The 2018 My MI guide to summer camps is here!

While the warm, sunny days of summer may seem far away, the time for summer-camp registration is already upon us. We’ve created our annual round-up of all the summer camps and programs that take place on Mercer Island.
With so many options to choose from, your child is bound to be a happy camper all summer long!

(Check back on this list throughout the spring as we will be adding more camps as we learn about them.)

City of Mercer Island VOICE / SVP Programs

Location: Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, 2040 84th Avenue SE, or other location depending on project
For 6th – 11th grade students

VOICE (Volunteer Outreach in Communities Everywhere) and SVP (Summer Volunteer Program) provide structured group community service opportunities to Mercer Island middle and high school age youth.

This eight-week summer program partners with over fifty community organizations and nonprofits, and our participants volunteer over 10,000 hours each summer. The SVP Program is for current 6th and 7th grade students, and the VOICE Program is for current 8th – 11th grade students.

SVP participants are expected to commit to at least four projects each summer, and VOICE participants are expected to commit to at least eight. Additionally, VOICE participants will have the option of participating in our Social Justice Film Festival (SJFF) as one of their projects.

*2018 VOICE/SVP Program Registration is open starting at 10am on March 21st until 5 pm on April 20th.
VOICE: Current 8th – 11th Graders: Register here
SVP: Current 6th and 7th Graders: Register here

For Frequently Asked Questions about the VOICE/SVP Program, check out their FAQ page >>

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CrossFit Kids Summer Camp

Location: Mercer Island CrossFit, 2750 SE 77th Street
Date/Time: June 25 – 29, 1 – 4 pm
For Ages 6 – 10
Join Mercer Island CrossFit for a weeklong camp incorporating CrossFit, social skills, team building, emotion regulation, nutrition and FUN!!!! Sessions are led by a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer and CrossFit Kids coach. During camp, your child will be introduced to healthy movements, team building activities, social skills, emotion regulation, and healthy eating habits. They will learn about nutrition and make healthy snacks while moving and engaging in individual and team activities.

Register at https://mercerislandcrossfit.frontdeskhq.com, click SERVICES > CrossFit Kids > CrossFit Kids Summer Camp

For more information, please contact Allison McGee at [email protected], or 206-595-2011

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Destination Science

Location: Northwest Yeshiva High School, 5017 90th Ave SE
Dates: Listed with each camp
For ages 5 – 11
For over 15 years, Destination Science has been focused on creating lifelong learners by making science fun, exploratory, and interactive. Their 2017 programs offer a chance to celebrate curiosity with NEW camps, NEW experiments, and NEW intentional learning through full-day science camps.

Click the links below to register for each individual camp.

Amusement Park Science Camp, June 25 – 29 and July 23 – 27
Have you ever designed an amusement park? Join us and build your own kid-powered roller coaster – The Great Gravity Dropper! This coaster employs the power of physics including velocity, acceleration, speed, gravity, and inertia. Engineer and innovate a crazy fun backyard carnival including centripetal force, simple machines, and catapulting games. Next create your own floating Ocean Explorer for our new Marineland Exhibit. Touch a real shark and other marine specimens. Invite your friends to experience backyard amusement park fun and carnival challenges when you bring this home to share.

Transforming Robots Camp, July 2 – 6
Discover today’s real robot transformers while you build one of your very own. Will you design yours to be a skyscraping Megabot or a racing Autobot? Prepare your transformer to parade, race, battle, and join in on the robot tug-of-war. Use the Engineering Design Process to complete challenges with cool techno-toys. This camp includes 4 amazing robots all designed by you and trained to follow you home.

Science Makers & Inventors Camp, July 9 – 13
Sports meets science with our Soccer-Robots and more! Become an engineer and invent your own science fun with moving motors, circuits, and zip lines. Turn up the curiosity as you build your own Rube Goldberg inspired chain reactions using Newton’s Laws, crazy chemistry, and electric circuits. The fun never ends because your inventions go home. The world needs inventors like you!

Rovers Rocketing to Space Camp, July 16 – 20
Calling all future astronauts, we’re returning to space… Destination Dinoterra! A newly discovered planet inhabited with alien dinosaurs. Design and build your own Space Rover to gather and transmit information back to Earth. Become a rocket scientist as you build and blast-off your super-stellar H2O rocket. Astronomical fun & learning lasts all summer when you bring your robot, rocket, launch system, and everything you made lands back home.
Visit the Destination Science website >>

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Island Hoop Camps 2018

Island Hoop Camp is partnering with the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club this summer to provide high quality basketball camps on MI at PEAK. Improve your fundamental skills and have fun with Coach Gavin Cree and his staff, including current and former college basketball players. Island Hoop Camps use a 8 to 1 camper to coach ratio.
Registration is currently open! All campers should register for the grade they are entering for the 2018 – 2019 school year. Camps 1 – 3 are considered a pre-requesite to Camps 4 – 6.
June 18 – 21

