Above: Rec is opening sign-up for their summer camp next week. Before you sign up, here’s a look at what they, and others, are offering this summer. (images from this year’s brochure)
Southborough Recreation is again giving town residents the first shot at signing their kids up for Summer Camp. Registration for residents will open Wednesday evening, February 25th.
Here’s a look at this year’s details, including other options in town.
[Note: For those wondering about the dates for NSBORO Schools summer break this year, scroll to the bottom.]*
The Town’s camp isn’t the fanciest option in town, but it is usually the most inexpensive. That makes it a popular option for keeping kids busy most of the summer — both for residents and for parents who work in town.
(For alternative camps in Southborough, scroll down.)
The Rec Camps will run weekly this summer from June 29th to August 14th.
For residents, registration for camps (and most of Rec’s spring and summer programs) will open 6:00 pm this Wednesday for residents. Registration for non-residents opens Wednesday, March 4th at 9:00 am..
For programs that don’t fill up earlier, registration will close one week before the start of camp. (If any do fill up, the public is encouraged to make use of the waitlist.)
To register for any of Southborough Recreation’s program, you’ll need to have an account and each child’s profile listed. To avoid scrambling at the last minute, you can create or update your account in advance here.
Recreation Summer Camp
You also may want to first investigate Rec’s specialized offerings this summer, to avoid schedule conflicts with other programs your kids may be interested in. (Scroll down for those, and for alternative options in town.)
As for what Rec camp itself offers, the Town promotes:
Southborough Recreation Summer Camp exposes children to a wide variety of programming on site and off site. From traditional activities such as sports, arts and crafts, and special events, to off-site visits to surrounding Southborough facilities, your child will enjoy an active summer with friends!
The camps are split by age group as of the beginning of camp. There are opportunities for kids ages 4-14. This year, the age groupings have changed to include 7 year olds in the younger group.
One other change is extending the half day schedule by 30 minutes.
“Camp Fayville” is for 4–7 years olds with half day and full day options. (It doesn’t include field trips, but camp theme weeks are the same as for the older campers.) All campers must be potty trained. Rates are $235 for half day (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) and $340 for full day (8:30 am – 4:00 pm). There is a discount for Week 1 (which is only 4 days).
“Camp Cordaville” is for 8–12 years olds. That is a full day only program, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm at $340 per week. There is one field trip/special event anticipated per week for the older campers (on Thursdays). There is a discount for the Week 1 (which is only 4 days).
Special themed weeks and trips:
Rec is promoting the following schedule for the summer (with the caveat that field trips, which are only for the 8-12 year olds, are “subject to change”):
- Week 1: June 29th- July 2nd (no camp on July 3rd) – “Red, White, and Blue” theme, with a field trip to Ski Ward (Summer Tubing)
- Week 2: July 6th-10th – “Minions Mania” theme, with a field trip to AMC Theater (to see Minions & Monsters)
- Week 3: July 13th-17th – “Dance to the Music” theme, with a field trip to Kimball Farm (outdoor amusements)
- Week 4: July 20th-24th – “Animals: Get WILD” theme, with a field trip to Urban Air (trampoline & indoor adventure park)
- Week 5: July 27th -31st – “Color Wars” theme, with a field trip to View Boston (Prudential Building’s observation deck)
- Week 6: August 3rd – 7th – “Sports” theme, with a field trip to Worcester Red Sox
- Week 7: August 10th-14th – “Southborough’s Got Talent” theme, with a field trip to Level 99 (gaming with physical and mental challenges)
CITs (Counselor in Trainings) is for ages 13-14 years old from 8:15 am – 4:00 pm. That program is $185/week. CITS may be assigned to work with either age group, but all will attend the weekly field trips.
The program is pitches as for those:
Selected CIT’s will be exposed to situations such as behavior management, safety, programming, and team building. CITs will work across both age groups to be exposed to as many situations and experiences as possible. CITs will be assigned at the start of each week and rotated as needed throughout the summer weeks. Spaces are extremely limited.
Rec is promoting that there is a new process this year:
A separate email will be sent to all registered participants detailing the submission process at a later date. All CIT’s will be required to submit a Letter of Intent prior to official enrollment into this program.
Learn more here.
