Childcare in Boca is the latest addition to the growing list of challenges our city (and most of Florida) is facing due to the influx of families relocating to our area. Not to mention (much) fewer affordable housing options and a major increase in traffic congestion. Space is simply at a premium right now and this Boca native is concerned. I have been a parent for almost 10 years and I’ve never seen such a fierce competition to get kids enrolled in quality school and daycare options, and now of course: summer camp.
The summer camp scramble is real and so many children are already on waiting list — for camp and even the school year ahead. Stephanie Wood, Director of Admission & Marketing at Boca Raton’s Grandview Preparatory School said, “We have seen a 24% increase in enrollment over the last three years with no signs of these trends slowing. More often than not, the families we are meeting have visited many schools and are finding it difficult to find the right fit for their family, such as a smaller environment and a well-balanced curriculum, added with the stress of a compressed timeline.”
It’s hard to wrap my head around it all some days. To assist on the summer camp front, I’ve been researching a ton of South Florida options that still have space. I am personally thrilled that so many great camps are happening this year! Whether your son or daughter is into gymnastics, science, art, dance, water sports — you name it, I hopefully have a great local recommendation for you.
Twisters
Thanks in part to their large facilities, Twisters Gymnastics is more than happy to welcome your children to one of their camps this summer — whether they are new to town or not! If your kids, ages 5+, LOVE climbing, jumping, running and flipping, then they will have a BLAST at Twisters Boca Raton or American Twisters in Coconut Creek.
Summer Camp registration includes gymnastics instruction, arts & crafts, movie time, fun and games! My daughter has informed me that there’s a lot of open play during the day, too. It’s an air-conditioned lifesaver from the Boca Raton furnace we live in during the summer months! Also, keep an eye out for their Twisters “Fun Days” for help when school is out during random times throughout the school year.
Petite Designers
This cozy space in Royal Palm Place is home to BIG creativity for your budding fashion designer! Offering both full and half day camp options for children ages 6+, Petite Designers Sewing & Fashion Design School gives sewing enthusiasts (whether your child is a beginner or has a sewing background) the opportunity to make accessories, pillows, stuffed animals, doll clothes and more throughout the summer months.
Plus, each week culminates with a Friday fashion show where campers can share what they made during camp on a real fashion runway! My daughter loves going to Petite Designers and feels comfortable enough using a sewing machine on her own now. It’s one handy skill she now has that her mother does not!
Bricks Bots & Beakers
Bricks Bots & Beakers made the decision to build their own east Boca studio due to high demand and student interest in their year-round program. With so many local STEAM-minded kids (and parents), it’s really no surprise they needed more space in addition to We Rock the Spectrum.
At this camp, Bricks Bots & Beakers’ interactive, engaging curriculum allows children to discover different STEAM careers through exciting hands-on experiments and simulations. They’ve created 7 weeks of age-appropriate STEAM career fun this summer that promotes critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. A great way to prevent the “summer slide”!
ArtNest
An amazing summer camp option for older AND younger campers, ages 3+, ArtNest is the art studio you wish existed when you were a kid. Their teachers tap into kids’ naturally creative minds and encourage them to let loose in the studio. Have you seen their paint splatter room on social media? It’s so cool.
This year, they’ve beefed up Tween Camp (ages 9-12) with next level projects like resin, fashion, street art and other epic mediums and styles. In their Junior Camps (ages 3-8) ArtNest is adding elements like dance and yoga for campers to move their bodies and bring out their creative side in a different way. Not to mention some new and awesome themes like Space Station, Dinosaur Safari, Fantasy and more.
Check out ArtNest locations in both Delray and Boca!
Michelle Olson-Rogers is a mom of one and the founder of Modern Boca Mom, a lifestyle website for the stylish & modern South Florida Mommy. She can also be found on Instagram at @modernbocamom.
