Yes, it’s time to think about summer camps. Believe it. Or not. It’s time. The good news is, camps on Cape Ann have long been a cherished tradition and the variety of program options continues to grow each year. There are classic day camps focused on fun, a town-run program steeped in history, and a bevy of specialized camps catering to budding sailors, performers, STEM enthusiasts, and more.
One of the longest running area camps is Manchester Summer Playground, a staple since the 1960s, where local teens serve as counselors under the guidance of seasoned program leaders. It’s as “old-fashionedy” as it gets in Manchester. Started as part of Manchester Elementary School by Manchester legend, Don Towle, there are—literally—generations of kids who have made their summers “Summer Playground Summers.” Management now lies with Manchester’s Parks & Recreation Dept., but the program is still run from Memorial Elementary School and still retains those popular weekly field trips. The seven-week camp starts June 23 and includes kids entering Kindergarten to rising 8th graders. Registration opens in March.
The YMCA of the North Shore is another veteran of Cape Ann summer camp fun. Camp Dory has become a staple for Essex youth, run out of the town’s public park, Centennial Grove on Chebacco Lake. There’s also the Y’s Camp Spindrift (near Wingarsheek Beach) that gets kids outdoors and out on the water. Keeping with the old-fashioned feel, Camp Spindrift has been running for decades.
Then there are specialty camps. The undisputed icon of local summer programs is “MSA,” the Manchester Sailing Association, which has been teaching kids to navigate the waters off Tuck’s Point since 1971. Like Summer Playground, it started over 50 years ago as a town-backed initiative in partnership with the Manchester Yacht Club—a collaboration that has since become a model nationwide for making youth sailing more accessible. The model works, because MSA’s summer sessions have gained such a loyal following that they’ve even expanded to offer special “learn to sail” programs just for adults.
Another long-running summer program is Manchester Summerstage, which has been running for more than 50 years. Each summer the troupe produces a high-quality musical theatre production with students grades 5 through high school. Last summer’s “Matilda the Musical” was a big draw with local audiences. Auditions are typically scheduled for late May, and all youth who audition will receive a role.
If these are the old guard, then there’s a whole lot going on with the “new guard” of specialty camps that offer an unbelievably wide spectrum of specialty choices for kids of all ages.
Many of these camps that focus on kids’ passions (STEM, dance, art) are hosted by local schools. Think Landmark School, Brookwood, St. John’s Prep, or even higher education institutions like Montserrat College of Art, which offers summer STEAM programs that embrace art and science. Others, like Edge on Science that offers 10 hands-on programs designed for young scientists and engineers in areas like Computer Aided Design (CAD), 3D modeling & printing, robotics, space science, leverage partner sites like Gloucester’s Ocean Alliance that have the infrastructure.
And, returning to the YMCA, there are camps with a focus. For “theater kids,” the Y’s Theater Camp, run by youth theater veteran Heidi Dahlin, is a big draw. And there’s sports camp at the Y, offering skills development, scrimmaging, etc. for basketball, soccer, cheer, and more.
Both are at the Glen T. MacLeod YMCA in Gloucester. And don’t forget about the Manchester Athletic Club in Manchester, which has a nationally-recognized youth tennis program and brand new indoor turf facilities.
Then there’s Scouting. Every year, Troop 3 Scouts (open to Manchester and Essex youth) attend Summer Camp at a BSA Scout Camp. For the past few years, typically in late June or the week after the 4th of July, Troop 3 Boys and Troop 3 Girls have attended JN Webster Scout Camp for one week. It’s a “Scouts Bonanza,” since participants are able to pick from over 60 different outdoor merit badges, such as the waterfront, shooting range, handicraft pavilion, nature and STEM center, and many more throughout the 1200-acre camp. (Each Scout usually works on 4-5). They also get the old-fashioned sleepaway camp experience (think: sleeping in platform tents). Only kicker is you have be a Scout to participate. (Not too late to join! Go to beascout.scouting.org to join. Or stop by the Scout House on School Street in Manchester.)
Yes, thankfully, today there are all manner of local choices, giving kids and their parents a chance to dive deeper into something they already love, or try something new, be it for just one week or the whole summer long.
Maybe that is why camp is a tradition that continues today.
