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28 March 2024

Top ten summer camps kids in the UAE would love to do

During the summer vacation kids can attend dance classes, painting or get trained by Ronaldinho's youth football club coaches. (Dennis B Mallari)

Published
By Sneha May Francis

The summer break is upon us, and we, as parents, must shop around for fun things for our children. Activities that help them grow, while keeping them entertained.

Dubai has a lot to offer, but we, at Emirates24|7, have picked 10 interesting summer camps that, we think, are unique and worth the price tag.

Here’s our top 10!

1. Step in the world of Julia Donaldson

There’s a reason this one’s our favourite. Who wouldn’t want to step into the fascinating world that writer Julia Donaldson so beautifully created through her books. Now, our children get a chance to live that journey. Here’s a camp dedicated to Julia Donaldson. Every day, a book - The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Room On The Broom, Stick Man and The Snail & The Whale – is picked, and then unfolds the celebration. There’s storytelling, poetry, puppetry, crafts, acting out stories, role-play, face-painting and drama games. This one’s for children aged between 4 and 7 years, and runs from July 3-7, and July 10-14, from 10am to 5pm for Dh1,000 per week.

2.Hop on a horse, and ride away

Horse riding isn’t a skill very many have, mostly because the opportunities weren’t available when we were growing up, but our kids are lucky in that respect. The Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club is offering fun activities that broaden the horizon for the children. There’s two-and-half-hours of activities including: riding, bucking horse, arts and crafts. The camp is open from July 1to August 28 for children aged between 5 and 12 years. It costs Dh275 per day, and Dh750 for 3 days – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Log on to www.hoofbeatz.com for more information.

3. Calling all nutty professors!

Here’s something for those inquisitive minds. A camp that allows them to explore, experiment and deduce their own theories. Atlantis and Nutty Scientists are teaming up for a fun science adventure that goes beyond the classroom. Kids will get chance to learn about their environment, in the most entertaining and engaging way. The experience is priced at Dh2,100 per week, and runs from 9am to 5pm at the kidsclub in Atlantis. Pick-up and drop-off are available for a price. Log on to www.atlantisthepalm.com for more deets.

4. Play the number game

For those math geeks, there’s a camp that exclusively indulges them. The Mathnasium is one such camp, where children, aged between 4 and 17 years, are sent on a quest to find visual, mental and manipulative techniques. Priced from Dh690 per week, it runs from June 15 to August 31. Log on to www.mathnasium.ae for more information.

5. Paint away

Here’s something special for the young Picassos. An art gallery that allows them to create their designs. Apart from the painting and illustration, they can even indulge in some dancing, and drama. Pitched for children aged between 6 and 14 years, this is priced at Dh220 per week, and runs from 10am to 12.30 from Monday to Thursday. For more information log on to www.thejamjardubai.com

6. Skip the selfies, learn how to click a good picture

Our children are growing up in the age of incessant need to take selfies, so it would be refreshing to teach them good photography skills. At the Picture People, children, aged between 3 and 9 years, can learn how to take the perfect portrait, make frames, use and create props, plus jewellery making, colouring, face masks and more. Priced at Dh1,475 for five days, it runs from July 3-7 from 8.30am to 10.30am, and 11.30am to 1.30pm. Dial 04-3434413 for more details.

7. Put on your dancing shoes

Who doesn’t like to dance? But, there are only a few who know to do it the right way, and helping your child have a go at it, is this exclusive dance summer camp. There’s everything from singing, dancing, and acting. Priced at Dh900 per week, it’s for children aged between 5 and 14 years, and runs from 9am to 3pm at the Diverse Studios and Nord Anglia School in Dubai.

8. Groom the entrepreneur in you

Teenagers are brimming with so many ideas, so it will be neat to help them channel their energies, and creativity, in the right direction. At Discover Me Dubai, teens will get hands-on training in team management, business plan development, presentation skills, teen entrepreneurial skills and much more. The camp is open to kids aged between 11 and 19 years, and it will run from 9am to 1pm, and 2pm to 6pm between August 15-25. For more information log on to www.discovermedubai.com/iye

9. Bend it like Ronaldinho

Certified Brazilian coaches, trained by Ronaldinho's youth football club in Brazil, will teach your child new skills, techniques and the "Art of Football", in at the new, improved Koora Dome. That's not all, your child also stands a chance to win a signed jersey from football legend Ronaldinho. Once they finish training, they get a certificate of participation from Ronaldinho and will receive a Ronaldinho Soccer Academy kit. The camp is open to children aged between 5 and 16 years, and will run from Sunday through to Thursday, from 9am to noon. E-mail play@rsadubai.com for more details.

10. Fun with robotics

It's the next big thing, and you'd want your little one to be ahead the game, don't you? Expose them to a whole new world, and see how they adapt, and design. The camp offers tips to build, design and programme robots. Priced at Dh1,500, it's open to children aged between 7 and 17 years, and runs from July 5-16 (Sat, Mon, Wed) or July 6-17 (Sun, Tue, Thurs) from noon to 2.30pm. For more information log on to www.fun-robotics.com