Camps

The theater offers mainstage productions, youth year-round theater, musical theater and dance classes after school and during the summer, as well as audition-only productions, cast with youth performers. The Un-Common Theatre Company performs here.

The Orpheum Theatre hosts the Summer Theatre Academy for children ages five to 18. The program is taught by highly skilled theater professionals. For 2006: The three-week academy runs Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm, July 31-August 18. Tuition is $700 for the session. Registration and additional information is available online.

EcoTarium, A Museum of Science & Nature, offers three floors of interactive exhibits, wildlife habitats, interpretive nature trails, Massachusetts' only digital planetarium, and a narrow-gauge railroad.

During the summer, EcoTarium offers kids ages 7-15 camp sessions filled with fun and indoor/outdoor exploration. Day campers can uncover life in forests, meadows and ponds, experiment with new skills and interests, get their hands dirty, record their experiences with digital cameras and journals, investigate the night sky, encounter animals big and small-- and play. Contact EcoTarium for current schedule.

They say it's a jungle out there, and, at the Franklin Park Zoo, it really is. What it lacks in size (72 acres in Boston's historic Franklin Park), it makes up for in kid and parent friendliness.

The little ones will love Franklin Farm, which features a "contact corral" (translation - petting zoo). Kids can pet cows, goats, and horses, and Zoo staff are on hand for questions. Other crowd pleasers at the Farm are a silo slide and a tractor the kids can "ride".

The Australian Outback gives everyone a chance
to get up close and personal with tree kangaroos and emus. Don't expect lots of action here, though; the "aussies" hang in the brush most of the time.

The Giraffe Savannah and Kalahari Kingdom
feature three Masai giraffes (one baby!) and a lion. The kids will get a kick out of the jeep that's "driven" into the lion's den. Brave adventurers can drive the jeep while viewing the lions from behind the safety of lots of plexiglass. The Serengeti Crossing is an outdoor "plain" that features zebras, ostrich, and ibex sheep.

Not to be missed is the Butterfly Landing. You'll enter an outdoor enclosure that houses 1,000 butterflies from all over North America. Watch your children's faces brighten when they notice a butterfly sitting on their shoulder. There are also several butterfly hatcheries, where kids get to see real butterflies emerging from their cocoons.

The Tiger Tales exhibit, opened in 2006, tigers Anala and Luther, and aims to educate guests about the problems that arise when exotic animals fall into the wrong hands as well as the misinformation surrounding white tigers (Luther is white).

The recently renovated (2007) Gorilla Exhibit offers increased viewing opportunities for visitors, who are now able to literally stand face-to-face with these magnificent animals. For the gorillas, the new design provides more vertical space in which to climb and play.

When you're ready for a break, take the kids to the play area located in the middle of the zoo. Here you'll find lots of wooden trains where kids can climb and pretend. There is one climbing structure with a slide; no swings. In the summer it gets pretty hot because there's no shade here. Bring hats and sunblock for everyone.

If you'll be at the Zoo during lunch or snack time, you can bring a picnic lunch or purchase Panini sandwiches, wraps, salads, and traditional concession fare on site.

Membership benefits are worth the $60 price tag. You and your family can receive free admission to the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos, as well as a 10% discount in all Zoo New England gift shops and food concessions, a free subscription to Wild Words newsletter, discounts on "Wild Adventures" education programs, and exhibit previews.

Zoo New England and Camp Fire USA have offered a day camp at the Franklin Park Zoo for 15 years. Participants experience a unique environmental education camp that allows them to explore the natural world of animals and their habitats. ZooCamp is an educational and fun-filled journey that includes arts and crafts, nature games and activities, and the study of Zoo animals - including "behind the scenes" tours with zookeepers! Registration is limited to one session per summer and all campers must be Zoo members.

Established in 1990, The Green Planet sells natural and environmentally friendly products, with a focus on natural, wooden, and cloth toys and games. The products are educational and encourage creative, open-ended play, including science kits, doll houses, puzzles, classic children's books, cooperative games, books about social issues, cotton stuffed animals, infant toys, puppets, arts and crafts kits, and music CDs and cassettes.

