Gee Mom I want to go...

In elementary school, I was tested and found to be "gifted and talented".  Not sure exactly what the criteria was, but it revolved around IQ scores, creativity, teacher input and an interview.  As a result, I was placed in the DELVE program (I cannot recall what the anagram stands for) and encouraged to explore my full academic potential.  One of the ways was to make learning a year round experience.  My parents signed me up for educational summer camps and/or classes.  I attended camps on computers, robotics, literature; one summer I took an AP US History class.  I really enjoyed the opportunity and I feel like it was a very useful application of my time. 

I fully intend to provide the same opportunity to my kids.  I have been trying to get Gigi to branch out and explore different options (she is getting ready for her 3rd year of Summer Camp in Mansfield Park & Rec program) but she likes to play it safe.

I have gone through and found some of the more interesting summer camp options available this summer in the New England area. 

• iD Tech Camps offer classes in programming, game design and game modding.  RPG game design!Warcraft III and Starcraft Game Modding! Facebook App Development!
• Children's Technology Worksop offer iCamp opportunities including a LEGO Mindstorm class, video game design, audio engineering and a Mission to Mars program
• Want to be a knight?  Higgins Armory offers a day camp program teaching children all about castles (and how to knock them down!), calligraphy, armor, poetry and swords.
• The Ecotarium offers three camp sessions: Amazing Animals, How Things Work and Cosmic Camp. 
• Allandale Farm offers week-long camps where children learn about farming, livestock and composting.
• I wonder if you'd be exempt from your summer reading if you went to the Great Books Summer Camp?  Authors covered include Plato, Thomas Jefferson, Leo Tolstoy, Jorge Luis Borges and Kurt Vonnegut.  Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island) will be a guest lecturer this year.
• Shakespeare more your speed?  GAN-e-meed Theatre Project is an all-woman production of As You Like It.
• Concord Academy Summer Camps  offers sessions covering digital story telling, architecture, movie making, a writer's camp and community service.  They also offer sports including baseball, flag football, soccer, kung fu and lacrosse
• Unicycle riding?  High wire walking?  Trapeze?  Clown class?  It must be Circus Camp!  
• Earthwork Programs offers a camp where kids can learn Ancient Fire Making, Natural Cordage, Animal Tracking, Wilderness Living Skills, Storytelling, Wild Edibles and more!