Alternative Options
Rec’s new “Summer in the Afternoon” add-on for Specialty Camps
This year, Rec is offering to extend a few of its eligible half day specialty camps by transporting campers to the traditional summer program (describe above) for the afternoon. The add-on runs from noon to 4:00 pm. (Note: Kids who participate in the program won’t be able to attend the traditional summer camp’s weekly field trip.) The option costs $150 on top of the specialty camp’s fee.
Three camps are eligible and noted in the list below. Learn more here.
Rec Specialty Camps
Here is a quick preview of the camps Rec is also offering this summer that specialize in specific activities. Each program runs Mon-Friday except where otherwise noted:
- Hoops Clinics — for 6-10 yr olds, two sessions (9:00 am – noon) at Fayville Park Basketball Court (click here):
- Wednesday, June 24th – Friday, June 26th
- and Tuesday, June 30th – Thursday, July 2nd
- Soccer — options for 3-14 yr olds (times vary by age groups 3-5, 5-14, and 7-14), two sessions, at Neary fields (click here)
- July 13th – 17th
- August 17th – 21st
- High Point Multisport — for 5–10 yr olds, July 6th – 10th (9:00 am – noon) at Trottier Middle School Track (click here)
- Eligible for Summer in the Afternoon add-on
- Skyrise Theater’s “Madagascar Kids” — for 7-12 yr olds, July 6th – 10th (8:30 am – 2:30 pm) at Trottier Middle School (click here)
- Tennis in the Parks — options for 3-8 yr olds (times vary by age groups 3-5 and 6-8), two sessions at Richardson Tennis Courts (on Neary’s campus) (click here)
- Monday, July 13th – Thursday, July 16th
- Monday, August 3rd – Thursday, August 6th
- Chess Wizards — for 5–10 yr olds, July 20th – 24th (9:00 am – noon) at Rec Dept classroom, 21 Highland Street (click here)
- Eligible for Summer in the Afternoon add-on
- Sew Studio: Harry Potter theme — for ages 6+ years, Monday, July 20th – Thursday, July 23rd (9:00 am – noon) at 205 Turnpike Rd (click here)
- Top Secret Kids: Hands on Science — for 5-11 yr olds, two sessions (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) at Rec Dept, 21 Highland St (click here)
- Monday, June 29th – Thursday, July 2nd
- August 17th – August 21st
- Sew Studio: Snack Attack theme — for ages 6+ years, Monday, August 3rd – Thursday, August 6th (9:00 am – noon) at 205 Turnpike Rd (click here)
- FAST Athletics Flag Football and Games — for 8–12 yr olds, August 10th – 12th (9:00 am – noon) at Trottier Middle School Track (click here)
- Eligible for Summer in the Afternoon add-on
- Skyrise Theater’s “Press Start” — for 5-12 yr olds, August 10th – 14th (8:30 am – 2:30 pm) at Trottier Middle School (click here)
- Canvas n Cup — for 7–12 yr olds, four sessions (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) at Canvas n Cup, 6 West Main Street, Westborough (click here)
- July 13th – 17th
- July 20th – 24th
- August 3rd – August 7th
- August 10th – August 14th
Summer Fun Club — Southborough Extended Day’s Camp
The SEDP program, managed through a partnership of community parents and the public schools, is only available for kids entering grades K-6. And it only runs Mondays – Thursdays.
And a full week’s cost is $340, the same as Rec’s five day, full day Summer Camp.
But it offers the flexibility to pick specific days families need rather than committing to entire weeks. (Mondays through Wednesdays are $80/day this year. The Thursday field trip days are $100.)
Plus, a big draw for many families is reflected in the name. The regular hours are longer (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) and options to extended hours are available in both the morning (starting at 7:30 am) and evening (running until 6:00 pm).
Other extra benefits — The program run in partnership with the school system allows campers who aren’t potty trained. And (unlike Southborough Rec) their field trips include all age groups.
The program also offers CIT options for students entering 7th-8th grade and volunteer positions for students entering grades 9-10.
The program will run June 29th through August 20th.*
You can find more details on the SEDP website here.
Private Camps in Town
The two private schools in town also offer summer and specialty camps.
- Fay School (click here)
- St. Mark’s Summer (click here)
*As of today, NSBORO schools have only had two Snow Days (January 26 & 27). If there aren’t any more cancellations this year, the last day of school will be Tuesday, June 23rd. It would take four more cancellations to push it into the last week of June.
The first day of the next school year is still up in the air, but will likely be September 1st or 2nd.