While you're there, check out the environmentally friendly household products (non-toxic pest control, for example), organic cotton clothing for babies, recycled stationery, yoga videos and supplies, and eco-friendly gifts.

For fun birthday parties, you can choose either yoga or "creative space" (art, music). Parties begin at $15 per child.

Yoga classes are available for the whole family, from pre-natal through adult. You'll find classes for children, toddlers, mommy and me, pre-teen, teen, and adult. Classes range from $12-$15/class.

There are also creative space classes for children in art, music, creative movement, and chess. Both yoga and creative class sessions range from 6 to 15 weeks, and cost from $12-$15 per class. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

They say it's a jungle out there, and, at the Franklin Park Zoo, it really is. What it lacks in size (72 acres in Boston's historic Franklin Park), it makes up for in kid and parent friendliness.

The little ones will love Franklin Farm, which features a "contact corral" (translation - petting zoo). Kids can pet cows, goats, and horses, and Zoo staff are on hand for questions. Other crowd pleasers at the Farm are a silo slide and a tractor the kids can "ride".

The Australian Outback gives everyone a chance
to get up close and personal with tree kangaroos and emus. Don't expect lots of action here, though; the "aussies" hang in the brush most of the time.

The Giraffe Savannah and Kalahari Kingdom
feature three Masai giraffes (one baby!) and a lion. The kids will get a kick out of the jeep that's "driven" into the lion's den. Brave adventurers can drive the jeep while viewing the lions from behind the safety of lots of plexiglass. The Serengeti Crossing is an outdoor "plain" that features zebras, ostrich, and ibex sheep.

Not to be missed is the Butterfly Landing. You'll enter an outdoor enclosure that houses 1,000 butterflies from all over North America. Watch your children's faces brighten when they notice a butterfly sitting on their shoulder. There are also several butterfly hatcheries, where kids get to see real butterflies emerging from their cocoons.

The Tiger Tales exhibit, opened in 2006, tigers Anala and Luther, and aims to educate guests about the problems that arise when exotic animals fall into the wrong hands as well as the misinformation surrounding white tigers (Luther is white).

The recently renovated (2007) Gorilla Exhibit offers increased viewing opportunities for visitors, who are now able to literally stand face-to-face with these magnificent animals. For the gorillas, the new design provides more vertical space in which to climb and play.

When you're ready for a break, take the kids to the play area located in the middle of the zoo. Here you'll find lots of wooden trains where kids can climb and pretend. There is one climbing structure with a slide; no swings. In the summer it gets pretty hot because there's no shade here. Bring hats and sunblock for everyone.

If you'll be at the Zoo during lunch or snack time, you can bring a picnic lunch or purchase Panini sandwiches, wraps, salads, and traditional concession fare on site.

Membership benefits are worth the $60 price tag. You and your family can receive free admission to the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos, as well as a 10% discount in all Zoo New England gift shops and food concessions, a free subscription to Wild Words newsletter, discounts on "Wild Adventures" education programs, and exhibit previews.

Zoo New England and Camp Fire USA have offered a day camp at the Franklin Park Zoo for 15 years. Participants experience a unique environmental education camp that allows them to explore the natural world of animals and their habitats. ZooCamp is an educational and fun-filled journey that includes arts and crafts, nature games and activities, and the study of Zoo animals - including "behind the scenes" tours with zookeepers! Registration is limited to one session per summer and all campers must be Zoo members.

Celebrating 58 years of "live theatre for children by children," Boston Children's Theatre (BCT) lets kids take center stage. Kids at BCT participate in all phases of production, and perform in shows that reach 30,000 people yearly. Performances are staged at various locations around town, and are listed in our calendar as well as on the BCT web site. Mainstage productions are at the Grand Lodge of Masons.

BCT offers fall, winter, and spring sessions of theater classes for children kindergarten through high school, and holds open auditions for each of its mainstage productions. All roles in BCT productions are played exclusively by young people in grades 4-12.