• Camp 1: Island Fundamentals, Grades K-4, 9 am-12 @ PEAK
• Camp 2: Island Fundamentals, Grades 5-8, 1 pm – 4 @ PEAK

June 25 – 28

• Camp 3: Island Fundamentals, Grades K-4, 9 am-12 @ PEAK
• Camp 4: Island Skills: Handling the Rock, Grades 5-8, 1 pm – 4 (June 25-26) @ PEAK
• Camp 5: Island Skills: Shooting the Rock, Grades 5-8, 1 pm – 4 (June 27-28) @ PEAK

July 2 – 3

• Camp 6: Island Skills: Scoring the Rock, Grades 5-8, 9 am-12 @ PEAK

To find the camp you’re interested in, visit the link below and search for the name of the camp (ex: “Island Fundamentals”).

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Gavin Cree at [email protected].
Visit the MI Boys & Girls Club page to register for Island Hoop Camps >>

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Kids Co. at Island Park: Summer Day Camps 2018

Location: Northwood Elementary, 4030 86th Ave SE
Dates: Weekly camps offered from week of June 19 to week of August 27

The Kids Co. Summer Day Camps are full day programs that keep kids active all summer long. Their fun summer programs offer a variety of experiences so your kid will have a memorable summer. Each week is inventively themed with activities and projects related to the theme.

Week 1: Adventureland (June 19 – 22 … closed Monday, June 18th)
Join us on an adventure! Create your own (fun) monsters and decide for yourself where they live and play. Every day, we’ll take a look at fairy tales from around the world and create some of our own.

Week 2: Space Odyssey (June 25 – 29)
Participate in all kinds of activities about science and outer space. Take fun field trips and do creative activities around the final frontier of space.

Week 3: Aspiring Artists  (July 2 – 6 … closed Wednesday, July 4th)
There’s a little Miro in all of us. This week, we’ll study the world around us and explore our creative inner selves using a wide range of artistic media.

Week 4: Sports of All Sorts  (July 9 – 13)
A whole week of play! Learn new sports and play the favorites you already know. We will focus on building friendships and teamwork as kids learn what it takes to be a good sport.

Week 5: Gizmos and Gadgets (July 16 – 20)
Design and build fun and simple machines that actually walk, climb, and throw. Kids will learn easy computer code and dig into what makes things tick.

Week 6: Symphony of the Senses (July 23 – July 27)
Five days to discover your five senses. Kids will have a chance to build their world of taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight with projects and activities each day.

Week 7: Ooey Gooey Science (July 28 – August 2 ... closed Friday, August 3rd)
Get ready to get messy with fun science experiments all day. These activities really give kids the chance to test ideas and play with science.

Week 8: Crafty Kids (August 6 –10)
Brainstorm, design, and make amazing creations after making your own clothing brand, with jerseys, fashion, costumes, and so much more! As head designer, you will get to make the call on fabrics and style.

Week 9:  Build It, Break It  (August 13 – 17)
All around us, people are building useful things both large and small. Kids will have a chance to see how it all comes together from, robots to skyscrapers. There will be opportunities to build and tinker your way to the next great invention.

Week 10: Game on (August 20 – 24)
We all love to play, so join us this week and get your game on. Have fun designing and discovering new games, take part in friendly tournaments, and help produce a Kids Co. game show.

Week 11:  A Week to Celebrate (August 27 – 30 … Last day of Camp Thursday August 30th – closed Friday the 31st)
The world is full of amazing and meaningful celebrations. Join us to explore the wonderful sounds, food, and culture that make them unique. We will also create a fun carnival to celebrate the end of a great summer.

For more information and to register, visit the Kid’s Co. website >>

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Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club

Kids’ Summer Athletics Camps 2018

Location: Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club, 4120 86th Ave SE
Dates: Weekly camps offered from week of June 18 to week of August 20
For ages 8 – 15
Mercer Island Boys and Girls’ club offers weekly athletic camps during the summer. The activities for this year include:

• Parkour
• Skyhawk Multi-Sport
• Skyhawk Mini-Hawk
• Yellow Yoga Camp
• Quick Handle Basketball
• Outdoor Adventure Camp
• HSB 5-on-5 Draft Camp (for 5th – 10th grade only)
• Volleyball
• PE Awesome!
• Mercer Island Cheer Camp
• Middle School Golf Camp

To learn more about the summer athletics camps, visit their Athletic Programs page >>
Kids and Teens Summer Camps 2018
Location: Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club, 4120 86th Ave SE, and other locations for field trips
Dates: Weekly camps offered from week of June 18 to week of August 20
For K – 8th graders
During these action packed summer camps, your child will go on a different field trip three times a week. Whether we hit the beach, tour a local restaurant, hike up Rattlesnake Ledge, or visit Wild Waves, there’s always an adventure awaiting us. Please send the following items with your child: nut-free lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, swimsuit, and towel. Each week is a different theme with a different field trip corresponding to the theme.
Weekly Themes for the Voyagers Camp (Kindergarten/1st graders): 

• Summer’s Here!
• Animal Encounters
• Party in the USA
• Creative Cultures
• Crazy Carnival
• Deep Blue Sea
• Fun in the Sun
• Barnyard Bash
• Wet & Wild
• Summer’s a Wrap!

