FUTURE STARS SPORTS ACADEMY
Are you ready for some football?! Future Stars Sports Academy in Madison is offering football camps this summer as well as all-sport camps, where kids in grades K - 8 can not only learn and play football, but try out soccer, lacrosse, and wiffle ball as well.
“There will be a bunch of fun activities so kids can take part in all of them and maybe see which one they really like,” says founder and owner Ralph Sandello.
What really makes Future Stars cool is that it’s partnered with the NY Jets. They have tons of giveaways and prizes such as signed footballs and apparel, and they even have professional NFL players come down to talk with the kids and coach. There’s also the opportunity to go to the Jets training camp or a preseason game, as long as COVID guidelines allow.
“Coaching kids is really my passion, so I enjoy just being around them every day,” says Ralph, who grew up in Madison and is currently the Receivers and Safety football coach, the varsity basketball assistant coach, and the junior varsity lacrosse coach at Madison High School.
“At Future Stars, we put a big emphasis on the kids having fun, so they’re not just standing around doing drills,” he says. “They’re learning and constantly playing games and winning prizes.” And since it’s flag football, there’s no contact and no risk, which parents really appreciate.
To enroll your child today, go to https://futurestarssportsacademy.net/summer-camp-registration-2/.
SCHOOL OF ROCK
If your kids want to get their jam on this summer, School of Rock has the best in performance-based music camps. Open to kids 3 1/2 to 12 years old, there’s something for every interest and musical ability.
It’s four- and five-day summer programs mirror its year-long programs and are great opportunities for kids to try it out and see if music is really their passion and something they want to pursue. “Our summer camp sessions have always been a great vehicle for getting kids accustomed and exposed to our culture and how the School of Rock works,” says Art Lima, who along with his wife Jamie, has owned the Chatham location for the past 16 years.
Kids not only learn to play an instrument and/or vocalize, but to perform these skills in front of an audience. There are also classes on songwriting where they learn how to develop and perform their own song ideas.
Programs this summer include Rock Rookies, where kids can learn ear training, song structure, rhythm patterns and group playing; Little Wing Pre-School of Rock, which introduces little rockers to real rock band instruments and bands in a fun and playful way; Classic Rock Rewind which allows campers to learn and record the music of 60s and 70s rock icons such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; and Songwriting & Performance, a program that teaches kids the skills to write their own songs and analyze some amazing compositions.
To enroll your child now, go to https://locations.schoolofrock.com/chatham/music-camps.
SNAPOLOGY
Once again, Snapology will be offering its fun and educational camps in the Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights areas. “We will run three-hour camps in the morning, but we're also going to offer afternoon camps as well,” says Sunny Sun, the owner of the Summit area location. “This will give parents more options.”
Camps will be held on a weekly basis from June to the end of August, and themes will change each week. Children aged 6 to 12 will be able take part in various programs specific to their ages and abilities.
“Our general education approach is for children to learn from hands-on activities, and these programs are perfect for camps,” she says. “During the summer, a lot of parents don't want their children to be under a lot of pressure, but at the same time, they still want them to stay in a learning environment.”
Using and building with Lego bricks is the foundation of the learning tasks, and what kid doesn’t love playing with Lego? “So, children will think they're just playing, but they're actually learning,” says Sunny. “And, they can learn all these great things about all different topics.” For younger children, it’s also a wonderful way to master hand-eye coordination.
Many of the programs relate to familiar pastimes like Minecraft and Pokémon, but instead of just having kids do something on a computer, they are building, creating and learning. And, of course, having fun!
To enroll your child this summer, go to https://www.snapology.com/location/summit#workshops.