Kids Invited to JSU Summer Camps and Programs
05/04/2022
by Buffy Lockette
School is almost out for summer! Get the kids off the couch and on campus through one of the many summer camps, youth programs and activities offered at JSU in summer 2022.
Athletic Summer Camps
June and July
The Gamecocks have planned several team and individual sports camps this summer to help young athletes improve their game. Baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, football, soccer and volleyball are all hosting programs for various age groups in June and July. Learn more on the Athletics website.
JSU College for Kids: Ages 4-7
June and July
Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the Children's Corner of Houston Cole Library will present JSU College for Kids this summer. Little Gamecocks can get their first college experience by taking free mini-lectures from JSU professors in a variety of subjects - art, history, drama, music, science and more - on designated dates in June and July. Talks are most appropriate for ages 4-7, but all children over age 4 are invited. Kids who attend at least five of the 20 lectures will get a JSU College for Kids diploma at a Graduation Party with Cocky on July 28.
Family Game Day: All Ages
Tuesdays, June 7-July 26
Houston Cole Library's education department will host game nights on Tuesdays this summer, June 7-July 26, 1-8 p.m., on the fifth floor. There will be something for guests of all ages to enjoy - from small puzzles and building blocks for toddlers to age appropriate board games for kids to strategy games for older kids, teens and families. On the same evenings, 4-5 p.m., patrons ages 10 and older can take part in a Strategy Game League. Admission is free.
Grand Camp at the Canyon: Ages 5-8
June 8-10
Children accompanied by a trusted adult are invited to join in grand adventures at the JSU Canyon Center in Fort Payne. Enjoy hands-on environmental education, outdoor fun, arts, and guided exploration of the natural world. The half-day program will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration is $50 per child and limited to 12 children. For more information, please call 256-845-3548.
Canyon Camp for Children: Grades 2-4
June 14-17
Hands-on environmental education, outdoor fun, arts and the exploration of the natural world is on the itinerary at Canyon Camp. Held at the JSU Canyon Center in Fort Payne, the day-long camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with drop-off beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $150 and limited to 12 participants. For more information, please call 256-845-3548.
Canyon Camp for Children: Grades 5-6
July 12-15
Hands-on environmental education, outdoor fun, arts and the exploration of the natural world is on the itinerary at Canyon Camp. Held at the JSU Canyon Center in Fort Payne, the day-long camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with drop-off beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $150 and limited to 12 participants. For more information, please call 256-845-3548.
Gamecock Arts Summer Camp Program (GASP): Ages 14-18
June 19-24
GASP is an opportunity for high school students, ages 14-18, to experience college-level art and performance activities. Geared towards talented students who are serious about furthering their arts and humanities education, participants focus on a chosen area of focus: acting, creative writing, visual arts, costuming/cosplay, show choir, and filmmaking. The classes and workshops will be taught by faculty and graduate students of the Art and Design, Music, Film and Theatre, and English departments. In addition to participating in workshops, performances and art shows, students will also have recreational time on campus, as well as dining at the Jack Hopper Dining Hall or the Theron Montgomery Building food court. Residential and non-residential options are available. For more information, please email camp director Morgan Worsham at mworsham@jsu.edu or visit the GASP website. The registration deadline is May 31 at 8 p.m. CST.
UREC Youth Camps: Ages 5-15
Weekly, June 6-Aug. 12
JSU’s Recreation and Fitness Center is offering a variety of weekly summer camps to get kids up and moving. There’s a total of 10 week-long sessions, each with a different theme, running from June 6 to Aug. 12. Experience what it's like to be a true Gamecock during Future Gamecock Week, get your best costumes ready for Costume Week or party with us during Carnival Week. The camp day is 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with drop-off at 7:30-8:30 a.m. and pickup at 4-5 p.m. Registration is $140 for JSU affiliates or $160 for non-affiliates. There's also discounts for early bird registration and families with multiple children. Learn more on the UREC website.
Other summer fun at JSU:
- Youth ages 5-18 are allowed to visit the Rec Center with a member adult for $6/day.
- Swim lessons are available at the Rec Center for children and adults, open to both members and non-members.
- Enjoy the Children's Corner in Houston Cole Library
- Play tennis on the JSU courts, located behind Pete Mathews Coliseum. Take your own racquet and tennis balls. It's open whenever not in use by JSU Tennis.
- Ride bikes or take a nature walk on the Ladiga Trail
- Visit the JSU Canyon Center in Fort Payne, including the upcoming Bluegrass Festival on June 11
- Eat pizza, ice cream and other kid-friendly foods at Jack Hopper Dining Hall. The price is $6 for ages 6 and younger and $10 for adults, all you care to eat. From May 5-15, the dining hall will only be open at lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on May 5-6 and May 9-13. Summer Dining Hours will begin with the start of the summer semester on May 16: Monday-Friday, 7-8 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and 5-6 p.m. Closed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as for holidays on May 30, June 20 and July 4.
- Check the JSU calendar for special events, including the Jacksonville Opera Theatre's production of "Little Women" on May 20-22 and 27-29. Tickets are $15 for students and children, $20 for adults. A Beatles tribute band, the Beatlads, is performing in concert on June 10, 6 p.m., at Stone Center, for free. Other public events may be added to the calendar as the summer unfolds. Please check back for updates.