Weekly Themes for the Explorers Camp (2nd/3rd graders): 

• Summer’s Here!
• Animal Encounters
• Party in the USA
• Go Huskies!
• Crazy Carnival
• Need for Speed
• Creative Cultures
• Wet & Wild
• Fun in the Sun
• Summer’s a Wrap!

Weekly Themes for the Challengers (4th/5th graders) and Teen  (6th – 8th graders) Camps:

• School’s Out For Summer
• Animal Planet
• Pop Culture
• Mad Science
• Need For Speed
• Zip Zap
• Into the Wild
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game
• Surf’s Up!
• The Final Countdown

For dates/times, specific details, and to sign up, visit the Kids’ Programs page >>
For questions, please contact Dena Harkovitch (206.436.1952)
Teen Employment, Counselor-In-Training/Summer Volunteer Opportunity

Locations: Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club and Field Trips, 4120 86th Ave SE
Dates/Times: All summer in weekly increments from 9 am to 4 pm
For 9th – 12th graders
This program enables youth to give back to their community and develop their leadership and service skills. High school students can help with supervising field trips, serving snacks, running activities, and will receive positive encouragement and guidance.

Visit the Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club website >>

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Mercer Island Martial Arts 

Location: Mercer Island Martial Arts, 2630 77th Ave SE, Suite 106-108
Dates/Times: Weekly Camps starting week of June 18 until week of August 31, 9 am – 5 pm
For ages 5+
During a typical day at Mercer Island Martial Arts Summer Camp, kids will have between 3-4 formal martial arts classes and will also learn valuable life skills such as anti-bullying, anger management, leadership skills, and community service. Additionally, they will do art lessons and outdoor park activities, and every Friday, the kids will have a big celebration and party. While the camps are highly structured, the kids have a lot of fun. These camps are a great way to get an introduction to martial arts or to get a leg up on your current martial arts training.

To register, call 206-230-9050 or email [email protected].

For more details, visit the Mercer Island Martial Arts Summer Camp website >>

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Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department

The Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of partial-day and full-day summer camps!

For full information, such as specific dates, times, and registration information for each camp, please visit the 2018 Spring/Summer Camps & Programs Guide. Registration may take place through the MI Parks & Recreation Department or through a partnering organization. For camps ran by MI Parks & Recreation, you can register online through MI Rec Connect.

Below, the My MI Guide includes the age range, location, and a brief description for the 2018 summer camps, organized by theme: Day Camps, Creative Camps, Sports Camps, and Aquatic Camps.
Visit the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department website >>

Day Camps

Safety Town (Ages 3 – 5)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
This camp is a must for all preschoolers! There will be special visits each day from visitors teaching us how to stay safe. Topics include: Police, Fire, Earthquake, Bus Riding, Bike safety, and more! Please bring a healthy snack and water bottle each day.

Mini Mercer Camp (Ages 3 – 5)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
This half-day camp is a perfect fit for campers and their parents! Each week has a creative and educational theme that includes activities, games, arts, and crafts.  Themes include: Around the World, Wacky & Wonky, Ooey Gooey, and Splish Splash.

Camp Mercer (Ages 6 – 11)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Experience a summer camp packed full of adventure, crafts, field trips, swimming, friends, educational activities and so much more! Campers will need to bring a lunch, swimsuit, sunscreen, towel and water bottle every day. Weekly themes include: Around the World, Mission Impossible, Wacky & Wonky, Ooey Gooey Slippery Slimy, North West’s Best, Camp Mercer’s Got Talent, Fanatical Fans, Superhero Week, and Splash Town.

Cooking Camps With Cook, Learn, Grow! (Ages 6 – 9 and 10 – 13)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Cook, Learn, Grow is offering a variety of themed cooking classes for kids. These camps provide individualized attention along with age appropriate cooking techniques. Campers gain self-confidence, academic reinforcement, and life skills for a healthy lifestyle. Themes this year include: Baking 101, Tasty Travels, Farmer’s Market, Master Junior Chef, Whole Healthy Kids!, and Sports Nutrition for Kids.

