Finding a summer camp to match a child's interests and a family's time schedule can be exasperating, especially with summer about two months away.
Tom McNalley, director of special programs at Menlo School, said there's such a wide range of camps in the area, families should have few problems finding one that suits everyone's needs.
He said it helps to first know what parents want their kids to do during the summer. Parents should consider if they want their children to learn academics or sports, and if they want them in a structured environment or "just running around."
McNalley suggests asking for referrals to find out what other parents liked or disliked about a camp. He said word-of-mouth is probably the best way to find a suitable camp.
"You just need to know what you want," McNalley said.
The following list is the first in a series highlighting local camps.
Athletics
Camp Unique is primarily an athletic camp, but also includes many arts activities. The co-ed camp offers 15 activities including dance, outdoor living skills, horseback riding and mountain biking for kids in grades 3-8. Owner Bob Cavalli said he hires professionals from around the world to teach in their areas of expertise in order to ensure that campers learn lifelong skills while having fun. Cavalli said he keeps the camper staff ratio at seven to one.
Unlike other camps, Camp Unique offers both day and boarding sessions. There is space for about 100 day campers and 70 boarders.
Camp Unique runs from June 21 to Aug. 8. The first session is one week, for first time campers or children with limited time. The remaining three sessions are two weeks each. Camp Unique is American Camping Association accredited.
Day session are from 9:55 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday at Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley. Program prices vary. For more information, call 381- 5615.
Enrichment
Menlo School is offering its annual Summer Exploration camp for kids entering grades 3-8 in the fall. In separate morning workshops, campers rotate through science, visual arts, language arts and drama workshops, where they do hands-on activities, such as constructing a model building, improvising a Shakespearean scene and creating a group mural. In the afternoon, they can choose to participate in a variety of games, sports or crafts.
McNalley said the camp is structured to let kids "learn in a fun context. They're doing sophisticated work, but they don't sit at desks, do homework, or take tests."
There are two three-week Summer Exploration sessions that run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Kids can participate in one or both sessions. The first session runs June 15-July 3. The second runs from July 7-24.
Three week sessions cost $800, and the six week session costs $1,500 if paid by May 15. McNalley said there's space for 60 to 90 campers.
For more information, call 833-3427.
Dance
Kids of all ages and experience levels can dance their way through summer at Marti's Dance Studio in Los Altos, which is offering week-long workshops in musical theater and dance.
Classes range from cheerleading, tap dance and musical theater to hip-hop and choreography, where students will get hands-on experience choreographing a routine.
Workshops run from July 6 through July 31 and cost $11 an hour. Those interested need to sign up by the end of June. Marti's Dance Studio has been in Los Altos for 23 years. For more information, call 949-3467.