzkids Summer Camp
Fun with technology for children from nine to 15. Children learn how to design their own websites, use digital cameras and make films. Camps in DCU, UCD, UCC and NUI Galway. Camps run throughout July and August from 9.30am to 4pm. Residential camp in the University of Limerick in July. Tel: 061-339178 www.whizzkids.ie.
Anyone 4 Science?
Summer camps for children aged between seven and 12 during July in IT Tallaght, Rathgar, Bray and Ashford, Leixlip, Malahide, Castleknock, Rathmichael, Thurles, UCC, UCD. Recycling and alternative energy, separating mixtures and investigating the chemical and physical properties of sticky solutions. Tel: 087-6749608 0404-40563, christine@anyone4science.com, www.anyone4science.com
Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham
For boys ages 9 to 12 years, games, adventure and computers in July. Tel: 01 4933204, admin@rockbrook.ie, www.rockbrook.ie
FILM-MAKING AND ANIMATION
Nullamore Boys Club
Real 3-D modelling animation, in proper mini film studios. Learn everything you need to know to become a budding animation movie maker. Dartry. Tel: 01 4971239, www.nullamore.com
Media Magic
Make-a-movie summer school for boys and girls age 8-14 years. One-week summer school offers young people an opportunity to produce, direct and star in movies. Centres in Mount Merrion, Dublin and Maynooth. Tel: 086 8115854, www.mediamagic.ie
ENVIRONMENT
Wild and Wonderful Art
Nature trails and arts and crafts for ages eight to 11 in August. Airfield adventure camp runs from July for five- to 11-year-olds. Airfield House, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Tel: 01-2984301, paula@airfield.ie
Kippure Education Centre
Provides environmental and outdoor activity-based learning programmes for school and youth groups. Outdoor education and eco-adventure days. Family days in July and August. Kippure Estate, near Blessington, Co Wicklow. Tel: 01-4583873, www.kippure.com
COOKERY
Food Active Summer Camp
Week/fortnight cooking and nutrition course with sports/activity in the afternoon. Runs weekly from June until August from 9am to 4pm. Choice of one or two weeks. Dublin 4. Tel: 086-8066111, www.foodactive.ie
Taste
For girls and boys aged eight to 13, the Taste programme runs during July and August. Rathdown School, Glenageary, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Tel: 086-8571074 www.tinadunne.com
Junior Chef Cookery School
A four or five-day course where the children learn how to cook healthy food in a fun environment. Courses for four- to eight- and nine- to 12-year-olds run from 10am to 2pm. Courses for 13- to 16-year-olds run from 3pm to 5.30pm. Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Tel: 01-2780382 www.juniorchef.ie
Fairyhouse Food Wine School
Food, Fitness and Fun. Three-day camp in July and early August. Small group teaching sessions with demonstrations of cooking techniques. Sample what you cook. Children’s yoga, dancefit, hip-hop dancing. Eight to 14 year olds. ‘F’ Camp, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Co Meath. Tel: 01 6896476, www.fairyhousecookery.com
Busy Bee Summer School of Cooking
Starting June 15th to mid-August (three courses overall). Kids aged 11 to 16 can learn culinary secrets and cooking techniques at this well-established cookery school run by Bee Mannix-Walsh. Ballinclea Heights, Killiney, Co Dublin. Tel: 01-2858674, busybeeschool@eircom.net
SPORT
NIB FAI Summer Soccer Schools
The official soccer schools of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) are open to boys and girls aged seven to 15 and will take place this year in 290 venues Statewide, in June, July and August. Kit and football, backpack and waterbottle for each participant, plus Eircom League of Ireland pass to local club. Tel: 1890-653653 (1890-OLE-OLE), www.fai.ie
SportWays Hockey 2009
Featuring top international players and coaches, the clinics cater for players of all abilities from nine to 16. Reserve your place online. Dublin – National Hockey Stadium, UCD, Three Rock Rovers Hockey, UCD, Cork – Garryduff Sports Centre, Belfast, Lisnagarvey Hockey Club. Two residential camps in Three Rock Rovers. Tel: 087-8207538, www.sportways.com
Blackrock/Templeogue/Ballsbridge soccer and rugby