In the summer, BCT offers creative arts programs for students in grades two to seven, and the Teen Stagemobile Tour Company, which brings live theater performances to neighborhood parks, camps, and nearby communities throughout Greater Boston.

In addition to mainstage productions, BCT also creates other events throughout the year; check our calendar for details.

WarmLines Parent Resources is a non-profit organization that provides parenting support to families in the Greater Boston area. Membership for 2007-2008 is $135 and entitles you to an abundance of services.

Drop-In Playgroups: Membership gives you free access to playgroups in Newton on Monday mornings. Playgroups are open to children ages 0 to 3 years who are accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Children may play with age-appropriate toys and snacks, and participate in circle time. All groups are directed by a leader. Group leaders are most often mothers and long-standing members of WarmLines. Non-members can request a free one-time pass to participate in a group.

Mothers' Groups: New Babies/New Moms are small gatherings of first time mothers. This is an opportunity to meet with others to ask questions, share experiences, and get support. Professional leaders, with advanced degrees in social work, education, or psychology, facilitate the groups. Groups consist of up to 12 members who meet for six weeks, with new groups forming frequently. New Mom gatherings are free to WarmLines members and $120 for non-members.

Classes: Let's Make Music Classes for 3 months-3 years with an adult partner. Small classes encourage children and adults to make music and friends. WarmLines music educators introduce songs, finger plays, changes, and movements using a wide variety of rhythm instruments and play materials.

Child care: Let WarmLines help you find the child care you need. If you're looking for Family Day Care, Child Care Centers, Toddler Programs, Preschools, Transition Classes, Kindergartens, or Afterschool Programs in Allston/ Brighton, Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, and Weston, WarmLines can assist in your search. Fee assistance available.

Day Camps: WarmLines can help find the summer program you've been looking for. An extensive database includes general and specialty camps in the Metro Boston area. You can specify age, location, hours, transportation, and more. Receive up-to-date information on programs. Fee assistance available.

Preschool Guide, Part-day Programs: This popular guide to over 130 preschools can help you explore your preschool options. Information on hours, fees, program philosophy, physical space, extended day and summer options, transition classes, and much more is found in the Guide. Guidelines for visiting and choosing a preschool are included. Covers Allston/Brighton, Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, and Weston. $12/member; $18 non-member.

MassCamps.com offers a comprehensive listing of camps in Massachusetts and New England. Links are available to the camps that have paid for a link. Notices regarding upcoming camp fairs and other camp-related items of interest are listed on the site's monthly calendar. The site also offers on-line registration for summer camps jobs in New England.

CampJob.com is also accessible via this site. It lists camp employment opportunities for kids in high school and older.

Whether you're on the lookout for a day camp or something in a sleep-away, the ACA is a great place to check out.

The ACA New England serves camps in the six-state New England region, where there are more than 350 ACA-accredited day and overnight camps. It provides free camp search guidance and resources for families. The annual guide to camps is available in print and can be downloaded from their website. And camp professionals benefit from educational programs, workshops, and resources throughout the year, including the largest professional conference in the region devoted exclusively to all things camp.

Camp offices are at 80 Westview Street, Lexington. ACA New England can also be reached at 866.534.2267.

Children's Technology Workshops offers Robotics, Animation, Digital Video Production, Digital Art, Video Game Design, and more. Options include icamp by Children's Technology Workshop summer day camp, after school programs, birthday parties, introductory workshops, weekend programs, and much more! Sessions are available in various towns north and west of Boston. Check the website for specific locations.

Parties that Rock! CTWorkshop offers 5 party themes for a unique party experience. The trained and entertaining instructors bring all materials needed to your party location and run two-hour parties in Video Game Design, Pixilation, LEGO Build-a- Bug, Construct a Catapult, or Animation themes. They even send out personalized invitations to your guests. Perfect for birthdays, barmitzfas, grade-school graduations, or even Christmas gifts. Prices range from $20-30 per child depending on theme. Minimum 10 children per party. Email or call for more information [info@ctwboston.com; 617.395.7527].

