Vicksburg’s Summer Camps – Something for Every Child’s Summer Excitement
One of the rights of passage for young children is going to summer camp. Vicksburg and the surrounding area are home to a number of summer camp programs that encourage children to experience the outdoors. Other programs encourage the creative spirit. All offer children the opportunity to make new friends while having fun and experiencing new adventures.
Tara Wildlife located at Eagle Lake just north of Vicksburg is offering camping programs throughout the summer that include a wide range of activities and educational programs with an emphasis on outdoor skills, strong emphasis on safety and ethical behavior along with greater appreciation of our natural resources. All activities are centered at Tara’s main lodge at 6791 Eagle Lake Shore Road.
Tara is offering three Wildlife Summer Camps this year. The camps are designed for youth ages 9 to 16. Tara Youth Camp I begins June 4th and ends on June 10th. Tara Youth Camp II begins June 25th and runs through July 1st. Tara Youth Camp III begins July 9th and ends on July 15th. All programs include a wide range of activities and educational programs with an emphasis on outdoor skills, hunter safety and wildlife studies. Complete information here.
Tara Wildlife Advanced Youth Camp for boys and girls ages 12 to 17 is July 23rd – 26th. The camp focuses on hands-on experiences in skeet shooting, archery, sporting clay, distance shooting with .22 rifles, river canoeing, river island exploring and river jug fishing. Register online or call 601-279-4261.
Running the same dates as the Advanced Youth Camp, Tara Wildlife is also offering a Youth Archery Camp for boys and girls ages 12 – 17. Special camp activities and topics include Mississippi Hunter Education Certification, shot placement, understanding archery equipment, woodsmanship, selection and use of loc-on ladders and climbing deer stands. The camp also teaches scoring deer afield, deer anatomy, safety harness, a field trip to a local bow shop and an archery 3-d competition. Register online here.
Warner-Tully Memorial YMCA Camp has been a favorite for boys and girls in the region since 1960. The camp is located on 108 acres of timberland deep in the heart of the bluffs just 22 miles from Vicksburg. With 11 newly renovated and air conditioned cabins and a modern lodge located on beautiful Lake Guider the camp is hard to beat. Activities at the camp include archery, devotions, arts and crafts, fishing, mud slide, canoeing, hiking, ropes course, swimming and capture the flag. Camp activities are for boys and girls ages 7 – 13.
The YMCA offers five themed one-week sessions and one three-night mini-camp. The first session begins on June 4th and the last session begins on July 9th. This year’s themes include: Super Heroes, The Amazing Race, Animated Adventures, I Love Rock and Roll, God Bless the USA and Harry Potter. For pricing information and registration click here.
The Vicksburg National Military Park will host three weeks of Junior Ranger Camp this summer. The camps are free but a limited number of spaces are available. The Ranger-in-Training Camp will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. June 5th – 9th. This program is for campers from 13 to 16 years of age. The program is an extension of Junior Ranger Camp for campers that have outgrown that program. The program will immerse campers in the historical and natural resources of the park and the importance of volunteerism. Lunch and snacks will be provided. The dates of Junior Ranger Camps are June 19 – 23 and July 17 – 21. Participants are selected using a lottery system. You can get complete details and register here. You can also contact Molly Cadwell at 601-629-8133 or email at molly_cadwell@partner.nps.gov .
Returning June 5 – 9 is WinShape: Vicksburg’s Ultimate Day Camp Experience. WinShape Camps was established in 1985 in Mt. Berry, GA, to provide a camp experience that would enable campers to sharpen their character, deepen their Christian faith and grow in their relationships with others. That same vision stands strong today. The activities will be at Crossway Church located at 1825 U.S. Highway 61 South. You can register here or call the church at 601-636-2596.
Be sure to check the schedule for the Summer Kids Series at B&B Theaters featuring family friendly G or PG films. The series begins June 6th at 10:00 a.m. with Lego Batman. The films in series run Tuesdays through Thursdays. Other films featured in the series are Storks, Tolls, Ice Age Collision Course, Lego Movie, Kung Fu Panda 3, the Iron Giant and Peanuts. More information here.
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation (SCHF) will present two camps this summer that will give participants the opportunity to express themselves creatively. Cre.Activity Summer Camp will be presented June 12 – 16 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The camp will consist of creative art projects and fun camp activities, including fencing. The cost is $50 per student ages 6 – 12. The Multi-Cultural Art Camp is scheduled for June 19th – 23rd. The camp features adventures in art and music. The cost is $50 per student ages 6 – 12. For more information call 601-631-2997 or email info@southernculture.org.
Art at Heart will be hosting Children’s Summer Workshops. The dates are June 12 -16, June 19 -23 and July 10 – 14. Each 5-day workshop will emphasize a variety of art experiences including drawing, painting, pottery, crafts and tie-dyeing. For information click here.
Super Bowl XLIX star Malcolm Butler will be hosting two football camps on July 15th. The 3rd Annual Malcolm Butler Football Camp for grades 8 – 12 will be from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Vicksburg Memorial Stadium located at 1091 Lee Street. The Malcolm and Me Camp which is designed for students grades 1 – 7 will be from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the same location. For more information click here.
Be a happy camper in Vicksburg this summer.
