Summer Sports Camps - Colleges and Universities

First day of camp!

Summer Camp. Do those two words strike fun or fear in your memory?

Summer camps aren't all like what we remember. Sure my daughter has done Girl Scout camp, at the same camp I went to as a kid. And my older son has done Science Camp all held inside, learning as they went along. But this year, with my new job at the University of Minnesota, I looked into Sports camps for my little guy. He is small in stature and is deciding on his own that football may not be the best sport for him. So after talking to him about which sports he would like to try, he came up with Track.

Now there aren't many track team opportunities in elementary school, so we had to get creative. The University of Minnesota offered a one week, half day Track and Field camp - PERFECT! 

Jeff liked dropping him off for camp.

For only $99 we registered him for a four day, half day camp right at the U. I could pick him up at lunch and he could spend the afternoon with me. Worked great and everybody was happy. He wants to do it again next year, and I was happy to tell him yes he can. Hubby enjoyed dropping him off the first day, finding Coach Kill's parking spot and posing for a picture. We also were able to explore the practice football facility, seeing many vintage football artifacts and interesting displays. We would have never gone into this building if it weren't for the little guy going to camp.

This is a whole new area that many Colleges and University Sports programs are using for fundraising, Kids Summer Camps. If you Google the College or University close to your home with summer camp behind it you will find a site for Summer Camps. They tend to offer everything from Football to Soccer, Track to Gymnastics, Swimming/Diving to Lacrosse, Sailing to Log Rolling.  I am guessing whatever sport your children are into, they will have a camp for them. They also offer half day camps, full day camps or for the older kids, resident camps. How fun to sleep in a dorm room for a week and practice the sport you love at a new level.

Is your child not that into sports, no problem, on that same web site there are most likely other types of camps too. Many computer camps, 4H camps, photography camps, cooking camps, really some offer so many camps, I wish I could take some. From the list below, there are many different levels that the different University's offer. Some have just a few, some have pages. Be sure to check out the smaller college close to your homes too.

I know many of you mom's are like me, you want to keep your kids busy during the summer, and would love to send them away to a week long camp, but the cost is a huge issue. Check out your local Colleges or Universities as they may offer just what you have been looking for at a more affordable cost. Check out below for some Universities across the U.S. that offer Camps. Also, share if you have found any great Summer Camps for kids. Us mom's need to share great information like this!

Our Little Guy at Camp, winding down with Kickball.

University of Alabama University of Arizona Arkansas State University University of California - Berkeley University of Colorado - Boulder University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Florida University of Georgia University of Idaho University of Illinois - Urbana-Chapaign University of Indiana University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisiana - Monroe University of Maine University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of Missouri University of Montana University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Nevada University of New Hampshire Princeton University of New Mexico University of New York - Hofstra University of North Carolina - Charlotte University of North Dakota University of Ohio University of Oklahoma University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of South Carolina University of South Dakota University of Tennessee University of Texas University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of West Virginia University of Wisconsin University of Wyoming