Started in 2000, The Kids Place is an interactive art studio for children of all ages. Staff members are always on hand to help with a project, plan a party, or answer any questions you may have. No advance booking is necessary for the studio - drop in any time during business hours. Options include: mosaics, ceramics, tie dye, plaster, and mining for Gems.

The Kids Place is great for birthday parties. They provide the entertainment/project and clean up the mess! All parties include freeze dance, games, your craft of choice, and any extras you choose to add. Guests can paint ceramics, mine for gems and paint a treasure or jewelry box, create a mosaic masterpiece, paint plaster figures, or create edible art or tie dye. Goody bags, balloons, slush, cotton candy, face painting, tattoos, nails, color a cookie, autograph plate/picture, and sandy candy are additional options.

Alternatively, "Sleep under birthday parties" include cool crafts, movie, dinner, games, cotton candy and more for children ages 8 and up. Free invitations! Balloons, slush, face painting, and goody bags are also available.

The Kids Place On The Go is a unique service that has been utilized by corporations as well as area hotels. If you are planning a hotel-based event like a conference, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah party, or a wedding, anywhere in the Greater Boston area, a Kids Place event can occupy the kids. Kids Place On The Go includes interactive supervision by Kids Place members who bring games, crafts, and goodies. There are three packages which can be tailored to the number and age of the children, the time length (two-hour minimum) and your budget.

Celebrating over 25 seasons, the Wheelock Family Theatre is a non-profit, professional theater committed to bringing quality theater to adults and young people. Productions include family-oriented dramas, children's classics, musicals, and other original works.

While productions are created with families in mind, not all plays may be suitable for all ages. The theater recommends that children 3 and under not attend performances. If you are concerned about the age appropriateness of a particular production call 617.879.2235 to discuss with a theater professional.

Classes: It offers classes for kids ages 4 to 17. Offerings include Preschool Movement and Drama, Creative Dramatics, Musical Theater, Shakespeare, Character Study, Auditioning Intensives, Masks and Puppetry, and others. Some classes are offered on weekdays, but the majority are taught on Saturdays. The 9-week sessions are taught in the Fall, Winter, and Spring and run $225. When it comes time to cast Wheelock productions, those students who are enrolled in classes are given priority casting.

Camps: The theater also offers one-week acting workshops during the February, March, and April school vacations. Each one-week session runs from 9am-3:30pm and is $325. Kids are grouped by age: ages 5-7, 8-11, and 12-17. An extensive six-week summer program runs through July and August.

Parties: Consider taking a group of kids to a production as part of a birthday celebration. Groups of 15 or more receive $3 off each ticket purchased.

Advantage Riding Academy specializes in family programming and in meeting the specific needs of individual riders, from typically developing students to individualized instruction of students with emotional, physical, and mental challenges.

The staff, special horses, and unique philosophy allow ALL riders to progress to their full potential - as equestrians and as individuals.

Verrill Farm Stable prefers riders ages nine and over who already have basic skills - balance, confidence, posting trot or better and the ability to control a horse in a group; however, complete beginners are accepted on a space-available basis. The stable teaches English riding and uses the U.S. Pony Club Manual in all aspects of instruction.

Program priorities are safety, fun, and skills, in that order, and the lessons are non-competitive. Group classes are offered for students at walk/trot/beginning posting, beginning canter, beginning jumping (ground rails and cross rails), and advanced jumping (2'3" courses). Groups range from three to seven in size, depending on level. All riders are encouraged to groom and tack up before lessons but the stable is happy to teach and assist.

Lessons are offered on a pre-paid semester basis during the fall, winter, and spring. Private and semi-private lessons are also available. Parent/child lessons are available if both riders are at the same level.

Half-day supervised Barn Mouse and full-day Barn Rat programs, as well as leasing, are offered weekly during the summer and during public school vacations.

Verrill Farm Stable is the home of the Concord Equestrian Team (CET), a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. The IEA hosts competitions across the US specifically designed for riders who do not own horses. To learn more about the IEA visit rideiea.com.

The stable is owned and managed by Alyce McNeil, a well-known and highly respected professional in the riding world. Most boarders are competitors in three-day eventing (dressage, cross country jumping and stadium jumping) and many have qualified for and placed in the top 3 in the Nationals.