Movie Star Camp (Ages 7-15)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
Experience the excitement of starring in your own short movie. Learn acting skills from an experienced Hollywood crew who has worked with Disney and Nickelodeon studios. Each camper receives a speaking role in a short movie as well as a DVD copy of their movie at our annual red-carpet movie premiere, complete with paparazzi and fans!

Adventure Playground Camp (Ages 6-11)
Location: Adventure Playground at Deane’s Children’s Park, 5500 Island Crest Way
Participants will design and build forts, tree houses, and more with the instruction of camp staff, professional builders, and naturalists. This outdoor camp will include elements of planning, building, and outdoor recreation – all while incorporating teamwork and fun!

Shark Tank for Kids Camp (NEW!) (Ages 11 – 15)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Shark Tank for Kids is a one of a kind, life-changing project-based experiential Camp/ program that transforms children into confident future entrepreneurs. It boosts creativity, challenges conventional thinking, and promotes collaboration, self-confidence, and leadership!

Outdoor Adventure Camp (NEW!) (Ages 6 – 12)
Location: Luther Burbank Park Meadow, 2040 84th Ave SE
Play, explore, and spend a full week with our experienced outdoor educators. Complete team challenges in orienteering and other outdoor skills to learn how to have an exciting yet safe time in the great outdoors.
Register for all Day Camps through MI Rec Connect >>

Creative Camps

Art for Kids Camp (Ages 5 – 12)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
Kids will create fun projects and explore creativity using pen and ink, charcoal, soft and oil pastels, and acrylics (all supplies furnished). Dress to get messy! Students will complete approximately 8 finished art pieces. Please bring a snack each day! For more information on Art for Kids, visit www.artforkidsschool.com.

Jeff Johnson’s Cartooniversity Day Camp (Ages 9 – 14)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
A unique opportunity for kids of all skill levels to learn cartoon drawing from local editorial cartoonist Jeff Johnson. Multiple projects allow students to explore a wide range of cartooning techniques. All supplies furnished by instructor. Visit Jeff Johnson’s website at www.cartooniversity.com.

Mary Art Adventures (Ages 5 – 12)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
Campers will learn how to draw through guided lessons in a supportive, fun environment. Students are encouraged to develop their own style and add their ideas to each lesson. Visit instructor Mary Watson’s website at www.MaryArt.com.

Brick Animation (NEW!) (Ages 7 – 13)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
Create your own stop-motion animation movie! In this class, students will use iPads (provided by the instructor) to take animation photos of LEGO® pieces and to edit video and sound. Set, character, and story construction will be taught and unique student ideas will be supported. View over 4,000 student animations at www.cancancancan.com (4 cans). (LEGO® is not affliated with, and does not sponsor or endorse, the services or products of the Clay Animation Network).

Clay Animation (NEW!) (Ages 7 – 13)
Location: West Mercer Elementary School, 4141 81st Ave SE
Create your own stop-motion animation movie! In this class, students will use iPads (provided by the instructor) to take animation photos of clay and to edit video and sound. Set, character, and story construction will be taught and unique student ideas will be supported. View over 4,000 student animations at www.cancancancan.com (4 cans).
Register for the above Creative Camps through MI Rec Connect >>

LEGO Camps with Play-Well (Ages 5 – 12)

Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Dream It. Build It. Wreck It. Repeat. Kids are already naturally gifted creators, but they get added inspiration from specially trained instructors. While they build elaborate objects, structures and vehicles, campers will explore fundamental principles of engineering and physics. They’ll also learn to collaborate and create without fear of mistakes. The experience is joyful, the impact long-lasting.
Classes include:

• Intro to STEM with LEGO (3 different sessions)
• STEM Challenge with LEGO (3 different sessions)
• STEM + Minecraft with LEGO
• STEM Challenge + Minecraft with LEGO
• Jedi Engineering with LEGO
• Jedi Master Engineering with LEGO
• Girl Powered STEM Fundamentals with LEGO
• JediCraft Adventure Game with LEGO
• JediCraft Survival Game with LEGO
• Minecraft Engineering with LEGO
• Bash’em Bots with LEGO
• Art and Architecture with LEGO
• Mine, Craft, Build: Adventure Game with LEGO
• Mine, Craft, Build: Survival Game with LEGO

Visit the MI Parks & Recreation Camp Guide for camp times, dates, and age ranges >>
Visit the Play-Well Programs page for Camp Descriptions >>

Register for all LEGO classes through Play-Well.org >>

Video Game Design by Youth Tech Inc.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers, 9611 SE 36th Street

Youth Tech Inc. is an interactive computer camp that focuses on providing students with enrichment opportunities within the world of computers. With a caring environment at the core of camp values, Youth Tech strives to create a positive learning community that encourages creativity, fun, and academic excellence.

iGame Creators (Ages 6 – 10)
This is an introductory course for younger students who want to learn how to build simple video games. This course combines the art of video game design and animation to create interactive characters that fly around the screen.