Intensive soccer and rugby coaching for ages five to 14. June and July and August at Blackrock RFC, Stradbrook Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin; St Marys RFC, Templeville Road, Templeogue, Dublin 6 and Wanderers FC, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Emphasis on enjoyment and improvement of individual skills with lots of games. Caters for all levels of ability. Tel: 01-2882111, 087-2516351, davidgdeering@gmail.com
Shreddies Parks Tennis
Tennis lessons at courts in public parks, schools and community centres in 28 counties in the Republic and Northern Ireland. In 160 venues nationwide. Boys and girls ages six to 17. Low-cost subsidised programme for beginners and improvers. Tel: 01-8338711, parkstennis@eircom.net, www.parkstennis.com
Mick Smyth Tennis Camp
This well-established tennis camp based at Terenure College, Dublin, is for social players, beginners and intermediate players aged five to 18, July and August. All qualified Tennis Ireland coaches. Fun way to learn and develop tennis skills. Tel: 01-4505341, mesmyth@gmail.com’
Basketball Camps at the National Basketball Arena
Week-long senior and junior camps in Gormanstown, late June until mid-July. Tel: 01-4590211, www.basketballireland.ie
GAA Vhi Cúl Camps
Running throughout the summer from Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm, in all 32 counties. For primary school children aged seven to 13 years. Activities include skills coaching, games and competitions in hurling, camogie and football. www.vhiculcamps.gaa.ie or contact your local county co-ordinator
Centra Summer Scrummage Camps
Seventy-five nationwide rugby summer camps for boys and girls between the ages of six and 13 in association with the IRFU. Five-day camps from 9.30am to 1.30pm each day, July and August. www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic/ summercamps.php
UCD Soccer Club
This popular summer soccer camp for children aged 5-14 years begins its sixth year in July. All participants are offered free membership to the club’s Junior Club, which entitles them to free entry to Eircom League matches at Belfield Park. www.ucdsoccer.com
Multi Sports Camps
Newpark School Sports Centre runs summer camps with swimming and gymnastics as well as kung fu, basketball indoor soccer, uni hoc. and table tennis, drama, arts and crafts. For ages 3-14 years for eight weeks. Tel: 012883720, info@newparksportscentre.ie
ESB Sportsco
ESB Sportsco offers a wide range of activities, including swimming, pool games, basketball, soccer, aerobics and dance, rounders arts and crafts and tennis in ESB Sportsco on South Lotts Rd, Dublin 4. Camp Sportsco is suitable for children aged 4-12 years. Tel: 01 6687022, sportsco@esb.ie
DCU Sports Summer Camp
DCU Sports Summer Camp, July and August, Monday Friday from 9.30am 4.30pm. Three programmes to choose from: Adventure Camp, Multisport Camp and Pre-school Camp. Tel: 01 7006111, www.dcu.ie/dcusports
LANGUAGES
Gael-Linn Summer Irish Schools
Gaeltacht Summer Colleges located in the Cork, Mayo and Donegal Gaeltachts in June, July and August for students aged 11 to 18. New college in Coláiste Bun an Inbher, Gweedore. Tel: 1890-675675/01-6751200
Ógras
Five-day Irish language summer camps for six to 12-year-olds in July and August. Venues in Dublin, Mayo, Kildare, Derry, Donegal, Cork, Galway, Kerry. Tel: 01-4751487, eolas@ogras.ie, www.ogras.ie
Linguaplay
Learn a New Language at Linguaplay 4-12 yrs at the International School Pembroke Road. Fun, games and learning all summer long in Spanish or French. Indoor and outdoor activities, songs, arts and crafts, painting, stories, sports, cooking all in a foreign language while discovering culture and language. Tel: 087-7809000, www.linguaplay.ie
Alliance Française
Summer camps for children ages 6 to 12 years old in June and July. A way to learn French through the discovery of different cultures and music. All camps run from 10am until 3pm and the price includes lunch à la Française. Tel: 01-638 1449, www.alliance-francaise.ie, primary@alliance-francaise.ie
Stein study abroad
Stein Travel has created Ireland’s first travel agency for foreign language summer schools. The agency has vetted and approved forty schools across Europe and beyond, all run in the Gaeltacht model, with host families and activities for all ages. www.steinstudyabroad.com
EQUESTRIAN
Paddocks
At the Paddocks Riding Centre in Sandyford, Dublin where children from three years can attend a five-day equestrian camp. The school is BHS and Fáilte Ireland approved. Tel: 01-2954278.