It is also a good first contact as the Riding Program Director is helpful in providing lists of other area stables if Verrill Farm is not the right fit.

Prospective students take part in a riding evaluation to ensure proper placement. This is provided free of charge.

Children are natural climbers. Help develop their natural instinct at MetroRock Climbing Gym. Many programs are available for children, ranging from after-school programs, to birthday parties, to summer clinics.

The Little Gym® offers developmental gymnastics, dance, karate, and sports skills, as well as summer and holiday camps.

The Little Gym® motor skill development program is for children ages 4 months through 12 years. Kids progress through friendly and non-competitive classes designed to provide increased skill development as they mature. The Little Gym® classes allow kids to have fun while focusing on achievement at their own pace.

The curriculum is divided into parent/child classes for infants and toddlers; pre-k/kinder classes for children ages 3-5; and grade school level for 6-12 year olds. Classes are taught by professionally trained instructors who are sensitive to each child's individual ability and personality to help guide you and your child to the most appropriate level. Kids can enter the program at any age.

Dance The Little Gym Way classes consist of 30 minutes each of dance and gymnastics, giving children the opportunity to build strength, coordination and motor skills. Classes are taught in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. For children ages 3-12.

Summer and Holiday Camps - The Little Gym® AnyTime Camp combines physical fitness and play with arts, crafts, and special events. The 3-hour sessions are for children ages three to eight and take place during the summer and school vacations. Check the website for the current schedule.

The Little Gym is a great place for kids to have a birthday party. Every party has the entire gym to itself, and includes plenty of music, movement, games, and fun created especially for each child. The Little Gym® handles everything from invitations to clean-up. Call for availability and pricing.

Sandy Bay Stables offers lessons for beginners on up, preferably starting at age 8. Instructors each have over a decade of experience, and the horses are well-trained. The stables seek to offer a safe, fun, and family-oriented environment.

Celebrating 58 years of "live theatre for children by children," Boston Children's Theatre (BCT) lets kids take center stage. Kids at BCT participate in all phases of production, and perform in shows that reach 30,000 people yearly. Performances are staged at various locations around town, and are listed in our calendar as well as on the BCT web site. Mainstage productions are at the Grand Lodge of Masons.

BCT offers fall, winter, and spring sessions of theater classes for children kindergarten through high school, and holds open auditions for each of its mainstage productions. All roles in BCT productions are played exclusively by young people in grades 4-12.

In the summer, BCT offers creative arts programs for students in grades two to seven, and the Teen Stagemobile Tour Company, which brings live theater performances to neighborhood parks, camps, and nearby communities throughout Greater Boston.

In addition to mainstage productions, BCT also creates other events throughout the year; check our calendar for details.

The Little Gym® offers developmental gymnastics, dance, karate, and sports skills, as well as summer and holiday camps.

The Little Gym® motor skill development program is for children ages 4 months through 12 years. Kids progress through friendly and non-competitive classes designed to provide increased skill development as they mature. The Little Gym® classes allow kids to have fun while focusing on achievement at their own pace.

The curriculum is divided into parent/child classes for infants and toddlers; pre-k/kinder classes for children ages 3-5; and grade school level for 6-12 year olds. Classes are taught by professionally trained instructors who are sensitive to each child's individual ability and personality to help guide you and your child to the most appropriate level. Kids can enter the program at any age.

Dance The Little Gym Way classes consist of 30 minutes each of dance and gymnastics, giving children the opportunity to build strength, coordination and motor skills. Classes are taught in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. For children ages 3-12.

Summer and Holiday Camps - The Little Gym® AnyTime Camp combines physical fitness and play with arts, crafts, and special events. The 3-hour sessions are for children ages three to eight and take place during the summer and school vacations. Check the website for the current schedule.

The Little Gym is a great place for kids to have a birthday party. Every party has the entire gym to itself, and includes plenty of music, movement, games, and fun created especially for each child. The Little Gym® handles everything from invitations to clean-up. Call for availability and pricing.