Animation (Ages 6 – 10)
In this class, students will learn the basics of animation and digital design. Students who enjoy fun interactive animations will love this course, as they will utilize award-winning software to create their own animations.

iCode (Ages 6 – 12)
This course offers younger students a fun, interactive look at coding. Students will create virtual apps and write programs that they can share with friends and family. This course makes learning to code fun and explores problem solving and programming logic.

Video Game Design (Ages 6 – 12)
This camp provides students with a fun, interactive look at the world of video game design and development. Students will learn the basics of video game design and will produce different interactive video games.

Movie Makers (NEW!) (Ages 6 – 12)
This hands-on, interactive course will instruct students on the world of digital video design and production. Students will lm, direct and edit their own digital video creations. Students enrolled in this course amaze their peers with green screen and special effects work.

Application Design (NEW!) (Ages 6 – 12)
This class offers students a hands on look at the world of application design and development. This interactive course will instruct students about the design and development of applications. Students will design their own app, which can be shared with friends and family members with an Apple or Android device.
Register for these camps through MI Rec Connect >>
Visit Youth Tech Inc.’s website for more information >>

Programming and Design with Computing Kids (NEW!)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Creative Computing with Scratch (Ages 7 – 9)
Creative Computing with Scratch students design their own world and bring it to life with Scratch, a block based drag and drop programming language developed at MIT. Through creating interactive scenes, character animation, and original games, instructors introduce and support students as they learn both a variety of advanced gaming and animation techniques and the fundamentals of programming. Instructors provide personalized instruction to engage students of all learning styles, provide challenges, and foster creativity as they progress at their own pace. No computing experience is required to partake in this engaging and creative camp.

HTML Website Design (Ages 9 – 11)
Students learn the fundamentals of web design and use these concepts to create their own web page. Using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), the backbone of website design, students learn how to structure content and insert text, images, and links to other web pages. They learn how to style their page using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to change fonts, add borders and colors, and so much more. This knowledge equips students with competitive and future ready skills while engaging their own personal creativity to build websites.
Register for these camps through Computing Kids’ website >>

Sports Camps

Challenger British Soccer Camps (Ages 5 – 14)
Location: South Mercer Playfield, 8334 SE 78^th Street
Challenger Sports is the largest soccer camp operator in the United States! This year’s camps include a Mini & First Kicks Camp for beginning players and Half and Full-Day Camps for more advanced players. Each camp features an international coaching staff, low coach-to-player ratio, and age/ability-specific curriculum. *Bring your own shin-guards, soccer shoes, water, and snack.
Register through Challenger Sports >>

Cheer Camp with Eastside Dream Elite (Ages 5 – 13)
Location: Homestead Park, 8100 SE 40th St, or Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Learn to be a cheerleader! These half-day and full-day camps are designed for those who want to cheer, jump, and dance. Participants will be divided into age appropriate groups and will learn to perform cheers and dance routines. *Bring a snack, water, tennis shoes, and wear comfortable clothes.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Breakthrough Basketball Camp (Ages 8 – 15)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Breakthrough Basketball Instructor Nate Bowie and Mercer Island Parks & Recreation are excited to provide this 3 day youth and middle school camp that focuses on developing the complete player! You will develop shooting, ball handling, passing, footwork, defense, rebounding, athleticism, and other essential skills to become a great basketball player.
Register through Breakthrough Basketball >>

Gymnastics Mini-Camp (Ages 4 – 6)
Location: Islander Middle School, 7447 84th Ave SE
Lead by coaches from Cascade Elite Gymnastics, this structured camp will get students jumping, tumbling, balancing and more! With emphasis on ne and gross motor skill development, basic gymnastics skills are taught in a fun and engaging way.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Gymnastics Camp (Ages 7 – 12)
Location: Islander Middle School, 7447 84th Ave SE
Enhance your child’s summer with our fun and exciting gymnastics camp lead by coaches from Cascade Elite Gymnastics. In addition to building and improving gymnastics skills and drills with our enthusiastic and experienced coaches, students will get the chance to tumble, balance, play games and more fun during this amazing week of gymnastics camp!
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Mini Mercer Sports / Little Champs (Ages 4 – 6)
Location: Homestead Park (unless noted otherwise), 8100 SE 40th St
Join our enthusiastic and athletic summer staff for an awesome summer learning new sports skills at this fun-filled camp. Weekly themes include Multi Sport, Wacky Week, Soccer, T-Ball, Golf & Frolf, and Basketball.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Skyhawks Tennis Camp – Beginner (Ages 4 – 6)
Location: Luther Burbank Tennis Courts, 2040 84th Ave SE
Skyhawks Tennis Academy’s introductory program aims to teach the fundamentals of tennis and build each player’s confidence on a smaller 36’ court. Oversized low compression tennis balls, foam balls, junior rackets, and other age specific equipment will be provided to aid in your child’s tennis-playing development. Don’t forget your racket, water bottle, and sunscreen!
Register through Skyhawks Sport Camps >>

