Last Chance: Sign Up for these Summer Camps in Loudoun County

Summer vacation is right around the corner, and it's time to get your kids registered in summer camp.

Here's a quick line-up of summer camps with spots still available in Loudoun County:

The Oatlands Historic House and Gardens

This summer, Oatlands Historic House and Gardens in Leesburg will offer five week-long camps during the months of June, July and August. The camps include Archaeology Camp, Art Camp, Historic Doll Camp, Museum Camp and Musical Theater Camp. Archaeology Camp has limited spots available and will begin Monday. Space is limited for all camps and reservations are now being accepted. Please call 703-777-3174 ext. 103 for more information and to register.

Arts Camp

Arts Camp will teach the basics of sketching, photography and water color. The campers will use the historic mansion and beautiful gardens of Oatlands as the subjects of their artwork. An exhibition showcasing the work completed by participants will be held on the final day of the week-long camp session. A digital camera is required for participation.

The camp is open to rising 5^th – 7^th grade students, Arts Camp will be offered Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., during the week of June 24. The fee for Arts Camp is $120 per camper.

 Historic Doll Camp

Historic Doll Camp will help campers learn the history of Oatlands through the American Girl doll stories of Felicity, Addy, Samantha, Kit and Molly. Each doll represents a period in American history. Campers will participate in crafts, watch movies and will end their week with a small party. Dolls are welcome, but are not required for participation. Open to rising 4^th – 6^th grade students, Historic Doll Camp will be offered Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., during the weeks of July 8 and July 29. The fee for Historic Doll Camp is $100 per camper.

Museum Camp

Museum Camp will give children a special opportunity to work behind the scenes at Oatlands with lots of exciting and fun projects. During this program, the campers will learn how to give tours and care for collections. Campers will end the week by serving as an interpretive guide in a room of the mansion. Open to rising 5^th – 7^th grade students, Museum Camp will be offered Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., during the weeks of July 22 and August 5.  The fee for Museum Camp is $100 per camper.

Musical Theater Camp

During Musical Theater Camp, members of the StageCoach Theatre Company will teach campers about voice/stage diction, stage blocking, movement and costumes. Campers will end the week with a family-friendly performance in the Carriage House. Open to rising 6^th – 9^th grade students, Musical Theater Camp will be offered Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., during the week of July 15. The fee for Musical Theater Camp is $225 per camper. To register, visit www.stagecoachtc.com/summer-camp or contact Jerri Wiseman of StageCoach Theatre Company at jerri@stagecoachtc.com.

Melodee Music 

Melodee Music is offering Summer Music Camps for kids at its Sterling location. The deadline to sign up for these camps is on July 1. The camps will perform in a combined concert at the end of July. All camps will be taught by Melodee Music teacher Donna Wotring, and all camps, as well as the concert, will be held at the Melodee Music Auditorium.

Music Adventure Camp
General music fun for ages 4 to 11. No experience required.
Each class will take an exciting adventure exploring music through a variety of activities like singing, basic rhythm and note reading, playing rhythm instruments, learning about composers, and playing musical games.
*This camp will take place Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30  a.m. on the following dates: July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24.

Singing Stars Camp
Do you love to sing? Then this is the camp for you! This camp is open to singers age 8 to 18. No experience required.
In this camp, the Singing Stars will learn basic note reading, vocal technique, and pitch matching skills. They will sing a variety of styles of music such as folk, music theater, classical, and pop in a choral group setting.
This camp will take place Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m to 12:45 p.m. on the following dates: July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24.

Flute Fun Camp
Keep up with your flute practice over the summer and be ready for band in the fall! For all flute students who have had at least one year of band experience. Each student must provide their own instrument for each class. This class will take place on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the following dates: July 9, 16, 23.

For more info, contact Donna Wotring at missdonna4music@yahoo.com or leave a message in the studio office at 703-430-8242.

NOVA Robotics Camps
FIRST LEGO League and VEX robotics challenges are coming to Loudoun County. According to Northern Virginia Community College, campers will learn to manage their time more efficiently and negotiate on designs and project modifications. Each week of camp is limited to 24 elementary school students and 32 middle and high school students.

The FIRST LEGO League for rising fourth and fifth-graders will be offered Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the following weeks:

• July 8 to July 12 (NOVA-Loudoun Campus)
• July 15 to July 19 (NOVA Loudoun Campus)
• July 22 to July 26 (Tuscarora High School, Leesburg)
• July 29 to Aug. 2 (Tuscarora High School, Leesburg)

The VEX robotics camp for rising sixth through twelfth-graders will be offered Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the following weeks:

• July 8 to July 12 (NOVA-Loudoun Campus)
• July 15 to July 19 (NOVA Loudoun Campus)
• July 22 to July 26 (Tuscarora High School, Leesburg)
• July 29 to Aug. 2 (Tuscarora High School, Leesburg)

The Loudoun Campus robotics camps will be held at NOVA’s classrooms in the Signal Hill Office Building. This facility is located at 21335 Signal Hill Plaza in  Sterling. Camps will be held on the third floor in rooms #325, #326, #335 and #338.

Each one-week session costs $250. Campers will need to bring a lunch Monday through Thursday; pizza will be provided on Fridays. The Loudoun Education Foundation will be providing need-based scholarships for campers. Applications are due Monday.

For more information, contact STEM Education Coordinator Tosin Adetoro at tadetoro@nvcc.edu or by calling 703-948-7680. Registration is available online at http://www.nvcc.edu/systemic.

Do you know about other local summer camps? Comment below to let other readers know!