January often feels too early to think about summer camp, right? It’s not.
Some of Austin’s most popular summer camps open their registration this month or next month and are full within days, sometimes minutes after opening for registration.
Here are four that tend to sell out quickly:
Kids learn can learn to do all kinds of engineering skills at Thinkery camps. Photo by Hunter Douglas
The Thinkery
Science, technology, engineering, art and math-themed camps. Themes include designing and engineering a storybook problem, exploring STEAM in our city, engineering with sound, flight, robots and Minecraft.
Ages: 4-12
Location: The Thinkery camps are at four locations, including at the Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave.; (East); National Instruments, 11500 N. MoPac Blvd. (North near Domain); Magellan International School, 7938 Great Northern Blvd. (North Central); International School of Texas, 4402 Hudson Bend Road (West near Lakeway); Emergent Academy, 1044 Liberty Park Drive (Southwest).
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for part-day pre-kindergarten-kindergarten sessions. Extended care beginning at 8 a.m. and going until 5:30 p.m. for $50, but not available at National Instruments. One week sessions June 4-Aug. 17
Cost: $330 for members, $365 for non-members for first-graders-fifth-graders, $350 for members, $385 non-members for pre-kindergarten-kindergarten full-day, $80 off for part-day.
How to register: Registration for Thinkery members is happening now through Jan. 15. Non-members can register Jan. 16. Register online at thinkeryaustin.org or over the phone at 512-469-6201. You have to pay the full price to reserve your spot.
What if you don’t get in: The Thinkery does not maintain a waiting list, but you can check back on the website to see if a spot opens up.
Dylan Hoover, 9, John O’Farrell, 9, and Cosmo Nixon, 9, get ready for a canoe adventure as part of a Austin Nature & Science Center camp. AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2005
Austin Science & Nature Center
Nature and science-based camps based on a theme each week. Some camps include off-site campouts.
Ages: 4-11 (half day for ages 4-5, full day for ages 5-11)
Location: 2389 Stratford Drive
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for full day in one or two week sessions, June 11- Aug. 17. Before care beginning at 7:15 a.m. and late care until 6 p.m. is also available.
Cost: $200 standard price for one week, $150 for half day camp, $250 for a camp with camp outs
How to register: Go to austintexas.gov/ansc and select online registration. Select the camps you want. Registration is open to Austin residents 10 a.m. Feb. 10 and 1 p.m. Feb. 10 to non-residents. You pay a deposit for 20 percent of class price. If you don’t know your user name or password or have other questions, call the center at 512-974-3888 before Feb. 10.
What if you don’t get in: Complete registration and ask to be put on the waiting list.
Micah Baldwin, 6, cleans his paint brush during the Summer Arts Adventure Camp at the Dougherty Arts Center. Jay Janner/American-Statesman 2012
Dougherty Art Center
The City of Austin art center offers affordable art camps.
Ages: 5-12
Location: Dougherty Art Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in two-week sessions, June 11-Aug. 3, you can also add a before camp and after camp session
Cost: $432 for two weeks, $50 additional for before camp and $50 for after camp
How to register: Go to austintexas.gov/dougherty and select online registration. Select the camps you want. Registration is open to Austin residents 10 a.m. Feb. 17 and 1 p.m. Feb. 17 to non-residents. You pay the full amount of the class at the time of registration. If you’ve created an account before and don’t know what your user name and password is, contact the office in advance to get it reset, 512-974-4040, DACschool@austintexas.gov.
What if you don’t get in: Call the office or email and ask to be placed on the waiting list.
Crenshaw Athletic Club
A full-day camp with gym, computer time, field trips, swimming, games.
Ages: 5 1/2 to 10
Location: Crenshaw Athletic Club, 5000 Fairview Drive
When: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in three weeks sessions; dates to be determined, but tentatively June 4, June 25, July 16 and Aug. 6 (two weeks).
Cost: $720-$750 for each three week session
How to register: Fill out the registration form on crenshaws.com and put it in the mail on March 1, not any earlier. Include a $100 deposit. Or you can register in-person beginning at 6 a.m. on March 5, but the mailed registrations postmarked March 1, 2, and 3 will be taken before you. Mailed registrations with an earlier date will be taken after the March 5 registrations.
What if you don’t get it: Asked to be put on the waiting list.
You can get more summer camp ideas by checking out last year’s camp guide, campguide.austin360.com. We’ll be introducing this year’s guide on Feb. 16.
You can also get inspiration at Austin Family’s Summer Camp Fair: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 20 at Palmer Events Center.
Know of another camp that frequently fills up that you want us to investigate when and how to register? Email nvillalpando@statesman.com.