Skyhawks Tennis Camp – All Levels (Ages 7 – 12)
Location: Luther Burbank Tennis Courts, 2040 84th Ave SE
Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced player, this program will improve your game and help you get more enjoyment from tennis. Our tennis programs focus on skill refinement as well as practice and match play in order to develop consistent, well-rounded tennis players. Don’t forget your racket, water bottle, and sunscreen!
Register through Skyhawks Sport Camps >>

TetraBrazil Soccer Camp (Ages 7 – 16)
Location: South Mercer Playfield, 8334 SE 78^th Street
Also offered by Challenger Sports, TetraBrazil will inspire players to practice and improve their ball control, foot skills, and impressive Brazilian-style soccer moves. Coaches challenge players to raise their game and reach new heights within an excellent learning environment. *Bring your own shin-guards, soccer shoes, water, and snack.
Register through Challenger Sports >>

TGA Premier Tennis & Golf Camps (Ages 5 – 12)
Location: Luther Burbank Park Tennis Courts & Meadow, 2040 84th Ave SE
TGA Premier Tennis and Golf Camps offer an unforgettable experience for your child by combining expert instruction  and exciting play activities! With a low camper to instructor ratio and group pairings by age and skill, TGA camps provide ample individual attention and proper instruction for your child. Combine the golf camp with our morning tennis camp for a full day of fun!
Visit Play TGA’s website for more information and to register >>

Aquatics Camps

Stand Up Paddle Board & Kayak Camp (Ages 8 – 14)
Location: Luther Burbank Docks, 2040 84th Ave SE
Enjoy fun on the water and learn cool things to do while Stand Up Paddle Boarding and kayaking. The camp day will be divided between Stand Up Paddle Board tutorials and practicing in 1-person touring kayaks, all taught by expert Kayak Academy instructors. Learn basic paddling and safety skills while playing water games, such as sponge tag and going on a treasure hunt.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Dance Camps

Pre-Ballet (Ages 3 – 4)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
A joyful introduction to movement. Basic dance technique is inspired by beautiful music, literature, and art in a developmentally appropriate way. Flexibility, coordination, strength, and creativity developed throughout the session. Participants are encouraged to wear leotards with tights and ballet shoes. Parents may join the last class to watch and take pictures. For more information, visit www.emeraldballet.org.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Ballet (Ages 5 – 8)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Dancers begin to develop classical ballet lines and basic technique with barre and floor exercises. Improvisation and choreography are encouraged. Flexibility, coordination, strength, grace, and creativity increase in a nurturing and developmentally appropriate atmosphere. Opportunities for creativity and informal performance are provided. Participants are encouraged to wear leotards with tights and ballet shoes. Parents may join the last class to watch and take pictures. For more information, visit www.emeraldballet.org.
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

Specialized Recreation

Club Mercer – Summer of Fun Camp (NEW!) (Ages 12+)
Location: Mercer Island Community and Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Club Mercer provides a social and recreation- based class for people with special needs. This new half day camp will be a great way to spend your time this summer! Meet new friends, try new activities and just have a good time! There will be a swimming day and a day at Adventure Playground, weekly itinerary will be available on the rst day of camp. Campers will need to bring a lunch and water bottle each day….summer of fun, here we come!
Register through MI Rec Connect >>

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Mercer Island Songwriting Camp

Location: 8685 SE 47th St
Dates/Times: July 23 – 27, Noon – 4PM
For ages 11+
Do you love to sing? Want to write your own pop songs? Join award-winning singer/songwriters Mikaela Kahn and Jordan Burchill of the band Beth // James and develop your songwriting skills. Learn about songwriting fundamentals and work with other budding musicians. The camp culminates with a performance for friends and family and a recorded backing track of your song to take home.

One-on-one vocal and guitar coaching sessions are offered as well. Learn how to perfect vocal technique with Mikaela or polish your guitar skills with Jordan. Spaces are limited.
Register through Beth // James Band’s Website >>

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SJCC Summer Camps

Location: Stroum Jewish Community Center, Mercer Island Campus, 3801 East Mercer Way
Dates: Weekly camps available from week of June 19 to week of August 21
For Pre-K – 10th graders

J Camp

Camp Garinim  (Pre-K)
Get a glimpse of all J Camp has to offer in this packed, half-day morning program. Cook, explore nature and art, conduct science experiments, and run around outside with new friends — what could be better?