Kill International Equestrian Centre
Weekly pony camps in July and August for tots to teens incorporating riding and stable management. Half day and full day camps available. Tel: 045-877333 www.killinternational.ie
SAILING AND SURFING
ISA
Young sailors and windsurfers can take lessons at one of the many sailing centres throughout the Republic. Sailing,
windsurfing, powerboating, motor cruising and personal watercraft at 150 centres nationwide. Tel: 01-2800239,
www.sailing.ie
Westport Horizon Centre
Wet and Wild surfing camp, Westport. Residential programme for one, two, three weeks or three, 8- to 17-year-olds. Tel: 098-50290 www.horizonireland.com
Fingal Sailing School
Sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and powerboating in Malahide. Kids Summer Camp in an ISA, IWC and ICU credited
centre. A week of fun including sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and canoeing. Wetsuits and buoyancy aids supplied. From 9.30am to 4.40pm daily. Tel: 01 8451979, www.fingalsailingschool.com,
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY
The Ark Cultural Centre for Children
This summer The Ark cultural centre for children is running a visual arts project focusing on the environment that will include an exhibition, weekend workshops, summer schools and a garden party. Tel: 01-6707788, www.ark.ie
Pine Forest Centre
Courses July and August. Two-week courses for ages five to 12 and 13 to 16. Also two-week and four-week portfolio preparation courses for ages 17+ in August. Private buses from suburbs for summer courses. Tel: 01-2941220, www.pineforestartcentre.com
Artzone
Thirty two camps with weekly courses across 15 venues in Dublin, Kildare and North Wicklow. Painting, drawing, pottery, collage, 3D, print and more. Balanced with regular fun and games. www.artzone.ie
Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
Pottery Workshops, puppet-making day camps, 6-9 in the morning, older children in the afternoon. Tel: 01-2724030, www.mermaidartscentre.ie
MUSIC AND DANCE
Children’s Summer Series at the National Concert Hall
Three-day summer camps in July. Discover a variety of instruments with professional musicians. Tel: 01-4170066 www.nch.ie
National Performing Arts School
The school has moved to a custom-built studio in the Liffey Trust Building Dublin 1 and their summer school programme returns this year. Street dance, musical theatre, singing, drama. www.npas.ie
Kinder Summer Camp
From the Wicklow School of Music and Drama. From age four up in July. Classes use fun activities to teach all elements of music. Tel: 0404-42244, info@wicklowmusicdrama.com
DRAMA
Stagecoach Theatre Arts School
Summer Holiday Workshops take place in St Philip and St James Parish Centre, Blackrock, Co Dublin in July. Three weeks of workshops for four to 16 year olds in drama, dance and singing. Tel: 01-2043814, dublin@stagecoach.ie, www.stagecoach.ie/dublin
Irish Academy of Dramatic Arts
Acting workshop for seven to 18 year-olds at the Pavilion Theatre Dún Laoghaire in mid-July. Tel: 01-2302691, www.irishacad.com Independent Theatre Workshop
Summer musical theatre courses and film courses 2009 to be held in Ranelagh and Drumcondra in Dublin in July. The courses are open to boys and girls aged eight to12 (junior) and 13-18 (senior). www.independent-theatre-workshop.com
For more ideas on local summer activities for children visit www.primarytimes.ie
