Last week a busload of cheering children passing the Mill heralded the start of summer vacation. We recall the lazy days of summer and the chance to explore, be creative, and develop new skills. Several Savage Mill businesses are ready and waiting with unique weeklong camps to suit children of all ages and many interests.
Pottery
Clay Coven, the new pottery studio here at Savage Mill, is offering children ages 8+ a week of “playing in the mud” in mid-July. Daily projects will include trying out all the different styles of pottery – pinch pots, slab build, wheel-based, sculptural – followed by walks and adventures around the Mill and along the Little Patuxent River. What a great chance to try out something tactile and creative!
Sewing
Leona’s Sewing Studio is organizing three sewing camps for children ages 9-14 at neighboring Carroll Baldwin Hall. Hand and machine sewing are taught as children work on a project they will model on their final day of camp. This sewing camp and Leona’s Future Designers of America program prepare students with practical skills that will last a lifetime.
Dance
JMD Studios presents seven dance camps, ranging from hip-hop and musical theatre to tap/Broadway Rockettes, jazz, acrobatics, and poms/cheer. Children ages 4-12 are divided into groups that encompass all levels of dance training and promise fun music, movement and age-appropriate activities. Each camp culminates with a Friday performance.
The Great Outdoors
Summer is “go time” for Terrapin Adventures, which has a full slate of camps for children of all ages. Day camps such as Adventuroos (ages 5-7) and Kids Exploration (ages 8-11) start the week here at Savage Mill and then move to nearby Patapsco Valley State Park. On the jam-packed agenda are activities such as river tubing, rock climbing, fishing, an aerial adventure course, tie dye, and environmental education. The 12-15 year old set can enroll in Teen Adventure, which includes time at Sandy Point State Park and kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay, while those looking for a more immersive experience may enjoy Sleepaway Camp or Wilderness Expedition, which includes a 3-day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.
Sword Fighting
Looking for something a little more exotic? Try sword fighting. The Savage Fencing Club offers summer camps in beginning- and intermediate-level fencing for children ages 7-9 and youth ages 10-14. Led by a team of experienced coaches, fencers, and administrators, the Club challenges participants physically and mentally while imparting fencing strategy, goal-setting, and competition skills.
All this talk of summer camps makes us realize that the idea of taking a break from the everyday and trying something new is good for all of us. Let’s all give our inner adventurer a chance to get out and about this summer.