Camp Katan (Kindergarten)
Katan days are filled with art, science, drama, cooking, storytelling, and outdoor exploration. These campers enjoy low camper-to-counselor ratios, have tons of fun, and get relaxing downtime to recharge.

Camp Kef (Grades K – 5th)
Campers will participate in active group games, energetic song circles, messy science experiments, and creative art projects. Plus, just for Kef: you pick electives (called chuggim), so you can focus on your favorite things, or try something new! We group kids according to grade, so activities are age-appropriate. We all come together for field trips and other activities during the week.

Camp Magniv (Grades K – 5th)
Experience camp through the lens of Israel and Israeli culture. Not only will you enjoy our traditional camp programs, your counselors — all native Hebrew speakers — lead you on explorations of the art, food, and atmosphere of Israel, all in Hebrew.

Sports Camp (Grades K – 5th)
An action-packed camp for athletes of all kinds. Through scrimmages and drills that emphasize sportsmanship and teamwork, you’ll fine-tune your skills and learn new sports (like baseball, football, and lacrosse), so there’s something for every skill level. We group kids according to grades, so all activities are age-appropriate.

Performing Arts Camp (Grades 1st – 8th)
Love to dance, sing, and act? Then this is the camp for you! Express yourself, hone theater skills, and problem solve as you create a show for friends, families, and campers. Play imaginative theater games, explore new dance styles, sing showtunes, and get more comfortable performing on stage. Offstage, you’ll swim, enjoy boating and archery, take weekly field trips, and more.

X Camp (Grades 5th – 8th)
Xploration + Xtreme sports= Xcitement! Get ready to skydive indoors or take a shot at paintball. Head out on adventures like paddle boarding, hiking, Ultimate Frisbee, trips to the beach, parkour, sports, climbing, and so much more. Make new friends in an active outdoor setting, all while building self-confidence and social skills.

Specialty Camps

Visit the links below for more details on the Specialty Camps for each age group!

K – 1st Grade

• June
  • Spanish
  • Circus
• July
  • Mandarin
  • Color My World
  • Secret Life of Pets
  • Japanese
• August
  • Crazy Contraptions
  • Smartest Artists
  • Teddy’s Grand Adventure
  • The Big and Small of It

2nd – 3rd Grade

• June
  • Mandarin
  • Minecraft Mania
  • Oodles of Noodles
  • Secret Life of Pets
• July
  • Junior Photography
  • Spanish
  • Outback Adventure
  • Art of the Garden
  • Harry Potter Film School
  • Treasure Island
  • Culinary Creations
  • Pokemon Plus
• August
  • Curating Your Family Story
  • What’s up Doc?
  • Laboratory Wizards
  • Sense-ational Science
  • Amusement Park Physics
  • Science Myths: Busted!
  • Candyology

4th – 5th Grade

• June
  • Oodles of Noodles
  • Photography
  • Eager Entrepreneurs
• July
  • Minecraft Mania
  • Art of the Garden
  • Let Them Eat Cake
  • Around the World
  • Harry Potter Film School
  • DIY Body Shop
  • Pokemon Plus
• August 
  • Young Physicians
  • Curating Your Family Story
  • Cooking Up Science
  • Spanish
  • Mandarin
  • Young Entrepreneurs
  • Duct Tap Challenge
  • Japanese

6th – 8th Grade

• June
  • Photography
  • Minecraft Mania
• July
  • Oodles of Noodles
  • Let Them Eat Cake
  • Around the World
  • Cooking Challenge
• August
  • Dissection Lab
  • The Art of Giving: Microloans
  • roboto Workshop

9th – 10th Grade

• Counselor in Training

For more details and to register, visit the SJCC website >>

Swim Camp

J Camp Swim Boot Camp
Dates: June 25 – August 23, Mondays – Thursdays, 8:30 -9 am
For ages 3 – 12
SJCC is offering a fun new way for your kids to get in the water more this summer, whether they’re just learning to swim or already experts. J Camp Swim Boot Camp is offered in weekly 4-lesson sessions throughout the summer. Lessons take place before the camp day starts, so your kids won’t miss a moment of J Camp fun! Plus, morning swim lessons are a great way for kids to start their day because they have the energy and focus to get the most out of their lessons.
For more details and to register, visit the SJCC website >>

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Tech Smart Kids

Location: Mercer Island Community and Events Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Dates: Camps begin week of June 26 until week of August 14th

For ages 7 – 16
Tech Smart Kids’ mission is to inspire kids to see things differently and to believe that they can change the world through technology. We develop technology curriculum and courseware in computer science and hardware engineering with courses and camps for elementary and middle school students.

