Summer for Our Children at The Community House

“The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas, and even beyond home and school” – Michael Popkin, Ph.D.

Almost since The Community House was established nearly a century ago, children’s classes, programs and services at The Community House have been at the center of our mission, purpose and vision. Our founders envisioned The Community House to be a place where young people from our community and surrounding region would gather for camaraderie, learning and enrichment.

It would be a safe place for our children to interact with their peers, in a structured environment where children and positive role models would guide them to “make good choices, develop creative skills, build independence, self-reliance, and gain self-confidence.”

Over the years, The Community House has supplemented our fall, winter and spring children’s classes with a robust selection of summer camps. We believe that summer camps are a place where children get the experiences they need to bolster their range of coping strategies.

We have found “that there are the much more complex challenges of getting along with a new group of peers, learning how to ask for help from others, or taking manageable amount of risks, outside of school, and without a parent following after you.” Summer camps are places where children get the experiences they need to bolster their range of coping strategies.

So, it is in that spirit that The Community House is proud to present over 30 summer camps – half day, full day, morning, afternoon, lunch optional, with before and after-care opportunities. Make sure to visit communityhouse.com to see all of our camp offerings and to register. Hurry. There is limited enrollment.

2019 TCH Summer Camps include:

All Day Camp – Get away from the TV and smartphone for a week. Your child will enjoy a full day of music, cooking, crafts, and more. Lunch provided.

• Ages 7 - 10

• One Session: August 6th - August 10th

Digging for Dinosaurs Preschool Camp – Come and dig for dinosaur bones and make your very own dinosaur teeth. In this camp, preschoolers will have fun learning tons of facts about dinosaurs through songs, stories and hands-on activities.

• Ages 3-5

• One Session: June 24th-June 28th

Young Filmmakers Camp – So you want to be a filmmaker? Join us as each camper will have a rare opportunity to develop their unique talents and creativity to create a short film together from start to finish. Campers will also get a behind the scenes tour of the Emagine Palladium Theatre and show their movie on the big screen!

• Ages 10+

• Two Sessions: July 15th-18th and August 12th-15th

Safe Sitter Babysitter Safety Camp – The Safe Sitter babysitting workshop is a nationally recognized hands-on workshop for children ages 11 and older to learn to be a safe and effective babysitter. The camp will cover first aid, crime safety, fire safety, infant and child CPR with mannequin practice, the business of babysitting and more.

• Ages 11+

• One Session: July 22nd – July 24th

Cooking Camps – Join us for this culinary extravaganza. Campers will soon learn that the only limitation to your gourmet creations is campers' imagination. Campers will learn kitchen safety, cooking techniques and broaden their sense of taste.

• Ages 8-13

• Four Sessions: June 24th-June 28th; July 22nd – July 26th; July 29th -August 8th; August 12th-16th

Theatre Camps – Is your child a budding comedian? Do they love to act and sing? Our theatre camps, offered by renown Theatre Camp Directors Joey Albright & Debbie Tedrick, have something for every interest and age including:

• Junior Division (Grades 3 -7) Theatre Camps: Beginning or Advanced

Three Sessions: June 17th-28th, July 8th-July 19th and July 22nd- August 2nd

• Senior Division (Grades 7 - 12) Theatre Camps

Three Sessions: June 17th-29th, July 8th-19th and July 22rd-August 2nd.

William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House and The Community House Foundation in Birmingham.