Registration Opens May 5 for Brandon, Hillsborough Summer Campers

News Report

Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department will hold a summer camp super Saturday registration day on May 5 at All People’s Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave. in Tampa.

More than 15 different day summer camps will be offered from June 18– Aug. 10. On registration day, May 5, parents will journey through displays, props, gizmos and happy faces to choose the camp that best meets their child’s interests.

Parents have the option to register their child at a Traditional Day Camp for the entire summer, or they can design their own camp by mixing and matching two-week sessions with the Specialty Nature camps.

Summer camps are expected to fill up quickly, and space is limited. Find out if space is left after the May 5 registration day by calling Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation at 813-635-3500.

Traditional Day Camps

Traditional day camps are held June 18 – Aug. 10, from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m., and can be registered two weeks at a time. Bi-weekly themes vary from park to park, and they all include a community garden component and a reading component that helps keep children on grade-level reading while having fun. An optional field trip to a theme park will be available at an additional cost.

• Brandon Recreation Center, 510 E. Sadie St. in Brandon

Brandon Recreation Center offers summer themes that highlight fitness, nature and the Olympics. Activities for ages 5-15 will include games, athletics, arts and crafts, field trips and special speakers.

• Gardenville Recreation Center, 6219 Symmes Rd., in Gibsonton

Gardenville Recreation Center is offering a diverse fun summer program for ages 5-15. Daily and weekly activities will include field trips, arts and crafts, educational programs, indoor and outdoor games. Themes include Water Week, Health and Fitness, Animal Week and Move to the Groove Week.

• Jackson Springs Recreation Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Rd. in Tampa

Jackson Springs’ new teen center is offering a camp designed for teens ages 13–17. Teen center amenities include: the Bulldawg Music Studios, Cyber Den Wireless Café, a full gymnasium and weight room, a game room, gaming lounge and fitness center.

• KeystoneRecreation Center, 17928 Gunn Hwy. in Odessa

Keystone Recreation Center summer day camp offers a variety of fun and exciting skills to children ages 5-14. Participants will develop the fundamentals necessary for a lifetime of participating in sports, outdoor recreation, sportsmanship and lasting memories. Participants will enjoy team and individual sports, tournaments, games, fitness, field trips and other recreation activities. Themes include Fun with Nature, World Wide Sports, Up Up and Away and Super Tournaments.

• Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Dr. in Tampa

The Northdale Recreation Center is all about sports. Participants ages 5-14 will enjoy sports activities including basketball, cheerleading, court hockey, flag football, soccer, volleyball and tennis.

• Ruskin Recreation Center, 901 6th St. SE in Ruskin

The Ruskin Recreation Center offers a camp for kids ages 5-15. Themes include Sports and Recreation, American Pride, Wild Adventures and Around the World in 10 Days.

• Thonotosassa Recreation Center, 10132 Skewlee Rd. in Thonotosassa

The summer camp at the Thonotosassa Recreation Center is designed for kids ages 5-14. Themes include Amazing Animals, All-Star Sports, Stars and Very Important Person (VIP). Participants will make new friends, learn how to develop positive relationships, and improve overall self-worth and personal value.

• University Area Recreation Center, 14015 N. 22nd St. in Tampa

The summer camp at the University Area Recreation Center is designed for children ages 5-13. This camp provides a great way for kids to let loose, meet new friends, enjoy new and exciting experiences, go on cool field trips, learn new things, and have fun. Themes include Under the Big Top, Ultimate Sports Experience, Every Day is Earth Day, and Olympic Super Tournament Challenge.

• Westchase Recreation Center, 9791 Westchase Dr. in Tampa

The Westchase Recreation Center camp is open to kids ages 5-14. Participants can conquer, discover, learn and experience indoor and outdoor fun. Themes include iPlay, iExplore, iCreate and iFit. Additional activities will be offered to test, challenge and improve each participant’s playmaking ability.

