by Kelley Schaefer-Levi
Portlandia, Stumptown, Rip City, P-town. All nicknames for the city we call home. The place where your kids can learn to weave, become an archer, stilt walk and unicycle because well, why not? Childhood is celebrated here. And with the celebration comes some interesting people teaching our kids some pretty incredible stuff. There are endless camp options out there, but here we list the camps that keep it a little bit “weird” all in the name of having fun and teaching lifelong skills.
Circus Cascadia
Join the circus at a Circus Day Camp! An outdoor camp where campers can realize their inner clown. Learn how to stilt walk, juggle, tightrope, flower sticks and more. Kids participate in a Circus Show at the end of their camp week. For any ability level. For ages 6-16. circuscascadia.com
Girl Circus
Empower your girls this summer! This circus camp exclusively for girls promotes body positivity, creativity and teamwork through the circus arts. Campers can try dance, poi spinning, hooping, juggling, stage craft and more! For ages 7-14. girlcircus.com
Green Bean Books
The dream of the 1890s is alive in Portland at Green Bean Books’ Pioneer Pioneer camp for girls! Campers spend days filled with pioneer crafts and games like bookbinding and fabric dying, designing quilt-squares and learning how to play marbles. They’ll read books about the Oregon Trail, visit Mimosa and meet special guests. For girls ages 8-11. greenbeanbookspdx.com
Modern Domestic
Kids can put a bird on it if they want to at Modern Domestic’s weeklong summer camps. Campers learn many fun sewing skills and learn how to measure, cut and sew zippers. For ages 8-14. Beginners welcome. moderndomesticpdx.com
Pizazz Sweets
Young bakers learn new skills!Campers bake their own dessert from scratch every day and decorate it using a variety of techniques taught in class. Children take home samples of what they bake each day. For ages 6-12. pizazzsweets.com
Rewild
Nature camps where kids gain hands on experience in the wild using sand, mud, sticks and stones, skin and bones or flint and steel. Campers re-integrate the human component of participating in nature by making the things we needed to live and survive from the elements of the natural world. Campers ages 5-13. rewildportland.com
School of Rock
Green Day vs. Nirvana boot camp anyone? Kids with some experience gain musicianship skills and nurture their inner rock star at 5-day rock camps. Campers learn the nuts and bolts of live performance, music theory and songwriting, interact with other young musicians, experience what it’s like to be in a band, make new friends and rock out! Camp for rookies, too. For ages 8-18. schoolofrock.com
Trackers Earth
A Portlandic favorite among parents and kids where campers train in archery, fish on rivers, learn outdoor survival, head to the school of magic, practice safe woodcarving, or participate in a role- playing adventure camp. Located all over Portland. For ages 4 on up to adult. trackerspdx.com
Zenger Farm
Urban farm camp offering an unforgettable opportunity to explore, eat, and play at an educational farm and wetland. Activities include farm scavenger hunts, cooking challenges, crafting with magical plants, tending to vegetables and farm animals, and daydreaming with dragonflies. For 5-18. zengerfarm.org
