Adventure Play Summer Camp
Adventure Play Summer Camp is an immersive, engaging, child- directed day camp at University Primary School.
Here, each child can have their own, individualized version of the "best camp ever!" where trained, adult playworkers support and respect children while prioritizing play. Imagine a place full of interesting materials where children are in charge of their time, what they do and how they do it:
- Some children may want to build forts, roll tires down a hill or create elaborate costumes for theater.
- Other children want to run, splash in water, or create big games with lots of friends.
- Still others play in the mud or find a quiet place to read or open a business.
Now imagine all of that happening at once under big shade trees and an open prairie!
This is Adventure Play!
Grounded in agreements of care and with a sole purpose of play, this magical camp holds space for authentic expression of self through play almost 100% outside as weather allows. Using loose parts, children transform the site daily using materials that change according to their use and imagination projected onto said material. The space is filled to the brim with play, excitement, and options for everyone.
Research shows that play is infinitely important for cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development, as well as a main form of communication for children. Knowing play is so impactful for children, trained playworkers invest lots of effort into creating welcoming environments, full of interesting materials that are ripe for all play types with children’s needs in mind.
- Playworkers serve as play researchers, co-regulators, mediators, building helpers, safety inspectors and caring, authentic, invested witnesses to children’s worlds as shown in their play.
- Playworkers work to gently support children's play, create and hold inviting environments where kids feel freedom, permission & support to play, with a foundation of felt safety.
- Playworkers hold a deep respect for children, belive the best in them, and prioritize their play.
You won't find a daily adult-led activity at this camp--these camps are structured by the children and their play, which means each day and each week is fresh and new and customizable based on the childs' interests. Settings that prioritize time, space, and permission to play are exceedingly rare for children today, and Adventure Play at University Primary School is honored to hold space for children to be their truest selves through play.
Contact
- For questions about summer camp sign up, contact Christine Wyant in our school office.
- For questions about Adventure Play Camp overall, contact Kelsey Langley our summer camp director.
2024 Registration Process Information
Summer Camp 2024 Information: When registering for Summer, 2024, please note, this camp is wildly popular and always fills to capacity in mere hours. Because of this, you will register to request enrollment and in mid February we will confirm by email what weeks we are able to offer your child(ren). Thanks for your understanding!
- Registration Requests will go live on Sunday, February 11 at 8:00am and has historically filled to waitlist status in just a few hours.
- Please request only dates for which you intend to register and pay. We turn down others based on your initial selections and may not be able to honor every week you request.
- Responses to registration will be sent by February 17 and will include a link for payment.
- Payment will be due by March 1 unless other arrangements are made ahead of time. Once the payment link expires, registration will be forfeited automatically and we will have to move down the camp waitlist.
2024 Older Camp Sign-Up
--NEW STRUCTURE--
- Full Day 8:30am - 3:00pm
- Ages 6-12
- Cost is $260 per week
- Add on extended camp 3:00-5:00 pm is $80 per week
- Extended camp cannot be added after the registration period, so make selections thoughtfully.
- There are no half day options this summer for the older camp, though families can retrieve their child whenever works best for their needs.
Weeks of Camp
- Week 1: June 3-7
- Week 2: June 10-14
- Week 3: June 17-21 *no camp on June 19 (fees pro-rated)
- Week 4: June 24-28
- No camp week of July 4
- Week 5: July 8-12
- Week 6: July 15-19
- Week 7: July 22-26
Sign-Up for 2024 Older Camp
2024 Younger Camp Sign-Up
Registration goes live Sunday, February 11 at 8:00am and historically has filled to waitlist status in just a few hours.
- Camp Hours: 8:30am - 12:30pm
- Cost is $180 per week.
- Ages 3-7
- Child must be bathroom independent to attend summer camp
- Packed lunch from home served at 11:30am
- More details regarding what to pack for lunch will be sent closer to camp.
- No extended younger camp hours offered past 12:30pm
Weeks of Camp
- Week 1: June 3-7
- Week 2: June 10-14
- Week 3: June 17-21 *no camp on June 19, pro-rated
- Week 4: June 24-28
- No camp week of July 4
- Week 5: July 8-12
- Week 6: July 15-19
Sign-Up for 2024 Younger Camp