• Winston Recreation Center, 7605 Destin Dr. in Tampa

The Winston Recreation Center offers a summer fun camp that builds character for our leaders of tomorrow. This camp is designed for children ages 5-13.

Nature Day Camps

The nature day camps are two-week-long camps specializing in a specific topic held at county regional parks. These camps are designed around educational outdoor activities at Hillsborough County’s parks, trails and waterways.

• E.G. Simmons Fishing Camp, 2401 19th Ave. NW in Ruskin

E.G. Simmons Park offers two fun-filled weeks of fishing and outdoor skills for those ages 9-15. Activities include canoeing, camping and swimming. Guest speakers will include local outdoor celebrities. Camp will end with a deep sea fishing trip.

• Flatwoods Bicycle Camp, 14302 Morris Bridge Rd. in Thonotosassa

Flatwoods Park offers a unique bicycle camp for teens age 13-17 only. Although this camp focuses on bicycling, it offers so much more. Activities include biking, canoeing, conservation, ecology, hiking, nature and fishing activities. Bicycle safety, basic bicycle maintenance and orienteering will also be covered.

• Upper Tampa Bay Fun With Nature, 8001 Double Branch Rd. in Tampa

The Upper Tampa Bay Park offers the perfect camp for those who love Florida’s wildlife, and want to learn more about Hillsborough County’s nature. This camp is designed for children ages 8-15. Participants will experience canoeing, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. This camp includes field trips to regional aquariums and a deep sea fishing charter.

• Eureka Springs Heritage Garden Camp, 6400 Eureka Springs Rd. in Tampa

Eureka Springs Park offers the opportunity to explore Hillsborough County's historic arboretum with Florida's master gardeners. This camp is designed for kids ages 9-12. Camp participants will experience how gardens and people fit into the natural environment. They will learn to compost, identify garden insects and diseases, and observe seasonal changes. They will also compile a journal to document their experiences of what they learned and participated in during their gardening cycles.

This camp offers a unique opportunity to learn about Eureka Springs’ history, meet new friends, learn new things and go on fun field trips to the USF Botanical Garden, a downtown green roof complex and Tampa Bay History Center.

• Lettuce Lake Canoe and Nature Camp, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa

Lettuce Lake Parks offers the opportunity to experience nature through hands-on interaction. This camp is designed for children ages 10-15. Participants will learn the basics of backpacking, building a fire, canoeing, camping, pitching a tent and hiking while identifying native plant and animal species. This camp will finish with a three-hour paddle down the Hillsborough River.

Therapeutic Camps

• All People’s Life Center, 6105 East Sligh Ave. in Tampa

Camp Sparks is a summer day camp designed for participants ages 5-22 with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries and learning disabilities. Activities include sports, games, arts and crafts, and cooking, as well as special events, swimming and field trips. This camp is $38 per week. Income-based discounts are available. For more information on Camp Sparks, call the Parks, Recreation and Conservation at 813-744-5978.

• Bakas Equestrian Center, 11510 Whisper Lake Trail in Tampa

The Equestrian Summer Camp at the Bakas Center is open to children ages 5-17 who love horses, and have always wanted to learn to ride. The cost for this camp is $50 per day or $250 per week. This camp is limited to 15 participants per day. Camps will be held on July 9-13, July 16-20, and Aug. 20-24, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Activities vary, and may include horse care, riding, arts/crafts, fishing, canoeing, carriage riding, hay rides, slip and slide, and possible off-site field trips.

Fridays are Horse Show Day. Parents are encouraged to come watch their child compete and see how they have progressed through the week of lessons. Extended care is available for an additional fee. For more information on the Bakas Equestrian Center call 813-264-3890.

Traditional day camps cost $76 per two-week session. Specialty nature camps are $120 per two-week session. Income-based discounts are available

Summer camps are expected to fill up quickly, and space is limited. Call Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation at 813-635-3500.