Below are descriptions of Tech Smart Kids’ 2018 Summer Camps:

Skylark Coding (Ages 7 – 9) – This camp is designed to ignite students’ interest in computer science and coding while allowing them to build confidence and a strong foundation in fundamental concepts and techniques. Students will learn to code interactive programs and games using a powerful “drag-and-drop” block-based coding language from TechSmartKids called Skylark™.

Transition to Python Coding (Ages 8 – 10) – The goal of this camp is to prepare students for the transition to Python. It’s designed for students who are ready to transition from block-based coding to more professional line-based code. It begins with block-based projects in the Skylark™ coding language and gradually replaces blocks with their equivalent code in the Python programming language.

Python Coding (Ages 10 – 14) – This camp is an introduction to computer science and coding in Python, and it focuses on fundamental computer science concepts, control, and data structures, as well as best practices in coding and debugging in Python, providing students with a solid foundation.

Advanced Python Coding (Ages 10 – 14) – This camp expands on the computer science concepts and coding techniques learned in the Python Coding Camp and introduces more complex, graphics-based programs and games. Students will work their way through advanced coding topics that make games possible – including procedural drawing and complex input from mouse and keyboard.

Java Coding (Ages 12 – 16) – TechSmartKids Java Coding Camp is designed to be fun and engaging, with a variety of creative programs and problem-solving challenges. The objective of this camp is to ignite students’ interest in computer science, and specifically Java programs, by enabling them to build a strong sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that they can be successful in computer science.

Advanced Java Coding (Ages 12 – 16) – This camp is designed for students who want to push the boundaries of their coding knowledge and take their Java programs to the next level. The camp will focus on advanced techniques and topics to broaden students’ coding toolsets, such as graphics and data structures that are fundamental to game-building.

For specific dates/times and to register, visit Tech Smart Kids’ Summer Camp page >>

Visit Tech Smart Kids website >>

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Youth Theatre Northwest

Location: Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave SE
Dates: Weekly camps from week of June 26 to week of August 25
For ages 3+/Pre-K+

Join us for theater fun this summer! Explore imagination, hone song and dance skills, and perform in a full-scale production at Youth Theatre Northwest. There’s something for everyone, from the tiniest preschool sparkler to the supernova high school senior. We have one week, three week, full day, half day, flexible payment plans, and a broad array of educators who are out of this world!

Check out the links below to learn more about the wide variety of classes available for each age group and to register for classes!

Camps for Ages 3 – 5

• June
  • Tiny Tunes: Moana
• July
  • Creative Drama: Four for the Fourth – Circus McGurkus!
  • Parent & Child: Creative Drama Sampler
  • Sample Stages: Mischievous Mice
  • Parent & Child: Creative Drama – Unicorns!
  • Sample Stages: Unique Unicorns
• August
  • Tiny Tunes: The Lion King
  • Early Stages: Wizards and Wands
  • Tiny Tunes: Moana
  • Early Stages: Super Duper

Camps for Grades K – 2

• June
  • Storybook Players: Worm Loves Worm and Other Stories
  • Mini Musical: Moana
• July
  • Four for the Fourth: Four Ring Circus!
  • Storybook Players: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse and More!
  • Mini Musicals: Half-Pint Hamilton
  • Mini Musicals: Disney Divas
• August
  • Storybook Players: Rainbow Fairies
  • Mini Musical: The Lion King
  • Storybook Players: Train to Hogwarts
  • Mini Musical: Moana
  • Storybook Players: Comic Book Capers

Camps for Grades 3 – 5

• June
  • Scene Study: Better Nate Than Ever!
  • Musical Theatre: Moana
• July
  • Super Sampler: Four for the Fourth!
  • Performance Series: Charlotte’s Web: The Musical (Grades 3+)
  • Musical Theatre: The Greatest Showman
  • Musical Theatre: Hamilton
  • Musical Theatre: Broadway Belters
• August
  • Performance Series: The Odyssey (Grades 3+)
  • Scene Study: A Wrinkle in Time
  • Musical Theatre: The Lion King
  • Scene Study: Harry Potter
  • Musical Theatre: Moana
  • Audition Preparation (Grades 4 – 6)

Camps for Grades 6+

• June
  • Play Explorations: The Laramie Project
  • Advanced Musical Theatre: Broadway Foundations
• July
  • Advanced Musical Theatre: The Greatest Showman
  • Advanced Musical Theatre: Hamilton
  • Performance Series: Charlotte’s Web: The Musical (Grades 3+)
• August
  • Performance Series: The Odyssey (Grades 3+)
  • Advanced Musical Theatre: Dear Evan Hansen
  • Advanced Scene Study: Harry Potter
  • Shakespeare Intensive: Henry V
  • Audition Preparation (Grades 4 – 6, 7+)

Visit Youth Theatre Northwest’s website >>

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And more!