Summer break is quickly approaching for those who are enrolled in the September-to-June school system, and elementary and secondary students are likely counting down the days to sweet freedom.

Two months of carefree bliss can go by extremely quickly—think hangouts at the mall, play dates at the park, or trips to the local ice-cream parlour. But if children and youths want to make the most of their time off, they should consider joining one of many summer camps around Metro Vancouver.

From building their skill sets with an educational computer-science and coding course to meeting new friends at the rock-climbing gym, there are plenty of opportunities for summertime memories. Here are six local institutions offering seasonal courses to kids around town.

Langara College

Roaming through college grounds even before they’ve graduated high school gives teens something to boast about when September comes around. For those who enjoy picking up new skills and have a thirst for knowledge, we suggest the wide array of camps at Langara. Students can tap into their creative and brainy sides with one- and two-week programs, such as digital music production, graphic-novel and manga creation, photography, and coding and game design. Two new summer camps have been added this year: an acting intensive that focuses on script work and providing an understanding of how to work in television, film, and theatre (taught by renowned local actor Bob Frazer of Bard on the Beach); and a VEX robotics course that will have campers build their own custom VEX competition robot—consider it a friendly challenge with other keen ’bot fans.

Langara’s summer camps are available to teens aged 13 to 17 years, and run in July and August. For more information, click here.

Vancouver Opera

We’ve all heard kids sing in the shower (usually the latest radio hit or movie theme song), but have you considered that they may have actual potential to hone their vocal talents? Vancouver Opera will be offering summer camps designed to provide kids and teens with an interactive musical and theatrical experience. They will get to learn all about how an opera is produced, including everything from writing the libretto (the text of an opera) and score to designing costumes to performing on-stage. The teen intensive program will also offer master classes and opportunities to create and build a set, which is arguably the most exciting and visually important part of an opera stage. Even if they don’t end up becoming the next opera production star, at least they’ll sound more refined in the bathroom.

Vancouver Opera’s summer camps are available to kids and youths aged eight to 16 years, and run in July. For more information, click here.

Burnaby Village Museum

Many parents think their young ones spend too much time using technology these days, whether it’s browsing the Internet, watching online videos, or playing games on a smartphone. Burnaby Village Museum aims to give kids a break from this 21st-century habit by offering summer heritage adventure camps—where time will turn back and children will learn, play, and experience life in the 1920s. Several themed camps are available, such as Outdoor Escapes, Food Capers, Back to Nature, Toy Adventure, and Apprentice Week, among others. Activities include building and flying kites, making ice cream, canoeing on Deer Lake, baking bread from scratch, and soap carving, among many others. There’s also an after-camp club that kids can enroll in, if parents need more time for pickup—think extra games and activities. After spending some time having fun without tech, maybe campers will realize there’s more to life than pocket-sized screens.

Burnaby Village Museum’s summer adventure camps are available to kids aged five to 12 years, and run in July and August. For more information, click here.

Cliffhanger

Little monkeys seem to roam through residential areas all the time—we’re talking about kids with high levels of energy, who always seem to be climbing, jumping, and running around homes. Why not enroll them in a program where they can exert all their enthusiasm for movement? Cliffhanger, an indoor rock-climbing gym, will be offering its Kidrock summer climbing camps to children and teens. This active workshop will allow youths to learn the skills to properly rock-climb, and instructors will be teaching them about climbing safety, equipment, belaying (technical rope work), knot-tying, stretching, and movement techniques. The facility features over 15,000 square feet of climbing terrain, which is more than enough space for kids to develop a lifelong skill and passion. This could be the starting point for a young boy or girl to make it onto a competitive climbing team or into international competition, and you can take credit for being the one to help kick it off.

Cliffhanger’s summer climbing camps are available to children and youths aged nine to 16 years, and run in July and August. For more information, click here.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Anyone can kick a soccer ball, but it takes dedication and guidance to become a skilled soccer athlete. The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club youth camps will take place this summer, offering kids and teens the opportunity to hone their soccer abilities through expert coaching. Three types of camps will be running, allowing young soccer lovers to learn important skills, meet Whitecaps FC players, receive professional training, and perhaps get a chance to be scouted. All campers will be learning in a fun and focused environment, and select players from all summer camps will be invited to participate in the skills challenge finale at the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre at UBC, as well as attend a Whitecaps FC home match at B.C. Place at the end of the summer. Don’t expect to go empty-handed—boys and girls will get to take home a camp T-shirt and skills-challenge certificate.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s summer camps are available to kids and youths aged seven to 18 years, and run from June to August. Registration is open, and those who sign up before May 15 can save $20. For more information, click here.

Blueridge Chamber Music Workshop

It’s never too late for an adolescent to discover their inner Mozart or Andrea Bocelli. Blueridge Chamber Music Festival will be holding a summer workshop for avid musicians and singers, with two weeks of rehearsals, coaching, and master classes for those who want to develop their musical talents. A typical camp day will include ensemble rehearsals, private lessons, and a movement class; during lunch, the young students will be able to take a break and perhaps participate in a game of soccer. What else do campers get out of this summer intensive? A feature spot in the gala final concert, and new friendships with other individuals who share the same passion for music.

Blueridge Chamber Music’s summer workshop is available to instrumentalists and singers aged 13 to 19 years, and runs in August. For more information, click here.

Under the GUI

Not all of us can understand how computer technologies work, but it’s a fascinating and lucrative industry that your kid may want to pursue a career in. Under the GUI (graphical user interface) is a programming academy that will be offering several summer camps for kids and teens who are interested in learning all about creating video games, apps, computer software, and more. Programs include coding and animation; robotics, circuits, and 3D printing; and engineering Olympics. They will get to create computer games, design a working robot, and participate in competitions and activities. When you pick up your son or daughter after the camp ends, don’t be surprised if they are showing signs of becoming a tech-whiz.

Under the GUI’s summer camps are available to children and teens aged five to 14, and run in July and August. For more information, visit click here.